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The application period for the 2017 FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness Awards is now open. 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 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
To be considered for this year’s awards, all submissions must be received by
May 30, 2017, at 11:59 p.m. EDT, and must feature program
activities taking place between January 1, 2016, and May 30, 2017. Applications
are accessed online and should be submitted to fema-icp-awards@fema.dhs.gov. More information about the awards is available at www.ready.gov/preparedness-awards.
The 2017 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Hurricane Hunter Awareness Tour will take place on May 7-13, 2017, during National Hurricane Preparedness Week. During the tour, media and the public can meet NOAA hurricane experts, scientists, and crew members and get a look at some of the aircraft that help forecasters keep us safe.
Acting FEMA Administrator Bob Fenton will participate in the tour at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Tuesday, May 9. Other stops on the week-long hurricane hunter tour include: Gander, Newfoundland, Canada; Islip, New York; Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina; Orlando, Florida; and Opa Locka, Florida.
For tips on staying safe and being prepared this hurricane season, please visit www.ready.gov/hurricanes.
 FEMA encourages our partners to join us in supporting the
2017 National
Building Safety Month throughout the month of May. This will help increase awareness of the need for overall safety and sustainability
of buildings through the adoption of model building codes and the promotion of
code enforcement, which can help mitigate the impacts of a wide variety of
disasters.
This
year’s theme “Code Officials— Partners in Community Safety and Economic
Growth” is designed to help
raise awareness of and highlight the important role that code officials play in code enforcement and the adoption of model building codes. During the
month of May, the ICC and its partners, including FEMA, will focus on the goal
of increasing awareness of the need for overall safety and sustainability of
buildings through the adoption of model building codes and the promotion of
code enforcement. They will incorporate an array of community events, safety
demonstrations, and educational outreach activities that are all designed to
promote awareness of the need for safe and sustainable
structures where we live, work, attend school, and play.
The 2017 Building Safety Month public
awareness campaign is coordinated by the International
Code Council (ICC) and their 63,000 members,
along with a diverse partnership of professionals from building construction,
the design and safety community, corporations, government agencies,
professional associations, and nonprofit organizations.
FEMA Federal Insurance and Mitigation
Administration's Building
Science Branch develops
and produces multi-hazard mitigation guidance. They also provide training on
this guidance and work closely with the ICC and other partners to develop
disaster-resilient building codes and standards to reduce loss of life and
property. Find out how your organization can
participate in Building Safety Month by visiting the ICC’s 2017
Building Safety Month webpage for more information.
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FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute
(EMI) Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) program will offer an earthquake
scenario June 20-22, 2017.
The VTTX is designed to help emergency management professionals exercise their
response to the impact that a major earthquake has 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 an
earthquake event.
Each month, EMI conducts a VTTX series
using a Video Teleconference (VTC) platform to reach community-based training
audiences around the country by providing a virtual forum for interactive
disaster training. The VTTX is designed for a group of ten or more
representatives from state, local, tribal, and territorial emergency management
communities of practice. It provides a unique opportunity for responders across
the nation to simultaneously participate in a hazard-specific, facilitated
discussion. Participants will need to connect via a site equipped with the
appropriate VTC capability (not Adobe Connect or Face Time-based), but
alternate ways to participate are also available upon request.
Content for each session is the same for
all days and participants should only attend one session. The VTTX
occurs 12-4 p.m. EDT. 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 Friday, May 12, 2017. Additional information
is available at https://training.fema.gov/programs/emivttx.aspx.
On Saturday, May 6, participate in Wildfire
Community Preparedness Day by clearing your property of dried
leaves, branches and other
items that may fuel a wildfire. Other fire safety tips for wildfire season include:
- Create a safety zone of up to 100 feet around your home.
- Remove pine needles and dry leaves from around your home.
- Keep woodpiles at least 30 feet from your home.
- Follow evacuation instructions from your local emergency officials.
- Hold community meetings and work with neighbors to prepare the neighborhood for wildfires.
- Practice two ways out of your neighborhood to prepare for a scenario where the roads may be blocked.
- Make sure driveways and house numbers are clearly marked and can be seen from the road.
- Meet with your local fire department and find out how department personnel can help you prepare for wildfires.
Remember to always stay aware of your environment, and if instructed by local emergency officials to evacuate, please do so. For more information and safety tips about wildfires, visit the U.S. Fire Administration website.
National Small Business Week is this week, April 30-May 6, 2017. Since 1963, the U.S. Small Business Administration takes the opportunity to highlight the impact of outstanding entrepreneurs, small business owners, and others from across the nation. This week is also an opportunity for small businesses to prepare for a variety of emergencies like fires, floods, cyber threats, and other disasters.
More than half of Americans either own or work for a small business, and they create about two out of every three new jobs in the United States each year. Small businesses play a critical role in a community's recovery following a disaster and it is important to prepare your organization now for a variety of emergencies like fires, flood, cyber threats, and other disasters. Businesses that take steps now to be prepared help ensure business continuity, employee preparedness, and help enhance relationships throughout their community before disasters strike.
Start by developing an all hazards preparedness plan that identifies all potential hazards, addresses vulnerabilities, and identifies time sensitive or critical processes and the financial and operational impacts that can result from disruption of those business processes. Employers and business owners should consider business interruption insurance which can help cover the loss of income after a disaster, which is different than property insurance that only covers physical damage to a facility or location.
Ready Business can assist businesses in developing a preparedness program by providing tools to create a plan that addresses the impact of many hazards. For more information, visit www.ready.gov/business.
Webinar on Improving Fire Safety and Arson Awareness for Faith-Based and Community Organizations
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.
Webinar on Cost Estimating Principles for Hazard Mitigation Assistance Application Programs
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.
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. EDT. 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. EDT. 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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