FEMA Bulletin Week of June 26, 2017

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FEMA BULLETIN

Week of June 26, 2017

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In this Edition:

Important Dates & Deadlines

July 6: Continuity Guidance Circular Draft National Engagement Period Deadline

Continuity Guidance Circular Draft National Engagement Period Deadline

July 26

Homeland Security National Training Program Continuing Grants Application Deadline

August 15: 2018 National Emergency Management Executive Academy Application Deadline

2018 National Emergency Management Executive Academy Application Deadline

August 23: Draft Policy on Floodplain Development Open Comment Period Deadline

Draft Policy on Floodplain Development Open Comment Period Deadline

August 29: FEMA Tribal Outreach and Consultation Period Deadline on FEMA Tribal Consultation Policy

FEMA Tribal Outreach and Consultation Period Deadline on FEMA Tribal Consultation Policy

$8 Million Available for Homeland Security National Training Program Continuing Grants

Since 2012, the Department of Homeland Security provided more than $47 million in Homeland Security National Training Program Continuing Training Grants (CTG) awards. Yesterday, FEMA announced that $8 million in Fiscal Year 2017 CTG funding is available to develop and deliver FEMA training to address specific focus areas: Cybersecurity, Economic Recovery, Housing, and Rural and Tribal Preparedness.


Administered annually by FEMA, this competitive program attracts applicants nationwide, including state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, non-profit local and national organizations, colleges and universities, and faith-based organizations. Complete instructions to apply are found in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), posted on Grants.gov, listed under Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number 97.005, Continuing Training Grants. FEMA will review, evaluate and score proposals by applying a methodology that is detailed in the NOFO. The CTG application period opened on June 26, 2017 and will close at 11:59 p.m. EDT on July 26, 2017. Awards will be made by September 30, 2017.


For questions regarding the CTG program, contact FEMA’s National Training and Education Division via email at FEMA-NTES@fema.dhs.gov or contact Mr. Patrick Cowhey, patrick.cowhey@fema.dhs.gov and (202) 786-0905.


New Core Capabilities Development Sheets Released

FEMA today released 48 Core Capability Development Sheets to help state, local, tribal, and territorial jurisdictions build and sustain their core capabilities as well as close capability gaps identified through the Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment, the State Preparedness Report, or other capability assessments. The National Preparedness Goal identifies the core capabilities needed by all jurisdictions to be fully prepared to prevent, protect, mitigate against, respond to, and recover from all hazards and to be able to implement the National Preparedness System.


Each sheet provides the core capability definition and tasks, relevant trainings, example capability targets, typed resources, critical planning partners, validation techniques, and additional organizations that support development or delivery of the specific capability. Download the sheets by mission area – Prevention, Protection, Mitigation, Response, and Recovery – or as a complete set at: www.fema.gov/fema-technical-assistance-program.


The sheets will be updated and improved with feedback. Please contact FEMA-TARequest@fema.dhs.gov with any comments.


FEMA Implementing New Public Assistance Process in Missouri and New Hampshire

Following flooding and severe storms, FEMA selected Missouri (DR-4317) and New Hampshire (DR-4316) to be the next two states to implement FEMA’s New Public Assistance Delivery Model. Over the last 20 years, FEMA delivered the Public Assistance (PA) program the same way with a one-size fits all approach -- that is changing. Following successful implementations in Oregon and Georgia, FEMA took lessons learned and is pushing forward into the third stage of implementation.


The new model delivers the PA program more efficiently and is focused on providing excellent customer service to meet the needs of state, tribal, and local entities as they work to rebuild public infrastructure after a disaster.

- Segmenting projects based on the complexity of the type of work;

- Standardizing workflow process, including the development of the PA Grants Manager and Grants Portal tools, to promote consistency and accountability;

- Specializing staff roles and responsibilities, fitting the right skill sets with grant applicant requirements to ensure quality applications; and

- Consolidating subject matter experts in Consolidated Resource Centers (CRC) to improve consistency, as well as making them available for wider use across disaster operations.


Following implementation of the new model in Missouri and New Hampshire, additional disasters will implement the new model with the goal of using the new model in all newly declared disasters by early 2018.


For additional questions about the New Public Assistance Delivery Model, please email FEMA-PA-Grants@fema.dhs.gov.


Integrated Emergency Management Course Helps Communities Prepare

FEMA's Emergency Management Institute (EMI) congratulates the State of Rhode Island for completing their Integrated Emergency Management Course (IEMC), June 19-22, 2017. The four-day course was designed specifically for their jurisdiction, providing both lecture and exercise-based training.


There were more than 100 emergency management personnel who participated in the course, representing all levels of government in Rhode Island, from the Governor’s Office to first responders. The exercise, emanating from Rhode Island’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC), simulated a Category 3 hurricane and the impact on residents across the state. The exercise incorporated simulated response from five local EOCs, ensuring situational awareness for Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency staff. EMI sent a training specialist and technician to support the exercise, and FEMA’s National Exercise Division sent two personnel who served as exercise controllers. FEMA Region 1 supported the IEMC providing local expert instruction on FEMA and FEMA regional policies, local concerns, trends and equities.


