Important Dates & Deadlines Advanced Public Information Officer Training Application Deadline Federal Flood Risk Management Guide Public Comment Deadline Second Version of Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide Public Comment Deadline Tribal Consultation to Tribal Policy Deadline Interim National Cyber Incident Response Plan Update National Engagement Period Deadline

FEMA and Partners Provide Assistance, Support in Aftermath of Hurricane Matthew

At the direction of President Barack Obama, FEMA is leading the federal government’s efforts to provide assistance and support to individuals and communities in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew. Recovery efforts are underway in Florida and Georgia and response efforts continue in both North and South Carolina, including thousands of water rescues supported by federal responders and assets in the state. FEMA and its partners continue to mobilize additional resources and personnel to support state, local, and tribal efforts as record rains and flooding remains a significant concern for public safety in several states. Local and federal officials are also working to clear debris from major roads, ensure coastal ports are safe to re-open, and support efforts to restore power in affected areas. For additional information, imagery, graphics and b-roll, see our Hurricane Matthew web page: www.fema.gov/hurricane-matthew.

This storm serves as a reminder that severe weather can bring devastating consequences. Download the FEMA mobile app for current shelter information, disaster resources, weather alerts, and safety tips, in English and Spanish. The app provides a customizable checklist of emergency supplies, maps of open shelters and recovery centers, disaster survival tips, and weather alerts from the National Weather Service. The app also enables users to receive push notifications reminding them to take important steps to prepare their homes and families for disasters.

New FEMA National Urban Search and Rescue Response System Team

FEMA’s newest National Urban Search and Rescue Team (USAR), New Jersey Task Force One (NJ-TF1), is already proving itself to be a critical part of the FEMA USAR Response System. On October 6, 2016, the team deployed to Florida to assist anticipated search and rescue efforts as a result of Hurricane Matthew. Effective October 4, 2016, New Jersey Task Force One (NJ-TF1) was determined to be Fully Mission Capable as a FEMA National USAR Response System resource.

As a result of a vacancy, more than a year ago, the USAR Strategic Group reviewed potential replacement Task Forces to maintain operational readiness, and unanimously recommended NJ-TF1 as the potential replacement Task Force. Basing the selection on objective criteria, the USAR Strategic Group considered a number of factors to include experience, population density, critical infrastructure, the number and age of structures in proximity to the team’s base location, geographic coverage and threat assessment.

Earlier this year, a team was created to review and assess NJ-TF1. NJ-TF1 passed an on-site FEMA Readiness Assessment Evaluation, and signed a Readiness Cooperative Agreement and Response Cooperative Agreement. The Task Force demonstrated that they have over 140 deployable personnel, exceeding the system’s baseline operational requirement.

For additional information about FEMA’s Urban Search and Rescue teams, please visit www.fema.gov/urban-search-rescue.

National Fire Prevention Week

National Fire Prevention Week is October 9-15, 2016. This year’s fire prevention campaign is “Don’t Wait – Check the Date! Replace Smoke Alarms Every 10 Years." Smoke alarms do not last forever, so check the manufacture date on the back of your alarms. If it is older than 10 years, replace the alarm, as the sensors become less sensitive after 10 years. Make sure you have an alarm on every level of your home, inside bedrooms, outside sleeping areas and in the basement.

Take time this week to discuss your home escape plan with everyone in your home. Consider the following questions:

- Does everyone know two ways out of each room, in case one is blocked by fire?

- Does anyone in your home need assistance to get out quickly?

- If so, who will help them?

- Can everyone get themselves out alone?

- Do you have a meeting place outside your home?

For additional information on Fire Prevention Week, visit the National Fire Protection Association’s website. For tips on fire safety and prevention, including more information on smoke alarms, escape plans, home fire sprinklers and a home safety checklist, go to wwww.ready.gov/home-fires or www.usfa.fema.gov.

Recovery from Disaster: The Local Community Role

FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute is hosting Recovery from Disaster: The Local Community Role on October 17-20, 2016. The course serves to increase understanding of local government responsibilities and challenges associated with disaster recovery. The course is delivered over four days, and it provides a forum for the discussion of lessons learned and best practices in disaster recovery at the local level. Participants will learn how to develop and implement a pre-disaster recovery plan.

Participants may include local and tribal elected officials, city/county managers and planners, members of regional planning commissions and economic development districts, emergency managers and staff, public works directors, healthcare administrators or planners, public information officers, housing directors or planning staff, voluntary agency coordinators, business organization representatives, state recovery staff and partners and other appropriate disaster recovery stakeholders.

To apply, complete a FEMA Form 119-25-1, General Admissions Application, with student signature and signature of supervisor or sponsoring agency official. Click http://training.fema.gov/apply/ to obtain a fillable copy of the form. Submit the application through the State Emergency Management Training Office, which will forward it to the NETC Admissions Office at netcadmissions@fema.dhs.gov. Tribal and voluntary organization representatives can submit their application (with supervisor’s signature) directly to NETC Admissions Office.

Integrating Emergency Management into Institutions of Higher Education

FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute (EMI) will conduct the "Integrating Emergency Management Education into Your Institution" course to assist Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, and Tribal Colleges and Universities with either establishing or enhancing their emergency management curricula.

The course addresses issues unique to these institutions 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. The course goal is to achieve a more diverse population of emergency management professionals who reflect the communities in which they live and work.

The course will be taught on the following dates:

- February 27-28, 2017, for Hispanic Serving Institutions

- March 27-28, 2017, for Tribal Colleges and Universities

- April 19-20, 2017, for Historically Black Colleges and Universities

All sessions of the course will be taught at Emergency Management Institute, National Emergency Training Center (NETC) at Emmisburg, Maryland. The application deadline is no later than eight weeks prior to the start of the course. Enrollment is limited to the first 20 applicants. 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.

