Feb. 14, 2007

Winter storm hits Virginia
Gov. Tim Kaine declared a state of emergency on Feb. 13 in advance of severe winter weather. Ice and sleet fell in northern Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley, with some areas receiving nearly three inches. Nearly 60,000 residents lost power. The Virginia Department of Transportation treated roads for ice and snow and cleared roads of debris. The Virginia National Guard deployed Guard personnel and equipment to assist emergency response operations, and the Virginia Department of Forestry assisted in clearing downed trees. The Virginia Department of Emergency Management is coordinating state efforts and assisting local governments in their response. In addition, the Virginia Public Inquiry Center opened Feb. 14, to field questions from concerned citizens and provide emergency information to the public. Response operations continue as winds throughout the state are forecast to gust up to 60 mph at higher elevations throughout Wednesday.

DHS budget request
In its budget request for FY08, the Department of Homeland Security requested an 8 percent increase in overall funding, including an additional $100 million for the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Vision Initiatives. The initiatives are designed to speed and intensify the agency's readiness, response and recovery through staff increases, new technologies, equipment and supplies. The request also includes $3.2 billion for grant, training and exercise programs as well as the Public Safety Interoperable Communications grant program.

Seminars enhance dialogue
The special needs community, emergency managers and first responders now have a unique opportunity to begin a dialogue about specific medical, communication, mobility or behavioral needs during a disaster, and how emergency responders can best meet those needs. The Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, the Virginia Department of Health, the disAbility Resource Center and VDEM have collaborated to create the "Preparing for All Abilities" workshops, a series of 11 regional seminars throughout the Commonwealth. The free seminars will include panel discussions, question and answer sessions about general and specific aspects of individual preparedness, shelters and evacuations. Members of vulnerable populations, first responders, emergency managers, public health, service providers and advocacy groups can find registration and schedule information online at http://va.train.org (site registration is required).

Severe weather warnings improve
The National Weather Service has developed a more specific and clear severe weather warning system that supports new dissemination technology. Currently, warnings for tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, flash floods and marine hazards are issued for a large geographic area, such as a county. The new system, to be released in October 2007, features storm-specific warnings, meaning that, in the case of a tornado, the warning will cover the area of the tornado's expected travel instead of the entire county. In addition, storm-based warnings will improve graphical displays and allow more targeted alerts through Web-enabled personal digital assistants, cell phones, pagers and other technologies.

Disaster planning guides prepare businesses
Small- and mid-sized businesses now have a disaster survival guide written just for them. The Institute for Business and Home Safety has developed the "Open for Business" planning manuals to help small businesses reduce disaster losses and down time and to increase employee safety during and after emergencies. An online, interactive planning tool, available at www.ibhs.org, allows businesses to enter information to create a customized emergency plan. Visitors to the site can also download the guide or order printed copies.

VDEM and Virginia Citizen Corps have also developed the Virginia Business Emergency Survival Toolkit, available online to help businesses of all types prepare for disasters. The free printed pocket-sized version is also available from the Public Affairs Office at (866) 782-3470.

Training...
ICS 300: Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents
Intermediate Incident Command System, for those who could fill supervisory-level positions during an incident, teaches students to develop an ICS organizational structure, list staffing requirements, prepare a briefing, lead or participate in a planning meeting, identify resources, develop goals, prepare an action plan and become familiar with the National Incident Management System. Registration and prerequisites for the two-day class in Weyers Cave on March 6-7 is available online.

Recovery from Disaster: The Local Government Role
Local disaster recovery team members such as emergency managers, city and county administrators, public works directors, building inspectors and community planners can learn the roles and responsibilities of each member of a local disaster recovery team. Participants will also develop an outline of their own local disaster recovery plan. Registration for the 16-hour class in Charlottesville on March 13-14 class is available online.

Emergency Operations Center Management and Operations
This 24-hour course trains students to effectively manage and operate an emergency operations center during crisis situations. The course addresses site selection and design as well as staffing, training and briefing EOC personnel. Registration for the next session in Virginia Beach March 20-22 is available online.

Module 2: Project Worksheet Writing Workshop
This free class is specifically geared to those who document disaster costs and write FEMA Project Worksheet Packages for reimbursement. This training ensures that localities can define their own disaster losses and costs and speed the reimbursement process. Only those who have completed Module 1: Public Assistance Program Overview and Eligibility are permitted to take this class. Contact John Simmons for more information and registration for the Feb. 22 class in Bedford.

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