FEMA Bulletin Week of January 11, 2016

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FEMA BULLETIN

Week of January 11, 2016

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In this Edition:

Important Dates & Deadlines

January 15 -- Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program Application Deadline

Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program Application and Integrating Emergency Management into Your Institutions  Deadlines

Feb 5 -- Emergency Management Framework for Tribal Governments Course Application Deadline

Emergency Management Framework for Tribal Governments Course Application Deadline

April 7

Comment Period Ends for Tribal Declarations Pilot Guidance

Tribal Declarations Pilot Guidance Published to Federal Register for Comment

On January 8, FEMA entered the next phase of tribal consultation for the Stafford Act disaster declaration process for tribal governments. The draft guidance posted to the Federal Register, and will available for comment until April 7, 2016.


In the coming months, FEMA will conduct consultation with tribal leaders to discuss the latest draft of the Tribal Declarations Pilot Guidance.  When finalized, the pilot guidance will outline the process tribal governments will use to request Stafford Act declarations and the criteria FEMA will use to evaluate direct tribal declaration requests and make recommendations to the President. 


This round of tribal consultation builds upon the second round in the spring of 2014 that included evaluating the need for Public Assistance grant program funding; modifying and adding definitions of terms; explaining how FEMA looks to implement federal statute; and considering additional cultural and religious needs. 


Additional information regarding the consultation process may be found on http://www.fema.gov/second-draft-tribal-declaration-pilot-guidance-resources. Information on FEMA’s tribal policy and tribal consultation policy may be found on http://www.fema.gov/fema-tribal-affairs.


FEMA Co-Hosts Promising Practice Webinar for Whole Community Outreach During Emergencies

FEMA, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) National Network, and the Pacific ADA Center will co-host a webinar about the emergency communications services and equipment that address the access and functional needs of people with disabilities as part of whole community, inclusive emergency planning. The presentation is part of the FEMA Promising Practice Webinar series and will be held January 14 from 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm EST. Registration is free at ADA Presentations.

 

The Texas Disability Task Force will discuss its Effective Communications Toolkit for emergency managers, shelter managers, first responders, and public information professionals who work for, or with, local jurisdictions to communicate warnings, notifications, and messages to news media and the public.

 

The Seattle Commission for People with Disabilities will discuss its Emergency Shelter Communications Toolkit that could be used by any facility planning for, or serving as, an emergency shelter. The kit provides information, tools, and resources to address communication barriers that can be present in an emergency shelter situation. 

 

The event uses the Blackboard Collaborate webinar platform. Collaborate downloads files to your machine in order to run. We recommend that you prepare your technology prior to the start of the session. You may need the assistance of your IT staff if firewalls prevent you from downloading files.


Start the New Year Knowing How to Save Damaged Family Treasures

Floods and fires can damage family treasures and heirlooms. When homes are damaged by flooding, treasured possessions such as family photos and other keepsakes become more cherished. These valued ob­jects may be saved if untouched by sewage or chemi­cals.  After a fire, items that survive are often covered with soot and ash, requiring prompt and gentle attention to avoid further damage.

The Heritage Emergency National Task Force, a coalition of 42 national organizations and federal agencies co­sponsored by FEMA and the Smithsonian Institution, offers basic salvage guidelines from professional conservators after a flood or fire.


In Case You Missed It: 2016 National Seasonal Preparedness Messaging Calendar

The Ready Campaign released the 2016 National Seasonal Preparedness Messaging Calendar, available in both a graphic or text format. To learn more about each topic month or week and to get content to promote preparedness information all year, visit www.ready.gov/calendar.

2016 National Seasonal Preparedness Messaging Calendar

Extended Registration Deadline: Integrating Emergency Management into Hispanic-Serving Institutions of Higher Education

The Emergency Management Institute (EMI) will conduct the course “Integrating Emergency Management into Your Institutions” February 22-23, 2016, to assist Hispanic-Serving Institutions of Higher Education (HSIs) with either establishing or enhancing their emergency management curricula.

 

The course addresses issues unique to HSIs and begins the process of identifying and overcoming institutional roadblocks of emergency management-related offerings, and aims to achieve a more diverse population of emergency management professionals who reflect the communities in which they live and work. The target audience includes department chairs in disciplines such as sociology, geography, public administration, and psychology from minority and minority-serving institutions of higher education.

 

This course will be held at the National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, Maryland. The registration deadline has been extended to January 15. To apply, complete a signed general admissions application form and mail, email, or fax the application to:  National Emergency Training Center, Admissions Office Room I-216, 16825 South Seton Avenue, Emmitsburg, MD 21727-8998; Phone: (301) 447-1035; Fax: (301) 447-1658; Email: netcadmissions@fema.dhs.gov. Enrollment is limited to the first 20 applicants. For more information, contact Lillian Virgil at lillian.virgil@fema.dhs.gov.


Reminder: Emergency Management Framework Course Offered for Tribal Governments

Tribal emergency managers, response personnel, employees, department heads, and leaders will have the opportunity to participate in Emergency Management Framework for Tribal Governments on February 29 – March 3, 2016, at the Emergency Management Institute in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

 

The course provides participants with a basic understanding of emergency management principles and their role in leading and directing their tribes in implementing comprehensive emergency management systems. It also covers the legal and financial basis for emergency management, hazard identification and analysis, planning, components of an emergency management system, readiness through training, forming public and private sector partnerships, and upgrading and sustaining emergency management capabilities.


No prerequisites are required; however, completion of online courses ICS 100 (Introduction to Incident Command System [ICS]), ICS 200 (ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents), IS 700 (National Incident Management System, An Introduction), and IS 800 (National Response Framework, An Introduction) are recommended prior to taking the course.

 

Tribal applicants may apply by completing a FEMA Form 119-25-1, General Admissions Application, no later than February 5, 2016. Mail applications to NETC Admissions Office (Room I-216), National Emergency Training Center, 16825 South Seton Avenue, Emmitsburg, MD 21727-8998, fax to (301) 447-1658, or email to netcadmissions@fema.dhs.gov. State, territory, and local applicants must send their applications through their State Training Officer. FEMA regional staff must send their applications through their regional training manager. Please send questions to Katie Hirt at katie.hirt@fema.dhs.gov. Space is limited.


Reminder: Applications Due for Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program

The Fiscal Year 2015 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG) opened for applications on Monday, December 7, and will close on Friday, January 15, 2016, at 5 p.m. ET. Grant guidance for this program is available at Grants.gov and the Firefighters Grant Program. The “Get Ready Guide” may also be useful for potential applicants and is provided to answer questions and to help prepare grant applications.

 

The Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, (Pub. L. 113-76) provides $306,000,000 in AFG Program funding to assist fire departments and nonaffiliated ambulance and emergency medical service organizations meet their firefighting and emergency response needs. The AFG Program enables these organizations to obtain the tools and resources necessary to more effectively protect the health and safety of the public and emergency response personnel.