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

Reminder of Upcoming Deadlines

EMI Offers Advanced Public Information Officer Training

FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute is offering the Advanced Public Information Officer (PIO) course on November 28 – December 2, 2016. The course, held at the National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, Maryland, provides participants with the skills to establish, manage, and work in a Joint Information Center (JIC).

Students will practice developing strategic messaging in support of incident action plans and manage a JIC. Individuals who took the course prior to 2011 are eligible to retake the training course since it was updated during the past two years.

The application deadline is October 14, 2016. If interested, contact Phil Politano, Training Specialist - Course Manager, at Philip.Politano@fema.dhs.gov or (301) 447-1343. For information on prerequisites and course schedules, go to http://training.fema.gov/programs/pio/.

Seeking Public Comments for Federal Flood Risk Management Guide

Published in the Federal Register, FEMA continues to encourage comments to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Supplementary Policy 078-3, “Guidance for Implementing the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS).”  This proposed rule would amend the definition of a floodplain, incorporate various approaches to establish a higher vertical elevation, and expand corresponding horizontal floodplain for FEMA federally funded projects. Where possible, it would direct natural systems, ecosystem processes, and nature-based approaches to be used when developing alternatives to locating federal actions in the floodplain.

When FEMA federally funded projects involve more than one federal agency, FEMA would use the Unified Federal Review (UFR) to coordinate application of the FFRMS to those projects. The UFR Process also recognizes the important role of federal agencies, localities, states, tribes, and the general public in environmental and historic preservation reviews.

The major provisions of this rule would affect FEMA-funded new construction and substantial repair projects for individuals and communities, including some projects done in the aftermath of a disaster for state, local, tribal governments, private non-profits, and stakeholders. However, this rule does not directly affect the availability or price of flood insurance.

Comments may be submitted through October 21, using one of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov. Search for the notice in Docket ID FEMA-2015-0006. When submitting comments, indicate the section and reasoning for each comment.

• Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier: Regulatory Affairs Division, Office of Chief Counsel, Federal Emergency Management Agency, 8NE-1604, 500 C Street SW, Washington, DC  20472-3100.

• Viewing comments and documents: For access to the docket to read background documents or comments received, go to the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov.

• Background documents and submitted comments may also be inspected at the Office of Chief Counsel, Federal Emergency Management Agency, 500 C Street, SW., 8NE, Washington, DC 20472-3100.

All submissions will be posted to the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov and will include any personal information provided. Individuals who submit comments should read the Privacy Act.

DHS Seeks Public Feedback for Draft Interim National Cyber Incident Response Plan Update

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is soliciting public feedback for the National Cyber Incident Response Plan (NCIRP). The current draft NCIRP formalizes cyber incident response practices developed over the past few years and further clarifies organizational roles, responsibilities, and actions to prepare for, respond to, and coordinate the recovery from a cyber incident. The plan also creates a stronger alignment between National Preparedness System, specifically the core capabilities within the National Preparedness Goal, the National Response Framework, and the National Incident Management System.

National engagement provides an opportunity for interested parties to comment and provide feedback on the NCIRP to ensure it continues to reflects the collective expertise and experience of the whole community in response to cyber incidents. The draft plan is available for review and feedback at https://www.us-cert.gov/ncirp. Webinars are also available. Please use the submission form to provide any comments and recommendations and email them to FEMA-NCIRP-engagement@fema.dhs.gov by 5 p.m. EDT October 31, 2016. More information is available on the DHS blog.

Tribal Consultation to Update the FEMA Tribal Policy

FEMA is updating its Tribal Policy that guides how the agency implements a framework for nation-to-nation relations with federally recognized tribal governments, recognizing tribal sovereignty, self-governance, and our trust responsibility consistent with applicable authorities. This updated policy will supersede the current FEMA Tribal Policy, issued in 2013, which expires on December 30. The goal is to update the policy to reflect current authorities, address key policy questions, and improve the Agency’s nation-to-nation relationship with tribal governments to ensure we work together to build, sustain, and improve every tribal governments’ capacity to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate against all hazards.

This consultation period will facilitate tribal leaders’ or their designee’s feedback during the policy update process. FEMA will engage officials through face-to-face meetings, national and regional association conferences, conference calls, and webinars to seek input on questions highlighted in the FEMA Tribal Policy: Key Concepts document. Tribal officials’ suggestions and comments will inform further development and refinement of FEMA’s Tribal Policy.

Tribal officials can submit comments on the FEMA Tribal Policy until October 28 through:

• E-mail to tribalconsultation@fema.dhs.gov, or

• Mail to ATTN: Margeau Valteau, Office of External Affairs (OEA), DHS/FEMA, 500 C Street SW, Washington, DC 20472-3605.

Visit FEMA’s Tribal Affairs web page for more information on the tribal consultation period for this policy and to view the Key Concepts document.

Draft Disaster Resilience Indicators Concept Deadline Extended

The deadline has been extended until December 15, 2016, to submit inputs and feedback to the Mitigation Federal Leadership Group (MitFLG) Disaster Resilience Indicators Subcommittee’s “Draft Interagency Concept for Community Resilience Indicators and National-Level Progress Measures." Stakeholders can submit comments and feedback to FEMA-CommunityResilience@fema.dhs.gov.

The document is the result of a year-long effort to identify potential indicators of community resilience capacity building that align with the Mitigation and Recovery Core Capabilities under the National Preparedness Goal. Learn more details about this initiative through FEMA and NOAA partnership here.