External Affairs Bulletin Week of May 18, 2015

Seal of the Department of Homeland Security

EXTERNAL AFFAIRS BULLETIN

Week of May 18, 2015

View as Webpage | Subscribe

In this Edition:

Important Dates & Deadlines

May 19 -- Grant Guidance For Fiscal Year 2015 Preparedness Grants

Grant Guidance For Fiscal Year 2015 Preparedness Grants

May 20 -- National Engagement Period Webinar (multiple dates)

National Engagement Period Webinar (multiple dates)

June 3 -- National Engagement Period Feedback Submission Deadline

National Planning Frameworks: National Engagement Period

FEMA Announces 2015 Youth Preparedness Council Members

Today, FEMA announced the members of the 2015-2016 National Youth Preparedness Council (Council). Created in 2012, the Council brings together youth leaders from across the country that are interested in advocating on behalf of preparedness and making a difference in their communities. The Council supports FEMA’s commitment to involving youth in preparedness-related activities. It also provides an avenue to engage youth by taking into account their perspectives, feedback and opinions.  Council members will meet with FEMA staff members throughout their term to provide input on strategies, initiatives and projects.

 

Preparedness education empowers youth to keep themselves and others safe in an emergency; encourages them to share preparedness information with their families, schools and communities; and reduces anxiety about potential disasters.


The six new members of the Council were selected based on their dedication to public service, community involvement and potential to expand their impact as national advocates for youth preparedness. The members selected for new terms in 2015 are:

- FEMA Region III: Angelo DeGraff (Maryland)

- FEMA Region VI: Ty Zaunbrecher (Louisiana)

- FEMA Region IX: Kiahna Lee Espia (Guam)

- FEMA Region IX: Divakar Saini (California)

- FEMA Region X: Hailey Starr (Washington)

- FEMA Region X: Megan Stutzman (Oregon)


The returning Council members are:

- Council Chairperson: Obie Jones (FEMA Region VI, Texas)

- Vice Chairperson: Weston Lee (FEMA Region VIII, Utah)

- FEMA Region I: Bridget Smith (Connecticut)

- FEMA Region II: James Collins (New Jersey)

- FEMA Region III: Sahara Duncan (Pennsylvania)

- FEMA Region IV: Matthew Mayfield (Alabama)

- FEMA Region IV: Jonathan Salazar (Florida)

- FEMA Region V: Isaiah Garcia (Michigan)

- FEMA Region VII: Austin Witt (Iowa)


Each Council member will participate in the Youth Preparedness Council Summit, where they will:

- Share their ideas, opinions and questions about youth disaster preparedness with the leadership of national organizations working on this critical priority;

- Determine their legacy project; and

- Meet with FEMA Community Preparedness staff, who will be their ongoing support contacts and mentors.


To learn more about the FEMA Youth Preparedness Council, please visit: http://www.ready.gov/youth-preparedness-council.


National Hurricane Preparedness Week Toolkit Now Available

The Ready Campaign and America's PrepareAthon! created an online toolkit that collects tips, how to's, and images for using social media tools as a way to promote National Hurricane Preparedness Week, May 24-30. Components of the toolkit can be used throughout hurricane season as well.

National Hurricane Preparedness Week Toolkit

Continuity of Operations Online Course Available at Emergency Management Institute

With hurricane season starting June 1, it's important to talk to employees about their role in continuity planning. Continuity of Operations ensures agencies can continue to perform its essential functions during an emergency situation. FEMA's Emergency Management Institute (EMI) offers an online course, "IS-546.a Continuity of Operations Awareness Course." Although this course directly addresses continuity requirements for federal executive branch organizations, the course is also useful to state, local, tribal, and territorial governments.

 

More information about Continuity of Operations is available at www.fema.gov/continuity-operations.

IS-546.A: Continuity of Operations Awareness Course

Building Safety Month: Water Safe, Water Smart – Build to Code

FEMA encourages partners to join in supporting National Building Safety Month in May, a public outreach and education campaign coordinated by the International Code Council (ICC) and their thousands of members worldwide. Building Safety Month aims to increase awareness of the need for overall safety and sustainability of buildings through the adoption of model building codes and promotion of code enforcement. The campaign includes an array of community events, safety demonstrations, and educational outreach activities which are designed to promote awareness of the need for safe and sustainable structures where people live, work, and play.


This year's theme is “Resilient Communities Start with Building Codes." Each week in May will have an individual theme. The theme for May 18-24 is "Water Safe, Water Smart – Build To Code." As families move outdoors to enjoy nice weather this spring and summer, special steps should be taken to ensure outdoor areas are safe from potential hazards. Swimming pools, barbecue grills, gardening tools, fertilizers, and lawn toys all pose risks to children and adults alike. More information is available in ICC's online brochures, including 10 Important Tips for Backyard Safety and Prevent Accidents, Save Lives: Pool, Spa and Hot Tub Safety.


Find out how organizations can participate in Building Safety Month by visiting ICC’s Building Safety Month page for more information.


FINAL REMINDER: Grant Guidance for Fiscal Year 2015 Preparedness Grants

Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson announced the release of Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 Notices of Funding Opportunity for DHS preparedness grant programs totaling more than $1.6 billion. The grant programs provide funding to state, local, tribal and territorial governments, as well as transportation authorities, nonprofit organizations, and the private sector, to improve the nation’s readiness in preventing, protecting against, responding to, recovering from and mitigating terrorist attacks, major disasters and other emergencies. The grants reflect the Department’s focus on implementation of an all-of-nation, whole-community approach to the building, sustainment, and delivery of those core capabilities essential to achieving a secure and resilient nation.


All preparedness grant applications – excluding Emergency Management Performance Grant and Fire Grant programs – are due no later than 11:59 p.m. EDT, TODAY, May 19, 2015.  Final submissions must be made through the Non-Disaster Grants system located at https://portal.fema.gov.


More information on the 2015 grant guidance is available online. Final submissions must be made through the Non-Disaster Grants system located at https://portal.fema.gov. Further information on DHS’s preparedness grant programs is available at www.dhs.gov and www.fema.gov/grants.


REMINDER: National Planning Frameworks: National Engagement Period Webinars Now Available

As part of a National Engagement Period, drafts of the National Planning Frameworks containing proposed updates are posted online for review and feedback. This is a draft document and FEMA feels it is important to seek stakeholder input at this critical juncture. This update of the National Planning Frameworks focuses on discrete, critical content revisions, and confirming edits as a result of comments received on the National Preparedness Goal. Additional changes in the attached draft are the result of the lessons learned from implementing the Frameworks and recent events, as well as the findings of the National Preparedness Report.

 

FEMA is hosting a series of 60-minute engagement webinars on May 20, 27, and 28 to discuss the update effort. Each 60-minute event will discuss the update of the National Planning Frameworks. All webinars are open to the whole community, which encompasses individuals (including those with disabilities and others with access and functional needs), businesses and nonprofits, faith-based and community groups, schools, and all levels of government.

 

Each engagement webinar will cover the same information. Advance registration is required due to space limitations. Registration is on a first come, first serve basis and can be done online. If accommodations are required to participate in these events, please provide details in the Disability Related Accommodations field on the registration page or contact PPD8-Engagement@fema.dhs.gov.


To ensure all feedback is properly handled, reviewers are asked to use the provided feedback submission form to submit feedback and recommendations. Please provide any comments and recommendations, using the submission form, to PPD8-Engagement@fema.dhs.gov by June 3 at 5 p.m. ET. For more information on national preparedness efforts, please visit www.fema.gov/national-preparedness.