FEMA Bulletin Week of July 24, 2017

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FEMA BULLETIN

Week of July 24, 2017

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In this Edition:

Important Dates & Deadlines

July 26

Homeland Security National Training Program Continuing Grants Application Deadline

August 14

Regulatory Reform Open Comment Period 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

FEMA Seeks Comments on Regulatory Reform

In accordance with Executive Order 13777, “Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda,” the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) formed a Regulatory Reform Task Force. The Task Force, led by DHS Deputy Secretary Elaine C. Duke, will review existing regulations, policies, and information collections across the Department.


To inform this review, FEMA is seeking public input on regulations, policies, and information collections that may be appropriate for repeal, replacement, or modification. FEMA requests commenters be as specific as possible in their remarks. Preferred details would include how, for example, a particular regulation, policy or information collection, imposes costs that exceed benefits or is otherwise unnecessary or ineffective.


Commenters should also include any supporting data or other relevant information such as cost information. When referencing an existing regulation, please provide specific citations from the Federal Register or Code of Federal Regulations, and include comprehensive suggestions regarding repeal, replacement, or modification. Although FEMA will not respond to individual comments, FEMA values public feedback and will give careful consideration to all input that it receives.


Public comments may be made until August 14, 2017, at www.regulations.gov, Docket ID FEMA-2017-0023.


Americans with Disabilities Act 27th Anniversary

FEMA joins with the White House, our federal family and communities across the country as we mark the 27th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26. This milestone civil rights law affirms the rights of people with disabilities and prohibits discrimination based on disability by state and local governments, private entities and telecommunications. In unison with the 1973 Rehabilitation Act, which similarly prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability by the federal government, the ADA is a powerful tool to ensure people with disabilities are included in all aspects of emergency management.


At FEMA, we recognize that emergency management is a whole community effort and, through our Office of Disability Integration and Coordination, are committed to including and providing equal access to people with disabilities throughout the emergency management process.


The Ready Campaign’s We Prepare Every Day video exemplifies one of the ADA goals by delivering a strong preparedness message portraying individuals with disabilities fully engaged in emergency preparedness for themselves, their families and their community. The preparedness video also demonstrates FEMA’s commitment to providing equal and effective communication access for the whole community by including open captioning, a certified deaf interpreter, and audio description for viewers who are blind or have low vision. Visit Ready.gov for more information on emergency preparedness for individuals with disabilities and others with access and functional needs.


Emergency Management Institute Offers Earthquake Virtual Tabletop Exercise

FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute (EMI) Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) program will offer an earthquake scenario September 19, 20, and 21. 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. Content for each session is the same for all days and participants should only attend one session.


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.


The VTTX occurs 12-4 p.m. Eastern Time. 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 August 8, 2017. Additional information is available at https://training.fema.gov/programs/emivttx.aspx


FEMA Region VI Employee Helps Man in Distress

Members of the public are often the first to respond to incidents until first responders can arrive to the scene. FEMA commends Cody Carter, a region VI employee, for his heroic action to help someone in need.


On July 3, Carter and several other diners were eating dinner in a hotel restaurant in Little Rock, Arkansas. Over the chatter in the restaurant, Carter said he heard someone choking. Without hesitation, he rushed to assist a man in distress who apparently could not breathe. He immediately put his arms around him and used the Heimlich Maneuver, three times, until the man took a breath.


As a crowd gathered around to see the commotion, Carter returned to his seat as though nothing had happened. The person who was previously choking stopped by his table and thanked him. Carter, a U.S. Army veteran who received Combat Life Saver and CPR/First Aid training, is a Program Support Assistant in FEMA Region VI. At the time of the incident he was deployed to Arkansas as a Disaster Survivor Assistance Specialist, working on recovery efforts after severe storms and flooding (DR-4318) hit that state in spring 2017.


Resources are available to help others learn what to do at www.ready.gov/prepare.


Reminder of Upcoming Deadlines

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

FEMA announced that $8 million in Fiscal Year 2017 Continuing Training Grants (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. Eastern Time 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.



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.