FEMA Bulletin Week of February 1, 2016

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FEMA BULLETIN

Week of February 1, 2016

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In this Edition:

Important Dates & Deadlines

February 3, 2016

Webinar: Emergency Alert System

February 4, 2016

Preparing Youth for Disasters Webinar

Feb 5, 2016

Integrating Emergency Management into Tribal Colleges & Universities Applications

Feb 9, 2016

National Advisory Council Meeting

Webinar: Emergency Alert System 

February 19, 2016

Integrating Emergency Management into Historically Black Colleges and Universities Applications

February 24, 2016

Webinar: Understanding the Basic Relationship between Public Information Officers and Journalists

March 1, 2016

Youth Preparedness  Council Applications

Mar 21, 2016

Comments Period Ends on Disaster Deductible Concepts

 

April 7

Comment Period Ends for Tribal Declarations Pilot Guidance

Executive Order Establishes a Federal Earthquake Risk Management Standard

On Tuesday, February 2, President Obama signed an Executive Order: Establishing a Federal Earthquake Risk Management Standard, which will improve the capability of federal buildings to function after an earthquake, reducing risks to people, lowering post-quake recovery costs, and making it easier for communities to recover swiftly.


The Executive Order requires that federal agencies responsible for the design and construction of a new building, or an alteration to an existing building, ensure that the building is constructed or altered using the earthquake-resistant design provisions in the most current building codes.


The latest building codes, which encompass the current understanding of the earthquake hazard potential, are one of the best ways to achieve earthquake safety and preserve the lives of the people who live in a building. This Executive Order will also help ensure that federal assets are available to support recovery efforts.


Additional information is available online including the Executive Order and a fact sheet outlining steps to increase the Nation’s resilience to earthquakes.


Public Alerts and Warnings Think Tank Session

FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System's (IPAWS) Program Management Office (PMO) and the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) Digital Engagement Committee co-hosted a digital event about public alert and warning capabilities.

 

On December 15, the IPAWS PMO partnered with state and local emergency management professionals from New York City, Minnesota, Virginia, and Tennessee to engage participants - via webinar and real-time social media feeds - in discussions about solutions to common public alert and warning challenges. They discussed how IPAWS alerting channels, such as Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs) and the Emergency Alert System (EAS), are used across the country, and best practices (i.e., testing, training, governance, messaging) for implementing IPAWS.

 

The “IPAWS Voices of Experience” session had more than 648,000 social media impressions. For a link to the event recording, or for more information about IAEM Think Tanks, visit www.iaem.com.


Integrating Emergency Management into Historically Black Colleges and Universities

FEMA's Emergency Management Institute (EMI) will conduct a course to assist Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) with either establishing or enhancing their emergency management curricula.

 

This course addresses issues unique to HBCUs and begins the process of identifying and overcoming institutional roadblocks of emergency management-related offerings.

 

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.

 

A goal of the training is to achieve a more diverse population of emergency management professionals who reflect the communities in which they live and work.  Enrollment is limited to the first 20 applicants.

 

For more information, contact Lillian Virgil at Lillian.Virgil@fema.dhs.gov.

 

Dates:  April 11-12, 2016

Location:  EMI, National Emergency Training Center (NETC), Emmitsburg, Maryland

Registration deadline:  Submit an application no later than Friday, February 19, 2016

To apply:  Complete a FEMA Form 119-25-1, General Admissions Application, with student signature and signature of supervisor or sponsoring agency official.  Mail, scan, or fax the application to:

 

NETC, 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

 

Link to the course description:   “Integrating Emergency Management into Your Institutions”


Webinar: Understanding the Relationship between Public Information Officers and Journalists

FEMA's Emergency Management Institute (EMI) will present a webinar titled "Understanding the Basic Relationship between Public Information Officers and Journalists" on February 24 from 1:30-2:30 p.m. EST.

 

This webinar provides college-level emergency management and homeland security educators with a basic understanding of the relationship between public information officers and journalists.

 

This webinar discusses how to find public information professionals in government, non-governmental agencies, and hospitals.

 

Participants will gain an appreciation for the importance of colleges and universities offering emergency management, homeland security, and related programs that integrate risk communication and highlight the dynamics of the public information officers' roles.

 

To participate, register in advance. Closed captioning is available.


American Red Cross' Smoke Alarm Program

A fire started in a home in Hardin County, Kentucky, two days after Christmas. All three family members were asleep. The daughter was awakened by smoke alarms to a bedroom filling with smoke. She was able to wake up the rest of the family. When they found their primary escape route blocked by the fire, all three climbed out the bedroom window, and called 911 from a neighbor’s home.

 

This family was saved by a smoke alarm thanks to local American Red Cross coalition members and firefighters who are teaming up to conduct safety visits to homes across the country and install smoke alarms. During a routine safety visit in October, the family had no alarms. Once American Red Cross coalition members and local firefighters installed the alarms, they taught the family about the risks of fire and the importance of identifying two escape routes. They also educated them on the risks of local natural disasters.

 

Since the Red Cross launched their smoke alarm effort in October 2014, coalition members visited more than 111,000 homes and installed more than 239,000 smoke alarms. They have reached more than 417,000 kids in schools and after school programs with initiatives like The Pillowcase Project. They have been able to formally validate their installation efforts have resulted in 48 lives saved.

