July 2, 2008
The Commonwealth has enacted new legislation that offers financial assistance to public safety responders. Section 44-146.17 in the Code of Virginia states that public safety employees who respond to a disaster can receive assistance from the state under the following conditions:
- The governor has declared a state of emergency; and
- The employee is actively involved in response and recovery efforts for the disaster; and
- The employee experiences extreme personal or family hardship as a result of the disaster.
Each employee can receive up to $2,500 each month for up to three months. The Commonwealth is offering these funds to fill unmet needs that insurance, charitable contributions and any other available disaster funds do not cover. The approval of assistance and amounts awarded are at the discretion of the governor or his designee, and all such decisions are final. Temporary or contract support employees are not eligible.
Public safety employees who suffered extreme hardships due to the April 28 tornadoes should submit an application and supporting documentation to VDEM. Applications and program guidance are available at http://www.vaemergency.com/recover/index.cfm. For more information, contact Individual Assistance Program Manager Larry Braja at larry.braja@vdem.virginia.gov or (804) 897-6500, ext. 6538.
Emergency Operations Center Grant Program
Local governments can compete for $1 million to construct or $250,000 to renovate emergency operations centers through the 2008 EOC Grant Program. There will be one award per state, and funds cannot be used to construct or renovate fusion centers.
The grant application and guidelines are available at http://www.vaemergency.com/grants. All documentation must be submitted through each locality's chief administrative officer to VDEM by July 11. Only one submission per local government will be accepted. The Federal Emergency Management Agency will evaluate applications and recommend awards by the end of October 2008.
For more information, contact the VDEM Grants Management Office at (804) 897-6500.
Citizen Corps partners with community college association
More than 80 percent of police, fire and emergency medical technicians receive their credentials from community colleges. To help promote community emergency preparedness, disaster response training and volunteer service through these schools, Citizen Corps has formed a new partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges. AACC is the primary advocacy organization for the nation's community colleges, representing nearly 1,200 two-year institutions and more than 11 million students. AACC and Citizen Corps have agreed to:
- Raise awareness at community colleges about disaster preparedness and response and volunteer services
- Promote participation of community college students and administrators on local Citizen Corps Councils to support community-based preparedness planning
- Assist in promoting education, training and exercises, and volunteer service opportunities that support first responders, disaster relief and community safety
- Coordinate respective national activities, including participation in National Preparedness Month.
More information is available at http://www.aacc.nche.edu/Template.cfm?Section=Headlines&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=20170.
VDEM participates in amateur radio "Field Day"
VDEM and the Amateur Radio Communications Auxiliary participated in the annual amateur radio "Field Day" event June 28-29. Each year the Amateur Radio Relay League, the national association for amateur radio, organizes Field Day to provide an opportunity for radio operators throughout the United States and Canada to demonstrate amateur radio communications abilities in a field environment using non-commercial power sources to run their radio equipment. All modes of amateur radio covering the entire amateur spectrum were tested, from high frequency voice and Morse code to many of the new digital modes.
Though this is the second year that VDEM has participated in the event, it is the first time that VDEM's newly formed support group ARCA participated. VDEM used the event as an opportunity to test newly installed amateur radio equipment and systems in the Virginia Emergency Operations Center. As a result, the VEOC was able to make contact with more than 400 groups throughout Virginia, the United States and Canada, including other state and local EOCs. In addition, the State Amateur Radio Liaison visited four operational field day stations throughout the Richmond area, including the Richmond Amateur Radio Club, the Richmond Amateur Telecommunications Society, the Central Virginia Contest Club and the Goochland, Va., Amateur Radio Emergency Service.
During disasters, amateur radio is a vital communications link both within the Commonwealth and with the entire country. For more information about VDEM's amateur radio communication plans, contact State Amateur Radio Liaison Terry Hebert at (804) 371-4507 or terry.hebert@vdem.virginia.gov.
Severe Repetitive Loss grant funds still available
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has announced that more than $60 million is still available through the Severe Repetitive Loss grant program. FEMA will accept additional project applications until Sept. 30. SRL funds help to reduce flood losses and insurance claims on properties throughout the nation with the greatest history of flooding; Virginia has 85 of these properties. Funds support acquisition, demolition, elevation, relocation and reconstruction.
Localities with SRL-listed properties should contact Matthew Wall at (804) 897-6500, ext. 6541 or matthew.wall@vdem.virginia.gov by July 14 to take advantage of this extended opportunity.
Conferences...
2008 Virginia Interoperable Communications Conference
This year's Virginia Interoperable Communications Conference will be Sept. 30 – Oct. 1 at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott.
Conference information and a proposed agenda are available on the Interoperability in Virginia Web site at http://www.interoperability.virginia.gov. Online registration is available until Sept. 24.
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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by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management
10501 Trade Court, Richmond, Virginia 23236