FEMA External Affairs Bulletin Week of April 6, 2015

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EXTERNAL AFFAIRS BULLETIN

Week of April 6, 2015

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In this Edition:

Important Dates & Deadlines

April 8 -- National Preparedness Goal Webinar

National Preparedness Goal Webinar (multiple dates)

April 11 - Individual and Community Preparedness Awards Application Deadline

Individual and Community Preparedness Awards Application Deadline

April 14 -- Federal Flood Risk Management Standard Listening Session in Seattle, Washington

Federal Flood Risk Management Standard Listening Session in Seattle, Washington

April 16 -- Family Preparedness Webinar

Family Preparedness Webinar

April 16 -- National Preparedness Goal Open Comment Period Deadline

National Preparedness Goal Open Comment Period Deadline

April 17 - Fiscal Year 2014 Fire Prevention & Safety Application Deadline

Fiscal Year 2014 Fire Prevention & Safety Application Deadline

April 24 -- Notice of Funding Opportunity for Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 Emergency Management Performance Grant

Notice of Funding Opportunity for Fiscal Year 2015 Emergency Management Performance Grant

April 24 -- FEMA Senior Executive Service Office of Response and Recovery Application Deadline

FEMA Senior Executive Service Office of Response and Recovery Application Deadline

April 30 -- National PrepareAthon! Day

National PrepareAthon! Day

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.

 

The FY 2015 grant guidance will continue to focus on the nation’s highest risk areas, including urban areas that face the most significant threats. Based on consistent feedback from state, local, tribal, and territorial partners regarding the challenges created by a two-year period of performance, the Secretary addressed this concern in the FY 2015 grant guidance by increasing the period of performance for grant awards from two years to three years for all FY 2015 grant programs, except the Assistance to Fire Fighters Grants and the Emergency Management Performance Grant. Consistent with previous grant guidance, dedicated funding is provided for law enforcement and terrorism prevention throughout the country to prepare for, prevent and respond to pre-operational activity and other crimes that are precursors or indicators of terrorist activity.

 

The Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) applications, announced on March 25, 2015, are due no later than April 24, 2015.  All other preparedness grant applications – excluding Fire Grant programs – are due no later than 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.


National Preparedness Goal Refresh Webinars and Open Comment Period

As part of FEMA's work with the National Preparedness Goal, FEMA is hosting a series of 60-minute engagement webinars on April 8, 9, 10, and 13 to discuss the refresh effort. All webinars are open to the whole community, including individuals with or without disabilities, business and nonprofits, faith based and community groups, schools, and all levels of government.

 

FEMA is coordinating a whole community effort to refresh the first edition of the National Preparedness Goal (the Goal). As called for under Presidential Policy Directive 8: National Preparedness (PPD-8), the National Preparedness Goal sets the vision for preparedness, a secure and resilient Nation with the capabilities required across the whole community to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from the threats and hazards that pose the greatest risk, and identifies the core capabilities necessary to achieve the Goal.

 

FEMA requests feedback on the first edition of the National Preparedness Goal. The comment period closes Thursday, April 16, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. EDT. Please visit www.fema.gov/ppd8 to review proposed updates to the Goal, and download the feedback matrix. All comments should be submitted via email to PPD8-Engagement@fema.dhs.gov using the provided matrix.


Save the Date: Family Preparedness Webinar

FEMA's Individual and Community Preparedness Division (ICPD) is hosting a webinar on emergency preparedness for the entire family, presented by four women who have one title in common—mother. These mothers and well-known bloggers will offer tips, actions and insights on how to get your family prepared for disasters. Join the conversation via webinar on Thursday, April 16 at 2 p.m. EDT.


The webinar entitled, “Easy Ways to Help Prepare Your Family for Disasters” will feature preparedness information from:

- Shelle Wells, blogger for Preparedness Mama;

- Erica Mueller, blogger for Mom Prepares;

- Tanya Ferraro, blogger for Bigger than Myself; and

- Shelly Lopez-Gray, blogger for Adventures of a Labor Nurse.


Those interested in participating can register for the webinar online. Closed captioning will be offered.


Get ‘Petpared’ with FEMA Region III

The likelihood family pets will survive a disaster such as a flood or tornado depends largely on proper emergency planning. In support of America’s PrepareAthon!, FEMA Region III is hosting a #Petpared Challenge to prepare pets for emergencies. Take action and join in now through May 8, 2015. There are several ways to participate, such as:

- Download a pet preparedness mobile application;

- Build a pet emergency supply kit;

- ID your pet with a collar and tag or consider micro chipping;

- Determine where you would shelter-in-place with your pet; or

- Create a buddy-system with a relative or friend to help each other’s pets if one of you is away from home during an emergency.

 

Once an action is complete, take a picture (or a selfie) of a #petpared pet and share it on Twitter or Instagram using hashtag #Petpared to help spread the word.


REMINDER: 2015 FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness Award Application Period Now Open

The application period for the 2015 Individual and Community Preparedness Awards is open until April 10, 2015. The awards highlight innovative local practices and achievements by recognizing individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions toward making their communities safer, stronger, better prepared, and more resilient.

 

To be considered for this year’s awards, all submissions must be received by April 10, 2015, at 11:59 p.m. EDT and must feature program activities taking place between January 1, 2014, and April 10, 2015. Applications should be submitted to citizencorps@fema.dhs.gov.


REMINDER: Fiscal Year 2014 Fire Prevention & Safety Application Period Now Open

The Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grants are part of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and support projects that enhance the safety of the public and firefighters from fire and related hazards. The FY 2014 Fire Prevention & Safety (FP&S) application period is open until April 17, 2015 at 5 p.m. EDT.


REMINDER: Notice of Funding Opportunity for Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 Emergency Management Performance Grant

FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate announced the release of the FY 2015 Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) Program. The FY 2015 EMPG Program provides over $350 million to assist state, local, tribal, and territorial governments in preparing for all hazards, as authorized by the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. The notice of funding opportunity can be found at www.grants.gov. EMPG applications are due no later than April 24, 2015.  Final submissions must be made through the Non-Disaster (ND) Grants system located at https://portal.fema.gov.


REMINDER: Senior Executive Service Postings for FEMA's Office of Response and Recovery

FEMA recently posted three Office of Response and Recovery Senior Executive Service opportunities on USAJobs: Director, National Disaster Recovery Planning, Office of Federal Disaster Coordination; Assistant Administrator, Response Directorate; Deputy Assistant Administrator, Recovery Directorate. To review the posting and complete an application, please visit www.usajobs.gov. The deadline to apply is April 24, 2015.


REMINDER: Register for a Federal Flood Risk Management Standard Listening Session

FEMA and federal partners are providing a series of listening sessions on the implementation guidelines of the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS). These sessions provide the opportunity to learn more about the Standard, ask questions, and provide feedback on how federal agencies implement the Standard. An upcoming session will be held in Seattle, Washington. Details for this session are available online.


Due to space constraints of the facilities, seating may be limited. To reserve a seat in advance, please provide a request via email at least three days in advance with the contact information of the participant (including name, mailing address, and e-mail address), and the meeting to be attended to FEMA-FFRMS@fema.dhs.gov and include the subject/attention line: Reservation Request for FFRMS. For anyone attending the meetings who is hearing or visually impaired, or who requires special assistance or accommodations, please also contact FEMA-FFRMS@fema.dhs.gov.


The deadline to comment on the draft version of Implementing Guidelines has been extended until May 6, 2015. Questions and comments may be submitted to FEMA-FFRMS@fema.dhs.gov.