Feb. 27, 2008

PA Pilot Program help
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has sent a debris specialist to Richmond for a short time to review local debris management plans. A FEMA-approved debris management plan is one requirement for participation in FEMA's Public Assistance Pilot Program, which jurisdictions can participate in on a voluntary basis through Dec. 31, 2008. The program provides an additional 5 percent federal cost share to applicants that have an approved plan and at least two pre-qualified debris removal contactors or an executed debris removal contract.

Before submitting their debris plans for consideration, localities should conduct an internal review using the FEMA checklist, available through VDEM's online Recovery Center, http://www.vaemergency.com/recover/pubassist/index.cfm. The city of Chesapeake and the counties of Fairfax and Hanover have offered their approved plans for review at http://www.vaemergency.com/recover/debris.

Commonwealth Disaster Recovery Center survey
VDEM is conducting a survey to update and expand its list of potential Disaster Recovery Centers. Pre-identifying these sites allows the locality, the state and FEMA to quickly set up these facilities during an emergency to provide critical disaster assistance information to citizens in a timely manner. Once a statewide DRC list is compiled, an annual review and update of the list will be conducted in coordination with localities to maintain its currency.

Emergency managers received the survey and guidance via e-mail and should return the completed documentation to Human Services Officer Larry Braja at larry.braja@vdem.virginia.gov by March 14.

Training Needs Assessment: Rural Domestic Preparedness
Commonwealth emergency managers have the opportunity to participate in a Training Needs Assessment: Rural Domestic Preparedness survey. In this study, researchers are asking emergency managers across the country to help determine the need for all-hazards preparedness training in rural areas. Researchers will use responses to help guide training development and delivery by the Rural Domestic Preparedness Consortium. The Justice and Safety Center at Eastern Kentucky University is conducting the study, funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/FEMA National Preparedness Directorate.

Participation in this study is voluntary. Responses are due to VDEM by March 7. For more information and a copy of the survey, contact Lee Bennett at (804) 897-6500, ext. 6568.

New NIMS interoperability standards
The FEMA Incident Management Systems Division has recommended five new voluntary standards for emergency managers, responders and private sector vendors. The standards support interoperability among communications and information management systems:

• ANSI INCITS 398-2005: Information Technology - Common Biometric Exchange Formats Framework (CBEFF)
• IEEE 1512-2006: Standard for Common Incident Management Message Sets for Use by Emergency Management Centers
• NFPA 1221: Standard for Installation, Maintenance, and Use of Emergency Services Communications Systems
• OASIS Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) v1.1
• OASIS Emergency Data Exchange Language (EDXL) Distribution Element v1.0

In FY 2008, NIMS compliance is linked to standardizing data and information management processes. Additional information on NIMS Recommended Standards is available on the FEMA Web site at http://www.fema.gov/emergency/nims/standards.

NIMS-IRIS software update
FEMA's Incident Management Systems Integration Division has released an update of the National Incident Management System Incident Resource Inventory System (Version 2.1). The update offers several enhancements in addition to a full backup and restore capability:

• A help function that includes tool tips for input fields and action buttons.
• An advanced search feature that allows users to search multiple fields at once.
• New capabilities, such as editing key fields associated with a resource and uploading files that contain processing instructions for a resource

Both the upgrade patch and the full program are available for download at http://www.fema.gov/emergency/nims/rm/iris.shtm. The patch will automatically update any installed software and preserve data.

VDEM launches YouTube.com channel
Continuing the Commonwealth's public-private partnership with Google, VDEM has launched the "VAEmergency Channel" on YouTube.com at http://www.youtube.com/user/VAEmergency. The site provides public service announcements from Gov. Tim Kaine and has the potential to provide critical information to the public during emergencies. Other Virginia government organizations building their own YouTube.com channels include Old Dominion University, Roanoke County, the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Virginia Tourism Authority and the Library of Virginia.

For more information, contact Judy Napier, deputy secretary of Technology at the Virginia Information Technologies Agency. Agencies interested in participating should contact Emily Seibert at emily.seibert@vita.virginia.gov for permissions and instructions.

Exercises...
Operation Cardinal Freeze
On March 20, VDEM will hold Operation Cardinal Freeze, a tabletop exercise that will explore the Commonwealth's response to widespread power outages and blocked roads during a severe winter storm. Participants will assess standard operating procedures for emergency operation center management, emergency public information and warning, and sheltering impacted communities. Participants will include emergency managers, the National Weather Service, the American Red Cross, representatives of power cooperatives and Dominion Virginia Power, and nearly 30 state agencies.

Conferences...
Former director of National Hurricane Center to speak at VEM Conference
Keynote speaker Max Mayfield, WPLG-TV Hurricane Specialist and Former National Hurricane Center Director, will present during the general session on March 12 an overview of the 2007 Atlantic Hurricane Season, including impacts of the U.S. Weather Research Program's Joint Hurricane Testbed, the real meaning of hurricane watches and warnings, the need to create a culture of preparedness, a proposed national disaster network, and a process to learn from past mistakes.

Immediately following Mayfield's presentation, representatives from the Dodge City National Weather Service and Kansas Homeland Security will present an overview of the weather that created last year's tornadoes in Greensburg, Kan. and the state's response efforts.

The March 13 general session will feature three speakers on the bridge collapses in California and Minnesota, and one of the 20 conference breakout sessions will feature the Virginia Department of Transportation's focus on infrastructure protection in the Commonwealth.

Matthew Shenk, a radio room supervisor for Lancaster County-wide communications in Pennsylvania, will speak during the general session on March 14 about his on-scene experience at the Nickel Mines Amish School Shooting and the unique needs of the Amish community during the event. Shenk has worked as a communications supervisor for the last 20 years, and he has an extensive background in fire and EMS. He is also an active EMT and volunteer firefighter.

Other breakout session topics throughout the conference include understanding Islamic terrorism, search and rescue, Family Assistance Centers, and debris management.

More information about the conference, March 11-14 in Hampton, Va., is available on VDEM's Web site at http://www.vaemergency.com/newsroom/events/index.cfm. Electronic registration is available on the Virginia Emergency Management Association's Web site at http://www.vemaweb.com.

Training...
IS-800.b: "National Response Framework, An Introduction"
This newly revised, online course from the Emergency Management Institute introduces participants to the concepts and principles of the National Response Framework. This course is intended for government executives, private-sector and nongovernmental leaders and emergency managers. Those who have completed previous versions of the IS-800 course are not required to repeat the course to remain NIMS compliant, but it is recommended for those who need to implement the NRF.

The course is available at http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/IS800b.asp.

EM Update is the best way to communicate best practices and to get a heads up on issues that might affect you. Articles include case studies, cost/resource-saving local programs, examples of partnerships and regional cooperation and recognition of emergency managers who receive awards and honors in the field.

Please don't hesitate to contact the editor whenever you have a project that might benefit localities or want to highlight an important issue concerning Virginia's emergency response community. Contact Jolie Shank at (804) 897-6510 or by e-mail at pio@vdem.virginia.gov.

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