 

The U.S. Fire Administration partners with the American Red Cross on this initiative through the Fire is Everyone’s Fight Campaign by informing the Nation’s fire departments about the program and providing safety materials.


Reminder: Integrating Emergency Management into Tribal Colleges and Universities

FEMA's Emergency Management Institute (EMI) will conduct a course to assist tribal colleges and universities with either establishing or enhancing their emergency management curricula. This course addresses issues unique to Tribal Colleges and Universities and begins the process of identifying and overcoming institutional roadblocks of emergency management related offerings.

 

For more information, contact Lillian Virgil at Lillian.Virgil@fema.dhs.gov.

 

Dates:  March 21-22, 2016

Location:  EMI, National Emergency Training Center (NETC), Emmitsburg, Maryland

Registration deadline:  Submit an application no later Friday, February 5, 2016

 

Link to the course description:  “Integrating Emergency Management into Your Institutions


Two Additional Webinars for Upcoming Test of Emergency Alert System

FEMA will conduct a statewide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) in 22 states, two territories, and the District of Columbia on February 24. State, local, and tribal authorities use EAS to deliver emergency information to the public. The voluntary, bilingual test is intended to assess readiness and verify the functionality of EAS stations to receive and broadcast a national test message.

 

In preparation, informational webinars are scheduled for broadcast and cable management and emergency management representatives to discuss the regional test. The webinar will provide a non-technical overview of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) and how it will be used to activate the EAS next month.

 

The test will be conducted in Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Texas, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Virginia.

 

In addition to a session in late January, two webinars are scheduled in early February. Participants are encouraged to attend only one session.

 

What:  Informational Webinar on the upcoming Emergency Alert System test

When:  Wednesday, February 3, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. (EST)

Where:  Webinar Link: http://tinyurl.com/helbcfb

 

You may listen to audio on the webinar or dial in to a conference line.

Conference Line: 1-650-479-3207  Access code: 662 357 165

 

     ~~~ OR ~~~~

 

When:  Tuesday, February 9, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. (EST)

Where:  Webinar Link:  http://tinyurl.com/jtvs4ca

 

You may listen to audio on the webinar or dial in to a conference line.

Conference Line: 1-650-479-3207  Access code: 667 519 455


Reminder: Preparing Youth for Disasters Webinar

On Thursday, February 4, 2016, from 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. EST, the FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness Division will host a webinar focused on engaging the public on disaster preparedness and resilience efforts serving children and youth.

 

How to Join the Webinar:  Adobe Connect Registration

 

Please register for the event and test your Adobe Connect connection prior to the meeting by clicking here. This webinar will offer closed captioning.


Reminder: National Advisory Council Meeting

FEMA will hold a National Advisory Council (NAC) public meeting in Raleigh, NC from February 9 - 11, 2016. The NAC was established to ensure effective and ongoing coordination of Federal preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation for natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters.

 

Members of the public are invited to attend and provide comments. Go to the NAC webpage or the Federal Register Notice for directions and instructions how to submit public comments.

 

If you are attending in person or need more information or reasonable accommodation, contact FEMA-NAC@fema.dhs.gov.


Reminder: Comment Period for Tribal Declarations Pilot Guidance

In early January, FEMA entered the next phase of tribal consultation for the Stafford Act disaster declaration process for tribal governments. The draft guidance is posted to the Federal Register and will be available for comment until April 7, 2016. Additional information regarding the consultation process may be found at Second Draft Tribal Declaration Pilot Guidance.


Reminder: Youth Preparedness Council Applications

FEMA is seeking applicants for its Youth Preparedness Council formed in 2012 to bring together leaders from across the country engaged in advocating youth preparedness.

 

Council members are selected based on their dedication to public service, efforts in making a difference in their communities, and potential to expand their impact as national advocates for youth preparedness.

 

All applications and supporting materials must be received no later than March 1, 2016, 11:59 p.m. PST in order to be eligible. New Youth Preparedness Council members will be announced in May 2016. For more information and to access the application materials, visit Youth Preparedness Council.


Reminder: FEMA Seeks Comments on Disaster Deductible Concept

Over the past several years Members of Congress, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), and the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) have asked FEMA to look at how the federal government supports states following disasters and the associated costs. In response, FEMA is exploring the concept of a disaster deductible.

 

The Agency believes that such an approach has the potential to incentivize mitigation strategies and promote risk-informed decision-making to build resilience, including to catastrophic events; reduce the costs of future events for both states and the federal government; and facilitate state and local government planning and budgeting for enhanced disaster response and recovery capability through greater transparency.

 

This concept would include the establishment of a predetermined level of state disaster funding or investment in resilience before FEMA would begin to provide additional assistance through the Public Assistance program following a disaster declaration. The deductible concept would include how to calculate the deductible, the scope of the deductible, how to satisfy the deductible, how this concept could influence change, implementation considerations and an estimated impact.

 

FEMA is seeking public comments on all aspects of this concept until March 21, 2016 which may be submitted through Regulations.gov under docket ID FEMA-2016-003. This is a significant change, so FEMA is seeking early public feedback through an advance notice of proposed rulemaking.