FEMA Bulletin Week of January 29, 2018

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FEMA BULLETIN

January 29, 2018

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In this Edition:

Important Dates & Deadlines 

February 2

Fiscal Year 2017 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program Application Deadline

February 12

Tribal Mitigation Plan Review Webinar

February 27

National Incident Management System National Engagement Period Deadline

March 11

Draft National Mitigation Investment Strategy Public Comment Period Deadline

FEMA Partners with Emergency Management Organizations to Launch PrepTalks

On January 29, FEMA, in partnership with organizations that collectively represent the emergency management profession in America, launched PrepTalks – a new approach to sharing research and innovation in the emergency management arena.

 

PrepTalks are 15-to-20-minute presentations by subject-matter experts and national/international thought leaders, designed to spread new ideas, spark conversation, and promote innovative leadership for the issues confronting emergency managers now and over the next 20 years.

 

Eight PrepTalk speakers delivered presentations at the first PrepTalk Symposium, held at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Topics included the importance of social capital in disaster mitigation and recovery, land use and environmental planning for community resilience, and a global perspective on how current decisions are shaping future disaster risk. More information on the speakers is available at www.fema.gov/preptalks.

 

In the coming months, the PrepTalk partners will release videos online of each presentation with related guidance, reading materials, and discussion questions for emergency management partners.

 

PrepTalks are a partnership between FEMA, the International Association of Emergency Managers, the National Emergency Management Association, the National Homeland Security Consortium, and the Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Security and Defense.  

Acting FEMA Deputy Administrator Dr. Daniel Kaniewski speaking at the PrepTalks event.
FEMA Acting Deputy Administrator Dr. Daniel Kaniewski speaking at the PrepTalks event. Photo by Nick Sleptzoff.

FEMA Releases New Guidance to Support National Incident Management System

FEMA’s National Integration Center is seeking feedback on 109 draft National Incident Management System (NIMS) Job Titles/Position Qualifications and Resource Typing Definitions. NIMS is a key component of U.S. incident management efforts and enables organizations from across the country to work together during incidents of all kinds and sizes.


FEMA stakeholders had input in the development of the NIMS Job Titles/Position Qualifications and Resource Typing Definitions. They define minimum qualifications and capabilities for personnel and their equipment within their assigned teams to manage all threats and hazards, regardless of the incident’s cause or size.


This National Engagement period will conclude at 5 p.m. EST on February 27, 2018. National Engagement provides an opportunity for interested parties to comment on the job titles/position qualifications and resource typing definitions.


To review the NIMS Job Titles/Position Qualifications and Resource Typing Definitions, go to: https://www.fema.gov/national-incident-management-system/national-engagement. To provide comments on the draft, complete the feedback form and submit it to FEMA-NIMS@fema.dhs.gov.


Webinar Rescheduled: Tribal Mitigation Plan Review on Monday, February 12

FEMA is releasing the Tribal Mitigation Plan Review Guide, (Guide) which will update and supersede the existing tribal multi-hazard mitigation planning guidance issued in 2010. The updated policy document will guide how agency officials (mitigation planners) interpret regulatory requirements in their review and approval of tribal mitigation plans.


The Guide will become effective on December 5, 2018. The webinar presentation on the new guide includes the basic requirements for standard and enhanced mitigation plans and the updated plan review tool. The Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan Review Guide is available online.


Webinar information

Date: February 12, 2018

Time: 4:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time


Access instructions:

Audio conference line:  800-320-4330  PIN: 905506#

Adobe weblink: https://fema.connectsolutions.com/r51hovh1mun/

Test your Adobe Connect connection prior to the meeting at https://fema.connectsolutions.com/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm.


Integrating Emergency Management into Tribal Colleges and Universities

The Emergency Management Institute (EMI) will conduct a course to assist tribal colleges and universities with establishing or enhancing their emergency management curricula. This course addresses issues unique to Tribal Colleges and Universities and begins the process of identifying and overcoming institutional roadblocks of emergency management related offerings.


The target audience includes department chairs in disciplines such as sociology, geography, public administration, and psychology from minority and minority-serving institutions of higher education.  A goal of the training is to achieve a more diverse population of emergency management professionals who reflect the communities in which they live and work. Enrollment is limited to the first 20 applicants.


For more information, contact Lillian Virgil at Lillian.virgil@fema.dhs.gov.


