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The 20-member
Technical Mapping Advisory Council (TMAC) is a federal advisory committee
established to review and make recommendations to FEMA on matters related to
the National Flood Mapping Program. This is required by the Biggert-Waters Flood
Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (BW-12) and the Homeowner
Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014 (HFIAA).
The TMAC creates
recommendations to help ensure that FEMA’s Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs)
reflect the best available science, and are based on the best available
methodologies for considering the impact of future development on flood risk.
When TMAC delivered the 2016 Annual Report in March 2017, the
committee offered two new recommendations. These recommendations focus
on the importance of accurate flood hazard maps to provide relevant information
for determining risk-based insurance premiums. This
is the fourth report since October 2015 that the TMAC has provided to
FEMA. For more information on previous reports and the work
of the TMAC, visit www.FEMA.gov/TMAC.
FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation
Assistance (HMA) division is hosting an hour-long webinar titled "Cost Estimating Principles for Hazard Mitigation Assistance Applications." The webinar will share cost estimating principles for the three HMA grant application programs: Pre-Disaster
Mitigation (PDM), Flood
Mitigation Assistance (FMA) and Hazard Mitigation
Grant Program (HMGP).
The webinar will be held on Wednesday, May 10, 2017, from 2-3 p.m. EDT. The call-in is 800-320-4330; PIN: 896047#. Presenters will
provide general principles for reviewing cost estimates for HMA projects, a
process for determining “reasonable costs” as part of the grant application
review, and a list of resources with detailed information and examples. Prior
to the meeting, participants are encouraged to test
their Adobe Connect connection.
FEMA's U.S. Fire Administration,
the DHS Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, and the U.S.
Department of Justice are working together to highlight 2017 Arson Awareness Week
(May 7-13). The focus this year is Preventing Arson at Houses of Worship. A webinar on the topic, which is a second offering of the one provided on April 25, will take place on May 9, 2017, at 2 p.m. EDT. Participants can register for the webinar online.
The webinar will highlight federal resources and practices that can help community organizations and houses of worship improve fire safety and arson awareness collaborations with the first responder community. Topics covered will include arson awareness, fire safety, wildfire safety, and emergency operations planning. After completing the webinar, participants should be able to identify the most common motives associated with arson; strategies that have been used to prevent potential arson and other fire related damage; and resources from federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial governments that contribute to positive relationships between the faith community and local first responders.
The application period for the 2017 FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness Awards will open Thursday, April 27, 2017. The awards highlight innovative local practices and achievements by
honoring individuals, organizations, and jurisdictions that have made
outstanding contributions toward strengthening their community to prepare for,
respond to, recover from, and mitigate a disaster.
Emergency management is
most effective when the entire community is engaged and involved. Everyone,
including faith-based organizations, voluntary agencies, the private sector,
tribal organizations, youth, people with disabilities and others with access
and functional needs, and older adults can make a difference in their
communities before, during, and after disasters.
FEMA and partners from the emergency management industry will
review all entries and select the winners in each of the following categories:
- Outstanding Citizen Corps Council
- Community Preparedness Champions
- Awareness to Action
- Technological Innovation
- Outstanding Achievement in Youth Preparedness
- John. D. Solomon Whole Community Preparedness Award
- Outstanding Private Sector Initiatives
- Outstanding Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
Initiatives
- Outstanding Citizen Corps Partner Program
- Prepareathon in Action
Winners will be announced in the fall of 2017, and a series of
webinars and local ceremonies will celebrate their achievements.To be considered for this year’s awards, all submissions must feature program activities taking
place between Jan. 1, 2016, and May 30, 2017. More information about the awards is available at www.ready.gov/preparedness-awards.
While severe weather could happen anytime and in any part of the country, springtime often increases the
risk. Severe weather could include hazardous conditions produced by
thunderstorms, including damaging winds, tornadoes, large hail, flooding and
flash flooding, and winter storms associated with freezing rain, sleet, snow,
and strong winds.
The Ready Campaign's information and resources are available to help you understand the types of
hazardous weather that affects you and your family where you live, learn how to
take action by developing an emergency plan based on your local weather hazards,
and guidance on how to practice your plan. Learn more about preparing for
spring weather hazards by visiting www.ready.gov/severe-weather.
EMI Offers Flood Virtual Tabletop Exercise
FEMA’s
EMI Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) program
will offer a flood scenario May 24-25, 2017. The VTTX is designed to help
emergency management professionals exercise their response to the impact of
major flooding on their community. The VTTX involves key personnel discussing
simulated scenarios in an informal setting, and can be used to assess plans,
policies, training, and procedures during a flood and inundation challenge.
The
VTTX occurs 12-4 p.m. ET. To participate, send an email to
douglas.kahn@fema.dhs.gov with a courtesy copy to fema-emi-iemb@fema.dhs.gov or call 301-447-1381. The application deadline is May 1, 2017. Additional information is
available at https://training.fema.gov/programs/emivttx.aspx.
Notice of Funding Opportunity: Fiscal Year 2016 Fire Prevention & Safety Grants Application Period
FEMA’s annual funding
opportunity for the Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) grants is now open. FP&S grants support projects that enhance the safety of the public and firefighters
from fire and related hazards.
The application period for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 FP&S grants will close on Friday, May 19, 2017, at 5 p.m. ET. A total of $34.5 million is available.
The primary
goal of these grants is to reduce injury and prevent fire-related deaths among
high-risk populations. In 2005, Congress reauthorized funding for FP&S, and
expanded the eligible uses of funds to include Firefighter Safety Research and
Development. For more information on fire prevention grants, visit www.fema.gov/fire-prevention-safety-grants.
National Emergency Management Advanced Academy Applications
EMI is accepting
applications for the National
Emergency Management Advanced Academy. This program addresses
program management and oversight, effective communication, integrated
collaboration, and strategic thinking skills. The target audience is
mid-level managers who have a minimum of three years of experience in an
emergency management position to include government, non-profit, voluntary
organization, and private sector leaders who are responsible for emergency
management or homeland security.
The Advanced Academy
Program consists of four resident courses and is five days in length.
Classes begin in October, November, or December 2017 and are ideally taken
sequentially through September 2018. Applications
will be accepted until May 31, 2017, with selections in June and
announcements in July.
For more information,
contact fema-empp-advanced-academy@fema.dhs.gov.
FEMA Seeks Comments on Nationwide Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement on the National Flood Insurance Program
On April 7, FEMA published a Federal
Register notice to seek public comment on a draft Nationwide
Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (NPEIS) about the
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). As required by the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), FEMA developed this draft NPEIS to
examine the impacts of proposed improvements and modifications to the NFIP.
This draft NPEIS includes an evaluation of the potential impacts to the natural
and human environment associated with the NFIP at a programmatic level, as well
as an evaluation of impacts of alternative proposals to modify the NFIP.
The public comment
period is open for 60 days until June 6, 2017. Download a
copy of the draft NPEIS and provide
comments directly to FEMA via www.regulations.gov. Search for Docket ID FEMA-2012-0012.
In addition, public meetings
and webinars are scheduled by FEMA to allow the public an opportunity to
learn
more about the project and to provide comments on the NFIP draft NPEIS.
For a list of locations and webinar dates and times, visit www.fema.gov/programmatic-environmental-impact-statement.
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