August 26, 2009
This issue has been updated to correct Coordinator's Briefing information.
VDH expands call center to handle H1N1 inquiries
The Virginia Department of Health is expanding its call center to handle questions that Virginians may have about the H1N1 virus as public schools begin to open.
The H1N1 virus has differed from the seasonal flu by affecting higher numbers of school children and young adults. Parents and faculty should know that anyone with H1N1 symptoms should stay at home until they have been without a fever for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicine. Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat or fatigue. Families also should have an emergency care plan in case a child is sent home from school due to illness while parents are at work.
The toll-free number, 1-877-275-8343, will be answered during state business hours. Visitors to www.vdh.virginia.gov will find more information about the H1N1 virus in Virginia and an e-mail option to ask questions.
CDC issues guidance
Also, the Centers for Disease Control has issued guidance to help organizations start planning and acting now for the impacts of seasonal flu and the H1N1 virus.
- Guidance for Institutions of Higher Education, a social media toolkit for administrators and students, and the Technical Report on CDC Guidance for Responses to Influenza for Institutions of Higher Education during the 2009-2010 Academic Year
- Guidance for Businesses and Employers for the Fall Flu Season and a communications toolkit
The new CDC guidance and more information about preparing for flu season are available at http://www.flu.gov.
Pandemic Influenza Non-Medical Plan Template for Local Governments
In collaboration with the Virginia Department of Health, VDEM’s Local Planning Assistance has developed a new, non-medical plan template for local governments to help them plan for the impacts of pandemic flu in their local Emergency Operations Plan. This template can assist localities with the planning process, which should include all stakeholders within the community; localities should review and modify all items to fit their specific needs. It suggests an overall format and examples of items that may or may not be applicable to a community.
The plan template is available online at http://www.vaemergency.com/library/plans/local_eop.cfm. For more information, contact Eileen Tarr at (804) 897-6500, ext. 6529 or eileen.tarr@vdem.virginia.gov or Patrick Holland at (804) 897-6500, ext. 6546 or patrick.holland@vdem.virginia.gov.
LPA also offers technical assistance to any institution of higher education or locality revising its plan. LPA staff will attend planning meetings and review existing EOPs and revised drafts, partial drafts and plan sections at any point. LPA recommends that final drafts be submitted for review before formal adoption. A review of the final draft could prevent a situation that may require further revisions and an additional adoption by the governing board.
Spanish hurricane guide available
A new Spanish hurricane guide has been produced by Listo Virginia as part of a hurricane preparedness campaign targeted to Spanish-speaking residents. The hurricane guide will be distributed with Spanish newspapers in hundreds of locations throughout the Hampton Roads and Richmond regions. Centro will carry the hurricane guide in its Friday, Aug. 28 edition circulated in Richmond/Central Virginia area. El Eco, a Spanish newspaper published in Hampton Roads, will distribute the guide Tuesday, Sept. 1. The Listo Virginia hurricane campaign also includes news articles in those newspapers as well as in Nuevas Raices, which circulates in Central Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley; presentations at Hispanic cultural and business events; appearances on Spanish radio community programs aired in Richmond and Hampton Roads; and Web banners on Hispanic media Web sites. To order copies of the Spanish hurricane guide, send an e-mail to karla.ramos@vdem.virginia.gov or call (804) 897-6510.
Coordinator’s Briefings scheduled
The 2009 Coordinator’s Briefings are VDEM’s annual opportunity to provide the latest information on state and federal policy and procedure regarding activities for local government emergency management personnel. Jurisdictions receiving Emergency Management Program Grant funds are required to attend. Where necessary, VDEM will provide lodging reimbursement for each jurisdiction’s director and coordinator of Emergency Management (maximum of two per jurisdiction) or their designated representatives. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. and sessions will run 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Walk-ins will not be permitted.
The briefings will be in
VDEM to host the Certified Floodplain Manager’s Exam
VDEM will host the state Certified Floodplain Manager’s Exam on Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 1 p.m. The Association of State Flood Plain Managers’ CFM® certification program recognizes continuing education and professional development that enhance the knowledge and performance of local, state, federal and private sector floodplain managers. If you are interested in taking the exam, please contact Debbie Messmer by e-mail at debbie.messmer@vdem.virginia.gov. More information about ASFPM is available at http://www.floods.org/.
Training...
Virginia hosts last FEMA-funded Teen CERT Train-the-Trainer class
Sept. 11-13 in Wise County
Eastern Michigan University training staff will bring the last “free” FEMA-funded Teen CERT Train-the-Trainer program to Wise County, Va. EMU did not receive funding to continue the program in 2010.
The three-day Teen CERT Train-the-Trainer course builds upon the basic Community Emergency Response Team curriculum and includes information and guidelines for teaching and implementing CERT for teenagers. Participants are given ideas and direction to maintain and sustain local Teen CERTs - such as partnering with local emergency management, schools, and securing ongoing financial and political support. The curriculum is not meant to replace those of previously established initiatives, rather it incorporates them in their entirety and places focus on increasing knowledge and skill development.
This course is for public safety, fire service, EMS, emergency management, security officers, any state/local agency or non-governmental personnel, teachers or secondary educators who may be called upon to train or lead Teen CERT programs. Graduates are eligible for 2.2 continuing education units.
In addition to completing CERT classroom training, students should complete IS-100, IS-200, IS-700, IS-800 and online IS-317 prior to attending. Online versions of these classes are available at http://training.fema.gov/IS/crslist.asp.
Online registration closes Aug. 31. Detailed information about the class is available online at http://www.vaemergency.com/train/calendar_course.cfm?id=145.
Emergency Planning for Congregate Care Facilities
Representatives from assisted living, adult residential, child daycare, children’s residential and correctional facilities and other group care environments are invited to participate in a series of emergency planning workshops. Topics will include:
- Discussion of common communicable disease threats (influenza, norovirus, etc.) in congregate care settings and methods of prevention
- The planning process: what to include in the plan, identifying threats and examining continuity of operations during a crisis
- Effective communications with clients, staff and families during a time of crisis
- A hands-on exercise using a planning template to write an emergency response plan
Sessions, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., are scheduled across the state. Online registration and details are available at https://va.train.org, course ID# 1018941. Contact Eileen Tarr at (804) 897-6500, ext. 6529 or eileen.tarr@vdem.virginia.gov with questions. The Virginia departments of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, Corrections, Emergency Management, Health, and Social Services, and the Virginia Office for Protection and Advocacy are sponsoring the workshops.
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