IEMC courses simulate realistic crisis situations that emergency operations center personnel and community leadership/elected officials may encounter during disasters or other events. Also, the course helps enhance the skills of participating officials, and provides a forum to evaluate the effectiveness of their specific emergency policies, plans, and procedures that protect life and property. The course’s target audience includes state, local, tribal, and territorial government personnel; their elected and appointed officials; supervisory, operations, and emergency support personnel; nonprofit organizations; the private sector; law enforcement personnel; firefighters; attorneys; public information officers; planners; and other whole community stakeholders and partners.


IEMC classes are principally delivered at FEMA’s EMI at the National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, Maryland; however, local delivery such as this one can also be conducted in a specific jurisdiction. Questions should be directed to FEMA-EMI-IEMB@fema.dhs.gov. If your jurisdiction is interested in applying for the program or is seeking more information on the application process and its timeline, please visit http://training.fema.gov/iemc/.

Peter Gaynor, Director, Rhode Island EMA, speaks at the Integrated Emergency Management Course.
Peter Gaynor, Director, Rhode Island EMA, speaks at the Integrated Emergency Management Course.

Reminder of Upcoming Deadlines

Emergency Management Institute Hosts Training e-Forums in June

During the month of June, EMI will host weekly “One Link, One Bridge, Many Voices” e-Forums that will provide an opportunity for the emergency management community to discuss matters of interest related to national preparedness training. The pilot forums will showcase community partners and peers, sharing their experiences in panel format that offers opportunities to provide technical assistance in training management by facilitating peer-to-peer sharing of best practices.


June 28: THIRA/SPR Development

Each year, states produce two self-assessments, the Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA) and the State Preparedness Report (SPR). Join us to hear North Dakota and FEMA’s National Preparedness Assessment Division discuss the importance of the role of the State Training Officer in the THIRA and SPR process.


Registration link: https://fema.connectsolutions.com/emieforums

Conference call-in: 800-320-4330, PIN 107622#

For questions, contact: https://training.fema.gov/contactus/sendcomment.aspx


Participation does not require pre-registration.



Continuity Guidance Circular Draft Released for National Engagement

FEMA released the draft of an updated Continuity Guidance Circular for national engagement. The document provides recommendations on developing and maintaining the capability to ensure continuity of operations, continuity of government, and enduring constitutional government. National preparedness and sustainment of essential functions is a shared responsibility of the whole community – business, nonprofit and governmental entities. FEMA’s National Continuity Programs developed the Circular in 2009 and issued its first revision in 2013.


The 30-day national engagement period includes several 60-minute engagement webinars to describe the draft document, provide information on how to submit feedback, and to answer stakeholders’ questions. Feedback from stakeholders will shape the development of the final document. For more information and to review the draft documents, visit www.fema.gov/continuity-guidance-circular by July 6, 2017. Submit your completed feedback form to FEMA-CGC@fema.dhs.gov.

 

 

Apply for the 2018 National Emergency Management Executive Academy

FEMA’s EMI is now accepting application packages for the 2018 National Emergency Management Executive Academy. Ideally, candidates will have experience as senior executives of major emergency management organizations, served on major commissions and task forces, or be responsible for decisions that have a significant effect on homeland security and emergency management policies.


Applications will be accepted through August 15, 2017. There are a limited number of seats and enrollment is competitive. For more information on the Executive Academy and the application and selection process, visit www.training.fema.gov/EMPP/executive.asp.



Comments Needed for Draft Policy on Floodplain Development

FEMA prepared a draft policy for FEMA staff and communities participating in the NFIP to update guidance for participating communities on satisfying National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) floodplain development permit requirements, and to address questions about floodplain permitting of development activities occurring in the FEMA designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA). Through this policy, a community can ensure compliance with NFIP and local floodplain management regulations, while potentially reducing the administrative burden associated with permitting certain types of low-to-no impact development in the floodplain.


This guidance does not intend to address other permits associated with building codes, or other federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial permits, and only applies to floodplain development permitting requirements to enroll in, and maintain eligibility for, the NFIP. The draft policy is available for review on FEMA’s website at: https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/131010, and the public is invited to provide comment and input via FEMA-Floodplain-Management-Division@fema.dhs.gov until August 23, 2017.



FEMA Tribal Outreach and Consultation Period on FEMA Tribal Consultation Policy

FEMA initiated a 90-day outreach and consultation period from June 1 to August 29, 2017, to seek input from federally recognized Indian tribal governments on the update of the agency’s Tribal Consultation Policy. The FEMA Tribal Consultation Policy, first issued in 2014, acknowledges the agency’s nation-to-nation relationship with tribal governments. The policy also guides how FEMA engages tribal governments in regular and meaningful consultation and collaboration on policy and actions that have tribal implications.


Tribal officials can submit comments on the FEMA Tribal Consultation until August 29, 2017, through:

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

- Mail to ATTN: Margeau Valteau, Office of External Affairs, DHS/FEMA, 500 C Street SW, Washington, DC 20472-3191.


Visit FEMA’s Tribal Affairs web page for more information on the tribal consultation period for this policy.