Dates:  March 19-20, 2018

Location:  EMI, National Emergency Training Center (NETC), Emmitsburg, Maryland

Registration deadline:  Monday, February 6

To apply:  Complete a FEMA Form 119-25-1, General Admissions Application, with student signature and signature of supervisor or sponsoring agency official.  Mail, scan, or fax the application to:

NETC, Admissions Office Room

I-216 South Seton Avenue

Emmitsburg, MD 21727-8998

Phone:  (301) 447-1035 Fax:  (301) 447-1658

Email:  netadmissions@fema.dhs.gov


Map Service Center Enhancements and Related Tools Updates

FEMA’s Map Service Center (MSC) and related services have a few updates and changes planned for early February.  The agency continues to improve how information related to flood maps is available.  On February 3rd, changes to the MSC Address Search tool and enhancements to the National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL) Viewer will be implemented. These updates will help streamline access to different tools and help reduce the complexity for map users by reducing the number of steps necessary to get information.


Some of the specific new features that this update will offer include:

- When typing in a specific address, users will immediately see an interactive flood map for the location.

- On the main page, users will have the option of printing out a map for their location based on the dynamic NFHL-based map or downloading the traditional Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) Panel.

- Users will be able to access a new Preliminary Map Comparison Tool that allows them to see interactive preliminary maps for their area of interest and makes it easy to compare the new maps to the current maps on the screen and in a printable report format.


Calendar Year 2018 Consumer Price Index Adjustments

The new per capita indicator for calendar year 2018 is $143 per capita for all major disasters declared January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018, where there is a recommended adjustment of the federal cost share from 75 percent to 90 percent.


Following a major disaster declaration, a state, tribe, or territory may request an adjustment of their federal cost share from the standard 75 percent up to 90 percent for permanent work and emergency work. When evaluating these requests, FEMA will use $143 per capita of the state, tribal, or territorial population as the qualifying indicator for the recommendation.


This adjustment is based on an increase of 2.1 percent in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for the 12-month period that ended December 2017.  The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor released the information on January 12, 2018.


For more information about the Consumer Price Index, please visit https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2018/consumer-price-index-2017-in-review.htm.


Sharing Inclusive Practices and Approaches to Prepare Communities for Disasters: Core Advisory Group Webinar

FEMA is hosting a webinar on Monday, February 12, 2018, that will feature a discussion about best practices, lessons learned, and challenges for people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs during the response and recovery phases of a disaster. More specifically, it will feature Core Advisory Groups (CAGs), which consist of individuals with disabilities and others with access and functional needs, FEMA personnel, local emergency managers, and other concerned stakeholders who work together to bring about change in how emergency services are provided.


Sharing Inclusive Practices and Approaches to Prepare Communities for Disasters: Core Advisory Group Webinar

Date: Monday, February 12, 2018

Time: 12– 1 p.m. ET

 

How to Join the Webinar:

- Please register for the event using the Adobe Connect registration web link.

- Be sure to test your Adobe Connect connection prior to the meeting.

- This webinar will offer captioning.


Application Period Opens for National Emergency Management Advanced Academy and Executive Academy

FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute (EMI) is accepting applications from February 1 – May 15, 2018, for the National Emergency Management Advanced Academy and the National Emergency Management Executive Academy.


The Advanced Academy 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. The program consists of four resident courses conducted at the National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, Maryland; each course is five days in length. Classes begin in October, November, or December 2018 and are ideally taken sequentially through September 2019.


The Executive Academy curriculum enhances strategic leadership and critical thinking for emergency management senior executives from all levels of government, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector. Ideally, candidates will have experience as senior executives of major emergency management organizations, have served on major commissions and task forces, or be responsible for decisions that have a significant effect on homeland security and emergency management policies.  The objectives of the Executive Academy are to engage, challenge and enhance the talents of emergency management executives through critical thinking, visionary strategic planning, and negotiation and conflict resolution when applied to complex real-world problems. The Executive Academy consists of four resident sessions, distance learning, and literature reviews.


For more information and to apply for the Advanced Academy, go to https://training.fema.gov/empp/applytoadvancedacademy.aspx or contact fema-empp-advanced-academy@fema.dhs.gov. For the Executive Academy, go to https://training.fema.gov/empp/applytoexecutiveacademy.aspx or contact fema-empp-executive-academy@fema.dhs.gov

EMI graphic

Reminder of Upcoming Deadlines

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.

 

 

FEMA and Interagency Partners Release Draft National Mitigation Investment Strategy for Public Comment

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 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.