Dec. 30, 2009

Winter storm hits Virginia
The worst winter storm in 14 years hit Virginia Dec. 18-19, bringing heavy snow, rain and high winds to the Commonwealth. Parts of Virginia received more than 2 feet of snow. Gov. Tim Kaine declared a state of emergency Dec. 18 to allow state agencies to pre-position resources and quickly assist localities.

The storm caused two significant issues:

Power Outages
At the height of the storm, Dominion Power and electric cooperatives reported nearly 71,000 power outages, mostly in southwestern Virginia. Additional winter weather on Dec. 25 hampered power restoration efforts. As of this morning, there were still 4,000 customers without power in southwest Virginia.

Shelters were opened in several localities including Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell and Wise counties. At the peak, more than 500 people were in shelters. The Virginia Emergency Operations Center coordinated state assistance, including delivery of 165,000 gallons of water and 11,000 meals to local governments.

The American Red Cross and the Virginia Baptists provided meals to those in shelters and at feeding centers. The Virginia National Guard assisted local officials with delivering shelter supplies, checking on homebound residents and transporting evacuees to shelters. The Department of Forestry and VDOT assisted with debris cleanup.

Transportation Impact
The amount of snow combined with the timing just before a major holiday caused significant transportation issues, especially along the I-81, I-77 and Route 29 corridors.

The Virginia State Police responded to more than 16,000 calls for service statewide Dec. 18-20, including more than 3,300 traffic crashes.

Local officials assisted by the State Police, VDOT and the Virginia National Guard rescued stranded motorists and provided temporary shelter.

Public Safety Memorial design chosen
The Public Safety Memorial Commission has chosen a design for the Virginia Public Safety Memorial to honor public safety professionals who have lost their lives in the line of duty. The memorial will be built in the Darden Garden at Capitol Square and will honor the 352 Virginia public safety officials who have died since 1972, including law enforcement officers, firefighters, jail and correctional officers, members of the Virginia National Guard and Defense Force, emergency management and Hazmat personnel, alcohol enforcement agents, volunteer rescue squad members, emergency medical services personnel, conservation police, marine resource officers, state park rangers, and forest wardens. The commission chose Yoshikawa Wright and Lisa Gimmy Landscape Architecture’s Memorial Garden Design. A model of the design is on display in the Patrick Henry Building and is available for download at http://www.publicsafety.virginia.gov/Initiatives/MemorialCommission/Memorial_Commemorative_Sign.pdf.

Emergency Operations Center Grant Program
Local governments can compete for $1 million to construct or $250,000 to renovate emergency operations centers through the 2010 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/eoc_fy10.cfm. All documentation must be submitted through each locality’s chief administrative officer to VDEM by Jan. 13. Only one submission per local government will be accepted. FEMA will evaluate applications and recommend awards by the end of September 2010.

For more information, contact the VDEM Grants Management Office at (804) 897-6500:

• Regions 1 & 2: JoAnn Maher, ext. 6601 or joann.maher@vdem.virginia.gov
• Regions 3, 4 & 6: Jocelyn Bagby, ext. 6580 or jocelyn.bagby@vdem.virginia.gov
• Region 5: William Lawson, ext. 6604 or william.lawson@vdem.virginia.gov
• Region 7: Paulette McWaters, ext. 6614 or paulette.mcwaters@vdem.virginia.gov
  

SAFER grant waivers possible
There is a DHS prohibition against using Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant fund to supplant local budgets. Due to recent economic hardships, DHS will consider petitions for waivers on the rule. Waivers are for 2009 grantees and will be considered on a case-by-case basis under certain conditions, available online at http://www.firegrantsupport.com/safer/121709.aspx.

In order for all potential applicants to have sufficient time to consider this revised policy guidance, DHS will extend the 2009 SAFER application period. The new application deadline will be 5 p.m., Jan. 15. Applicants that have already submitted their application and wish to amend the application given this new policy guidance will be granted that opportunity. Applicants that wish to amend their submitted SAFER application should call the Help Desk at 1-866-274-0960.

Training...
Managing Floodplain Development through the National Flood Insurance Program
Front Royal, Va., Feb. 22-26
This free Emergency Management Institute course is for local officials responsible for administering their local floodplain management ordinance. The course will focus on the NFIP and concepts of floodplain management, maps and studies, ordinance administration, and the relationship between floodplain management and flood insurance.

This class is eligible for 12 Certified Floodplain Manager continuing education credits through the Association of State Floodplain Managers. FEMA Region III will proctor the CFM exam at 1 p.m. on Feb. 26. The CFM is a certification program provided by ASFPM. Space is limited; preference will be given to community floodplain managers.

For more information and to register, contact Alison Meehan at (804) 371-6137 or alison.meehan@dcr.virginia.gov.

Save the date: Emergency Management Procurement Forum
VDEM’s Procurement Office will host the 2010 Emergency Management Procurement Forum, May 2-4, 2010, to raise awareness about being better prepared to procure goods and services during emergencies. The conference will begin with an overview and tour of the Virginia Emergency Operations Center and continue with presentations and demonstrations that address Virginia Department of Minority Business Enterprises Small, Woman- and Minority-owned certification, legal issues, Small Purchase Charge Cards, prequalified contracts, ethics and more. Attendees will be able to network with state and local emergency procurement personnel from all over Virginia and to see a vendor trade show. Additional details and registration will be available soon.

Upcoming VDEM training courses
Due to budgetary constraints, VDEM must cancel a class if a minimum of 15 students have not enrolled two weeks before the class begins. Sign up early.

VDEM’s Learning Management System Knowledge Center provides information and registration for each class. Students must create an LMS account (a one-time process) in order to enroll. Step-by-step registration instructions are provided on the LMS login page at https://covkc.virginia.gov/vdem/external/. Assistance is available from VDEM’s Office of Training and Exercises at lmshelp@vdem.virginia.gov or (804) 897-6500, ext. 6557.

The table below lists VDEM courses for the next quarter.

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