FEMA, in partnership with organizations that
collectively represent the emergency management profession, today released the
third video presentation from the inaugural PrepTalks Symposium, Dr. Daniel
Aldrich’s “Social Capital in Disaster Mitigation and Recovery."
In his PrepTalk, Dr. Aldrich explains how social ties
are the critical aspect of resilience in immediate survival, in mental health,
and in community recovery. Despite common assumptions that money, governance,
level of damage, and inequality are the most important determinants of
recovery, Dr. Aldrich demonstrates that “disaster resilience comes from
internal factors: How connected are we? How much trust do we have in each
other? How often do we work together?” Dr. Aldrich has studied disasters around the
world and is the author of four published books, including Building Resilience: Social Capital
in Post-Disaster Recovery.
Dr. Aldrich’s
presentation, a discussion guide, and additional reference materials
are available at www.fema.gov/preptalks.
This is the third video of eight being produced from the PrepTalks Symposium
held in Washington, D.C. in January. The
next PrepTalks Symposium is tentatively scheduled for fall of 2018.
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 Defense and Security. Upcoming PrepTalk video
topics include the importance of mapping potential hazard exposure and land
use for community planning. The next PrepTalks video
is currently scheduled for release in early March.
FEMA has administered the
State Preparedness Report (SPR) since 2008 to assess state and territory
preparedness. For the past year, FEMA worked with state, local, tribal,
territorial, and federal partners to develop a revised methodology to assess preparedness
capabilities. These updates include modifications to what data is collected, as
well as which jurisdictions must complete the assessment. As part of this
revised process, tribes and urban areas receiving preparedness grants will now
also be required to conduct the SPR. Tribes will only be required to complete
the Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA) and SPR for
select core capabilities.
To reflect the fact that
the SPR is no longer limited to states and territories, FEMA updated the
assessment name to the Stakeholder Preparedness Review (SPR). By having
jurisdictions and tribes complete SPRs, FEMA has a greater
understanding of national capabilities.
FEMA is taking a phased
approach to implementation of the new methodology. In 2018, respondents
will only need to address the response, recovery, and cross-cutting core
capabilities in their THIRA and SPR. In 2019, respondents will be required to
address all 32 capabilities. Beginning in 2019, jurisdictions will only need to
submit a THIRA to FEMA once every three years. FEMA will host at least three
in-person Technical Assistance sessions in May and June to train respondents on
the revised process.
FEMA's
Emergency Management Institute (EMI) will host the 2018 National Preparedness
Symposium from May 21-24. The symposium provides federal, state, tribal,
territorial, and nongovernmental training and exercise officials the
opportunity to discuss current and future training and exercise programs and to
share case studies, lessons-learned, and smart practices. The theme is “promoting
whole community preparedness through unity of effort,” with a focus on
promoting a culture of preparedness in America.
The
goal of the symposium is to provide the tools, knowledge, and network to
improve training and exercise programs that build and sustain capabilities for
a more secure and resilient nation. Attendees will have the opportunity to
identify at least one element they would like to implement, modify, or validate
in their training and exercise program, and they will take away workable
improvements that can be used immediately and successfully. The symposium also
provides a platform to communicate changes to current capabilities and
introduce new FEMA policy.
The
event will be held at the National Emergency Training Center, 16825
South Seton Avenue Emmitsburg, MD 21727-8998. Applications for registration
must be received by April 9, 2018. To apply and for more information,
visit https://training.fema.gov/nationalpreparednesssymposium/ or contact the
EMI National Training Liaison Dan Lubman at daniel.lubman@fema.dhs.gov.
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.
Notice of Funding Opportunity: Fiscal Year 2017 Fire Prevention & Safety Grants Application Period
FEMA’s annual funding
opportunity for the Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) grants is now open. FP&S grants support projects that enhance the safety of the public and firefighters
from fire and related hazards.
The application period for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 FP&S grants will close on Friday, March 16, 2018, at 5 p.m. ET.
The primary
goal of these grants is to reduce injury and prevent fire-related deaths among
high-risk populations. In 2005, Congress reauthorized funding for FP&S, and
expanded the eligible uses of funds to include Firefighter Safety Research and
Development. For more information on fire prevention grants, visit www.fema.gov/fire-prevention-safety-grants.
FEMA Seeks Applicants for Youth Preparedness Council
FEMA is seeking applicants for the Youth
Preparedness Council, which brings together teens from across the country who
are interested and engaged in community preparedness. Council members are
selected based on their dedication to public service, their efforts in making a
difference in their communities, and their potential to expand their impact as
national leaders for preparedness. Students in 8th through 11th grade are
eligible to apply.
Youth interested in applying
to the Council must submit a completed application form, provide two letters of
recommendation, and academic records. All applications and supporting materials
must be received no later than March 18, 2018, 11:59 p.m. PT in
order to be eligible. New council members will be announced in May 2018.
To access the application materials, read about the current Council
members, and for more general information about the Youth Preparedness Council
visit www.ready.gov/youth-preparedness-council.
FEMA Seeks Applicants for National Advisory Council
FEMA requests that qualified individuals who are interested in serving
on the FEMA National
Advisory Council (NAC) submit an application to be considered for
appointment. FEMA is now accepting
applications for open positions in the following discipline areas:
- Elected
Local Government Official (one representative appointment)
- Elected
State Government Official (one representative appointment)
- Emergency
Management Field (one representative appointment)
- Emergency
Response Providers, which includes fire, law enforcement, hazardous
materials response, emergency medical services, and organizations representing
emergency response providers (two representative appointments)
- Communications
Expert, an expert in communications infrastructure, public safety and
first responder communications systems and networks, and/or broadcast,
cable, satellite, wireless, or wireline services and networks (one Special
Government Employee, or SGE)
- Cybersecurity
Expert, an expert in protecting and defending information and
communications systems from damage, unauthorized use or modification, or
exploitation, (one SGE)
- In-Patient
Medical Provider, a provider of medical care to patients admitted to a
healthcare facility, such as a hospital or skilled nursing facility (one
SGE)
- Administrator
Selections (up to two SGE appointments)
All appointments are for
three-year terms beginning in September 2018. Applications must be received on
or before March 18, 2018.
Detailed instructions on how to
apply can be found at www.fema.gov/membership-applications.
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