The
mitigation concepts analyzed in the Natural Hazard Mitigation Saves: 2017
Interim Report include: pre- and post-disaster federal hazard
mitigation grants data, and designing new buildings to exceed select
requirements of the 2015 International Codes (I-codes). The hazard categories
covered in this Study are riverine flood, hurricane surge, wind, earthquake,
and Wildland-Urban Interface Fire (WUI).
Additionally, the report
demonstrates that, on average, investments in hazard mitigation measures that
exceed provisions of the most
recent local building codes can save the nation $4 for every $1
spent.
The Study shows a savings
of $15.5 billion from one year of building new construction beyond code
requirements and $158 billion in savings from federally funded mitigation grant
programs funded from 1993-2016. The Study was made possible with funding by
several government and non-government sponsors. In addition to FEMA, others
include U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), U.S. Economic
Development Administration (EDA), International Code Council (ICC), Insurance
Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), American Institute of
Architects (AIA), and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
The full Natural Hazard Mitigation Saves: 2017
Interim Report is available online.
For
our nation to become more resilient, we must develop a more effective and
efficient way to invest in mitigation. The
U.S. Department of Homeland Security tasked the Mitigation
Framework Leadership Group (MitFLG) to develop a National
Mitigation Investment Strategy (Investment Strategy). As of January
11, the public is encouraged to review the draft Investment Strategy and
provide comment. The draft Investment Strategy makes a series of recommendations, organized by six
desired outcomes which, if met, could result in a nation better equipped for,
and less vulnerable to, natural hazards. The draft Investment Strategy
provides a national approach to investments in mitigation activities and risk
management across federal, state, local, and territorial and tribal government
and the private and non-profit sectors.
The
MitFLG invites ideas about investment from all levels of government and key
stakeholders, including private businesses, citizens, vulnerable and at-risk
populations, critical infrastructure sectors, and non-profit, academic, and
philanthropic organizations. This feedback on the draft strategy’s proposed
outcomes, and how as a nation we can deliver those outcomes, is vital.
The draft Investment Strategy is now available on the National Mitigation Framework
website at www.fema.gov/national-mitigation-framework. Comments on the
draft Investment Strategy will be accepted until March 11, 2018 either through
email to fema-nmis@fema.dhs.gov or through the
IdeaScale site at https://fema.ideascale.com/a/ideas/recent/campaign-filter/byids/campaigns/60968.
To learn more about FEMA’s commitment to the
National Mitigation Investment Strategy and building a true culture of
preparedness across all communities, read Investing in
Mitigation to Build a More Resilient Nation at www.fema.gov/blog.
FEMA’s
Emergency Management Institute (EMI) Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) program
will offer a cyber security breach scenario March 6, 7, and 8. The VTTX is designed to help
emergency management professionals exercise their response to the impact of a
cyber-attack 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 cyber security challenge.
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 alternative ways to participate are also available upon
request.
The
VTTX occurs 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. ET. To participate, send an email to
Doug Kahn at douglas.kahn@fema.dhs.gov or call
301-447-7645. Also, send a courtesy copy email to fema-emi-iemb@fema.dhs.gov or call
301-447-1381. The application deadline is January 23. Additional
information is available at https://training.fema.gov/programs/emivttx.aspx.
Tribal Mitigation Plan Review Guide Webinar
FEMA
recently released the Tribal Mitigation Plan Review Guide (Guide) and will
update and supersede the current FEMA Tribal Multi-Hazard Mitigation
Planning Guidance issued in 2010. Both the
current as well as the newly revised Guides are available online at www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/18355. To phase in the implementation, the new Guide will become effective later this year on December 5, 2018.
FEMA will provide
additional information to tribal governments through national and regional
webinars. The first webinar is scheduled for Tuesday, January 23, at 4 p.m. EST.
To join the webinar:
Adobe
Connect: https://fema.connectsolutions.com/r51hovh1mun/
Audio
dial in:
1-800-320-4330
Participant
Code:
905506
More
information on the requirement to have a FEMA-approved tribal mitigation plan
as a condition for receiving certain assistance from FEMA, such as from Public Assistance (Categories C through G) after a
presidentially-declared disaster, Hazard Mitigation Assistance, and /or Fire
Mitigation Assistance Grants, can be found on FEMA’s website at www.fema.gov/hazard-mitigation-plan-requirement. Additional information on FEMA’s mitigation planning program can be found at www.fema.gov/hazard-mitigation-planning.
Notice of Funding Opportunity for Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program
FEMA announced that the annual funding opportunity for the Fiscal Year 2017
Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG) is now open, and the application
period will close on Friday, February 2, 2018 at 5 p.m. (Eastern). The Fiscal Year 2017 AFG program will
award $310.5 million to enhance the safety of the public and firefighters
against fire-related deaths and hazards.
Applicant
tools, including the AFG Notice of Funding Opportunity, for this program will
be available at www.grants.gov
and at www.fema.gov/welcome-assistance-firefighters-grant-program.
Further, the “Get Ready Guide”
may also be useful for potential applicants and is provided to answer questions
and to help prepare grant applications.
For
fire departments/applicants requiring assistance please visit www.fema.gov/grants,
or contact the AFG Help Desk at firegrants@fema.gov or 1-866-274-0960.
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