FEMA Bulletin: NIMS Webinars, ICP Award Winners, New Hazard Mitigation Job Aid - Week of October 30, 2017

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FEMA BULLETIN

Week of October 30, 2017

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In this Edition:

Important Dates & Deadlines 

October 31

 FEMA Fiscal Year 2018-2022 Strategic Plan Open Comment Period

November 14

Pre-Disaster Mitigation and Flood Mitigation Assistance Grants Application Deadline

FEMA Hosts National Incident Management System Webinars

FEMA is hosting a series of webinars to provide information on the recently released National Incident Management System (NIMS) refresh. Released on October 17, 2017, this updated doctrine retains key concepts and principles from the 2004 and 2008 versions, while incorporating lessons learned from exercises and real-world incidents, best practices, and changes in national policy. The webinars will last 60 minutes, and are open to the whole community.

 

NIMS provides a common, nationwide approach to enable the whole community to work together to manage all threats and hazards. NIMS applies to all incidents, regardless of cause, size, location, or complexity. Download the refreshed NIMS here: www.fema.gov/nims-doctrine-supporting-guides-tools.


Advance registration is required due to space limitations. Registration is on a first come, first serve basis. The first webinar was hosted on October 19. To see the remaining webinar times and register for upcoming sessions, go to www.fema.gov/latest-news-updates. For partners unable to participate in a live webinar, a recording of the webinar content is available at www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/videos/149710.


FEMA Recognizes 2017 Individual and Community Preparedness Award Winners

Today, FEMA is announcing the 2017 FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness (ICP) Award winners to highlight innovative local practices and achievements by individuals, communities, and organizations throughout the country that make outstanding contributions to prepare their community. A list of the FEMA ICP Awards recipients and the honorable mentions for each category is available at www.ready.gov/awards. Throughout the year, FEMA will continue to profile these award winners with recognition events and activities.


Job Aid Available to Help Local Communities with Mitigation Planning Grant Sub-application

Developing a local hazard mitigation plan can help your community reduce the loss of life and property by lessening the impact of hazards. FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) Program provides planning grants to communities looking to develop or update their hazard mitigation plans.


A new job aid is available for communities which provides HMA guidance to prepare a planning grant scope of work for a local mitigation plan. In this job aid, guidance is provided for assistance in developing a strong, comprehensive planning grant sub-application.


The job aid can be viewed on online. Information about the Hazard Mitigation program is available at www.fema.gov/hazard-mitigation-assistance. Information about the mitigation planning program can be found at www.fema.gov/hazard-mitigation-planning.


Reminder of Upcoming Deadlines

FEMA Seeks Input on Fiscal Year 2018-2022 FEMA Strategic Plan

FEMA's Administrator believes in the importance of hearing external partners’ perspectives to help FEMA improve the way business is done. Throughout the next few months, FEMA is inviting its stakeholders and partners from across the whole community to help shape the Fiscal Year 2018-2022 FEMA Strategic Plan. In an effort to reach as many stakeholders and partners as possible, FEMA is accepting feedback via IdeaScale – an interactive, web-based application that allows idea sharing, collaboration and engagement.

 

FEMA is looking for input and engagement on Simplifying Recovery and Reducing Disaster Costs. How could FEMA simplify recovery programs and reduce disaster costs while ensuring accountability, customer service, and fiscal stewardship?

 

Buying Down Risk through Preparedness and Mitigation

- How should risk be calculated in awarding grants?

- What type of grants are best suited for effectively reducing risk?

- How do we incentivize more investment in preparedness/mitigation prior to a disaster (not only federal investment)?

- How should the nation, including but not limited to FEMA, train and credential a surge disaster workforce ahead of major disasters?

- What are new ways to think about a true culture of preparedness?


We value the input and diverse perspectives that you bring to help inform this process, the final product, and our efforts. Our IdeaScale campaigns will be open until October 31, 2017 at 11:59 p.m. ET. We look forward to your ideas and suggestions.

 

Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant Applications Open Until November 14

The application period is open for two competitive Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant programs. Eligible applicants including territories, federally recognized tribes, states, and local governments may apply for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) and Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) grants at https://portal.fema.gov through 3 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on November 14, 2017.

 

FMA grants are available to implement measures to reduce or eliminate risk of flood damage to structures insured by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). For FY 2017, $160 million is available, including $70 million for community flood mitigation activities that address flooding on a neighborhood level, such as floodwater diversion and localized flood-control measures as well as advance assistance for mitigation design and development of community flood mitigation projects.

 

PDM grants are awarded for all-hazard mitigation planning and projects, such as the construction of community and residential safe rooms for tornados, and wind retrofits, which are enhancements made to strengthen the roof, walls and doors of structures to minimize damage caused by high winds. This year, $90 million is available, including $10 million for federally-recognized tribes. States, tribes, territories, and the District of Columbia may apply for the statutory allocation of up to $575,000 federal share. Visit www.fema.gov/hazard-mitigation-grant-program for additional details about the grants.