Jan. 17, 2007

Virginia gains UASI designation
The Department of Homeland Security has designated Hampton Roads as a high-threat urban area, meaning that Hampton Roads can compete with the other 44 high-risk localities for DHS funds earmarked for the Urban Area Security Initiative. UASI funds address the unique multi-discipline planning, operations, equipment, training and exercise needs of high-threat, high-density urban areas, and help them prevent, protect against, respond to and recover from acts of terrorism. Meetings are being scheduled to determine which localities will be included in the designation.

DHS announces 2007 grants
Infrastructure Protection Program
The Department of Homeland Security has designated nearly $21 million to Virginia and National Capital Region ports, transit systems and critical infrastructure sites through the Infrastructure Protection Program. The IPP consists of five programs aimed at emergency planning for terrorist attacks, major disasters and other emergencies. Virginia is eligible for funds for projects that fall under three of the programs.

• The Buffer Zone Protection Program provides $770,000 (specifically for planning and equipment) to state and local governments to secure critical infrastructures, including chemical facilities, nuclear and electric power plants, dams, stadiums, arenas and other high-risk areas. The District of Columbia is eligible for $1.5 million under the BZPP.
• The Port Security Grant Program supports efforts to protect seaports listed on the U.S. Coast Guard’s list of critical seaports, which includes Hampton Roads. Grantees will share more than $40 million. Awards are based on the port's relative risk and the relationship of each project to security priorities.
• The Transit Security Grant Program provides grant funding to the nation's key high-threat urban areas to enhance security measures for their critical transit infrastructures, including bus, rail and ferry systems. The National Capital Region is eligible for more than $18 million, and Norfolk is eligible for $14.2 million. In addition, the Jamestown-Scotland ferry is eligible for more than $200,000 under the TSGP ferry grant program, which extends funding eligibility to help increase the security of 19 ferry systems throughout the nation.

Program guidance, application kits, fact sheets and frequently asked questions for each program are available on the DHS Web site.

Homeland Security Grant Program
The Department of Homeland Security will distribute nearly $1.6 billion through five programs that comprise the Homeland Security Grant Program. The grants encourage regional cooperation to reduce the risks of improvised explosive devices and radiological, chemical and biological weapons through interoperability, information sharing and citizen preparedness. For the first time last year, DHS distributed the HSGP funds according to terrorism risk factor, demonstrated need and potential impact. DHS will use the same process this year, approving plans and allocating funds to each state accordingly. VDEM has scheduled stakeholders' meetings on Jan. 29-30 in Richmond. The state's application is due to DHS on April 5, and the award to the state is expected in August. Funding is distributed among the five programs as follows:

• State Homeland Security Program — $509.3 million
• Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program — $363.8 million
• Urban Areas Security Initiative — $746.9 million
• Metropolitan Medical Response System — $32.0 million
• Citizen Corps Program — $14.6 million

New disaster laws under consideration
Several bills that could impact emergency preparedness and response will be considered during the 45-day session of the 2007 General Assembly. Bill summaries, along with status and links to the General Assembly Web site, are available online.

New site helps citizens assess state performance
Gov. Tim Kaine introduced a new interactive Web site that allows citizens to review state agency performance and to monitor how the Commonwealth measures up from region to region and compared to other states. He also announced $3 million in grants to allow state agencies to act upon innovative ideas submitted by citizens and others for delivering low-cost, efficient government services. VAperforms.virginia.gov focuses on seven key areas and outlines the state's long-term goals for Economy, Education, Health and Family, Public Safety, Natural Resources, Government and Citizens, and Transportation. The emergency preparedness assessment documents the Commonwealth's status as one of five states to receive full accreditation by the Emergency Management Accreditation Program and its ranking among the top six states in the country for readiness to respond to bioterrorism and other public health emergencies, according to the national nonprofit organization Trust for America's Health. The Council on Virginia's Future, established in 2003 and charged with creating a vision of Virginia's future and a system for state government that supports that vision, helped to create the site.

Virginia Beach to host Region 5 MMRS exercises
The city of Virginia Beach will host the Region 5 Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program series of exercises for the Metropolitan Medical Response System. These multi-jurisdictional, multi-discipline exercises will bring together the region's responders to assess their preparedness for and response to a simulated radiological dispersion device incident. VDEM is seeking 25 to 30 HSEEP-trained evaluators for each of two exercises on Feb. 15 and April 3. Each exercise requires a two-day commitment. Those interested in participating should e-mail Vivian Beasley at vivian.beasley@vdem.virginia.gov.

2007 hurricane forecast
Colorado State University's Department of Atmospheric Science has issued the 2007 extended range forecast of Atlantic hurricane season activity, calling for another above-average season. The forecasters predict 14 named storms, seven hurricanes and three intense hurricanes. The tropical meteorology research group at CSU issues seasonal hurricane forecasts in early December, April, June, August, September and October.

Field guide for media professionals available
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has created a field guide to provide the most important information that media professionals might need while covering a terrorist attack or other public health emergency. Available online, this guide is a new companion to the more in-depth "Terrorism and Other Public Health Emergencies: A Reference Guide for Media," also available online. The field guide is designed for individual reporters, newsroom managers and other media professionals to provide expert-reviewed and approved information about terrorist agents and the public health system.

Produced by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management
10501 Trade Court, Richmond, Virginia 23236