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Programs & Services

VDEM Reservists

Program Overview • Reservist Positions

Position Descriptions

Community Relations Cadre

Represent the state in joint state-federal field operations to disseminate public information materials to disaster victims advising them where, when and how to apply for individual assistance. Visit impacted communities to advise local government officials about public, individual and mitigation assistance programs. Coordinate the provision of applicant briefings, identification of Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) and other needed services. Monitor, evaluate and report on the in-the-field delivery of these programs to the Disaster Field Office (DFO) staff as appropriate.

Emergency Public Information and External Communications Cadre

Assist in one or more of the following areas to provide complete, accurate, timely, appropriate and understandable information to people and communities responding to and recovering from a disaster/emergency:

• Quickly organize information into concise, accurate news releases, daily summaries, media advisories, talking points, fact sheets, feature articles and/or other written materials.
• Disseminate information to the news media by answering inquiries, provide updates on response/recovery operations and prepared statements and scheduling media interviews or coordinating press conferences.
• Monitor media activities and coverage to identify trends, inaccurate information, misunderstandings and/or misperceptions.
• Answer questions from the public in the Virginia Public Inquiry Center (VPIC), a hotline to provide the public with general information about the disaster.
• Coordinate communication to public officials, legislators and VIPs.

Hazard Mitigation Cadre

Represent the state in the delivery of one or more of the following areas of the Hazard Mitigation program:

• Coordinate activities of Local Hazard Mitigation Teams, teams of individuals selected by local governments impacted by the disaster to assist with hazard mitigation activities in their areas, relative to a presidential disaster declaration or state/local emergencies.
• Provide assistance to applicants of the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program with HMGP regulations and guidelines, including eligibility criteria, types of projects and key deadlines.

Individual Assistance Cadre

Represent the state in the delivery of one or more of the following areas of the Individual Assistance program to service individuals, families and businesses affected by a disaster:

• Coordinate the establishment of and/or manage Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs), facilities set up in disaster areas where one-on-one assistance can be provided to disaster victims.
• Manage calls on the helpline and/or process applications for the Other Needs Assistance program, which provides financial assistance to eligible individuals and households who, as a direct result of a major disaster or emergency, have uninsured or under-insured necessary expenses and serious needs that they are unable to meet through other means.
• Manage calls received on the hotline for the Donations Management program, which manages the receipt, distribution, and disposition of solicited and unsolicited goods donated to help disaster victims.

Local Liaison Cadre

Serve as the single point of contact for impacted localities requesting resources to ensure all coordination details are obtained and/or enter requests from localities into the state's resource tracking system. Regularly report on localities' status and identify regional trends as requested.

Logistics Cadre

Assist in one or more of the following ways with logistical support for response/recovery operations:

• Coordinate and track Statewide Mutual Aid resource requests from start to finish including the timely execution of event agreements between the localities.
• Coordinate and/or process requests for goods and services (i.e. water, ice, generators) in the most expedient and cost effective manner.
• Assist with fulfilling the internal logistical needs of the Virginia Emergency Response Team, such as food, supplies and lodging.
• Set up and demobilization of the Disaster Field Office.

Operations Cadre

Assist with operational activities of Emergency Services, Human Services and/or Infrastructure Support branches to ensure coordination of state, local and federal response efforts.

Planning Cadre

• Assist in one or more of the following areas with the operations of the Planning Section in its efforts to capture, organize and distill all response/recover-relevant information into comprehensive and consolidated decision-support products:
• Monitor, collect, analyze and/or prepare summaries of incoming data regarding current situation, needs and damage assessment to identify and/or forecast trends, risk profiles, vulnerable populations and projected impact and resource needs.
• Coordinate, facilitate and/or participate in planning stages to develop strategies for providing state assistance to localities experiencing emergencies or disasters by combining knowledge of localities and hazards with situation assessments of the events.
• Quickly organize processed information into accurate, concise reports and briefings, documenting the situation assessment as well as the response/recovery actions taken.
• Provide specialized knowledge and event-specific expertise for situation assessment and strategic planning efforts.

Preliminary Damage Assessment Cadre

Represent the state in joint state-federal survey teams activated immediately following a disaster to:

• Quickly identify opportunities and issues to be addressed in the Section 409 Hazard Mitigation Plan.
• Visit each affected city or county to view damage firsthand, to assess the scope of damages and to estimate repair costs in the following categories: debris clearance, emergency protective measures, road systems, water control facilities, buildings and equipment, and public utility systems.
• Determine the extent to which private homes and businesses have been impacted by the disaster.

Public Assistance Cadre

Represent the state in the delivery of one or more of the following areas of the Public Assistance program to service state agencies, local governments, political subdivisions of local government, certain private nonprofit organizations, and state-recognized Indian tribes/tribal organizations affected by a disaster:

• Assist in assessing damages, preparing and reviewing project worksheets, conducting any necessary inspections, and provide any specialized support services (i.e. debris management, environmental impact, historical resources).
• Coordinate with federal counterpart to provide assistance to applicants in documenting damage, determining eligible repair work, estimating costs, developing work projects, evaluating special considerations, certifying the completion of work and ensuring that all eligible costs have been reimbursed.
• Evaluate and determine the eligibility of private nonprofit organizations and facilities for public assistance.
• Aid applicant(s) in preparing detailed Project Worksheet for large public assistance projects.