Oct. 22, 2008
Gov. Tim Kaine announced a projected budget shortfall of more than $2.5 billion for the next two fiscal years. The Commonwealth will address the FY09 shortfall through state agency savings and spending reductions of more than $348 million and additional steps, while protecting public safety services. VDEM has made some substantial cuts but does not plan to lay off any employees. None of the cuts will compromise emergency services.
Virginia localities receive funds for Citizen Alert Systems
More than 40 Virginia localities will receive a total of $1.6 million in federal funds to set up or enhance citizen alert systems for area residents. These alerting systems provide automated emergency phone and text notifications to anyone who registers their home phone, cell phone or pager. All localities in the Commonwealth were eligible to compete for the State Homeland Security Program grant funds. A list of localities receiving funds is available online at http://www.vaemergency.com/grants/citizen_alert.cfm.
Army launches preparedness campaign
The U.S. Army last month launched the Ready Army campaign, designed to prepare Army soldiers, civilians and their families at installations around the world, including the seven active duty Army bases and the Pentagon in Virginia. Ready Army is aligned with DHS' national all-hazard Ready campaign and provides an implementation guide, public service announcements, briefings, brochures, posters, emergency management kit information and readiness checklists, family emergency management planning templates, an electronic media kit, children's activities, a parent/teacher resource guide, and Web-based tools. More information is available at the Ready Army Web site, http://www.acsim.army.mil/readyarmy/ra_about.htm.
New director for Technological Hazards Division
Greg Britt has been selected to serve as director of VDEM's Technological Hazards Division. Britt is the former deputy director of the division and the hazardous materials field manager. He joined VDEM in 1988 as a hazardous materials officer in central Virginia after serving Fairfax County Fire and Rescue as a fire fighter, emergency medical technician and hazardous materials technician. As the Technological Hazards Division director, Britt will train and coordinate a statewide network of locally based hazardous materials officers and regional hazardous materials response teams to respond to the full spectrum of hazardous materials incidents and terrorist incidents involving weapons of mass destruction. He will also oversee corrective activities of contaminated sites owned by the Commonwealth and ensure environmental regulatory compliance for both short- and long-term projects.
Independent Study Program updates and reminders
Several Independent Study Program courses relating to National Incident Management System training have been revised.
- IS-100 has been revised and renamed IS-100.a.
- IS-200 has been revised and renamed IS-200.a.
- IS-800.a has been revised and renamed IS-800.b.
All students must now submit the revised exam forms for IS-100.a, IS-200.a and IS-800.b. Interactive Web-based courses and downloads for classroom are available online at the ISP Web site, http://training.fema.gov/is. Select "NIMS Courses" from the main menu. Currently, no classroom materials are available for download for IS-800.b.
Group exam questions differ from those found online. Instructors submitting group final exams via paper OpScan forms through postal service (not online final exam submissions) should call the ISP office at (301) 447-1200 or e-mail independent.study@dhs.gov to request the final exam questions. Additional OpScan answer sheet forms for any ISP courses are available at http://training.fema.gov/IS/ansreq.asp.
There are also coinciding revisions for IS-100.LEa, IS-100.PWa and IS-100.SCa, though group training materials are not available. IS-100.HC, IS-200.HC and IS-700 have not yet been revised, and all existing materials are current and valid.
Exercises...
Operation Hotwire
VDEM will participate in the FEMA Region III Operation Hotwire Functional Exercise on Oct. 23 to demonstrate the region’s response to a simulated prolonged power outage impacting the east coast. Pre-exercise build-up includes news updates and simulated media broadcasts that enable VERT staff to prepare situation reports and conduct planning activities similar to a real emergency. The scenario will allow the Virginia Emergency Response Team to assess its decision-making, resource identification and prioritization, and critical logistic distribution efforts in response to the scenario. Along with Virginia, the Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and the District of Columbia emergency operations centers will participate. Federal participants include the FEMA Region III Regional Response Coordination Center, the Office of Infrastructure Protection, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Department of Energy and the American Red Cross.
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.
Produced
by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management
10501 Trade Court, Richmond, Virginia 23236