FEMA Bulletin Week of May 14, 2018

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FEMA BULLETIN

May 14, 2018

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In this Edition:

Important Dates & Deadlines 

June 7

Individual Assistance Program and Policy Guide Open Comment Period Deadline

June 8

Application Deadline for Advanced and Executive Academies

FEMA Releases Updated Public Assistance Policy and Program Guidance

On April 26, 2018, FEMA released a new version of the Public Assistance Policy and Program Guidance (PAPPG). On February 9, 2018, Congress passed, and the President signed, the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-123). The Act includes a provision amending the Robert T. Stafford Act in a manner that largely codifies the changes related to houses of worship which were made in the last version of this Guide in January 2018.


The new PAPPG updates language to match the new law; adds houses of worship as eligible private nonprofit facilities, distinct from community centers; clarifies that houses of worship cannot be deemed ineligible because leadership or membership in the organization operating the house of worship is limited to persons who share a religious faith or practice; removes the exclusion of buildings and items used primarily for religious purposes or instruction from the definition of eligible private non-profit educational facilities; and makes clear that these facilities are eligible regardless of their religious character or use for religious instruction.


The new PAPPG also clarifies that new construction under the Public Assistance program is prohibited in Coastal High Hazard Areas.


FEMA will continue to update the guide on an annual basis, as necessary, and is always looking for policy feedback. Please send any policy recommendations to FEMA-PAPolicy@fema.dhs.gov.


FEMA Podcast: Financial Preparedness

When folks hear about disaster preparedness, regardless of the hazard, we often do not focus much on the financial aspect or financial preparedness. This week, Allen Becker, the host of the radio program, Retire Right Radio joins the FEMA Podcast to discuss the importance of putting yourself in the best position to bounce back financially from disaster.  

 

The FEMA Podcast is a new audio program series available to anyone interested in learning more about the Agency, hearing about innovation in the field of emergency management, and listening to stories about communities and individuals recovering after disasters. The FEMA Podcast is available on Apple iTunes to stream or download. Approximately 20 to 30 minutes in length, the podcast will be updated with a new episode on a weekly basis. By subscribing, new episodes will automatically update on a listener's device. For more information, visit www.fema.gov/podcast.

FEMA launches podcast

Building to Code Saves Lives and Protects Communities

Week three of National Building Safety Month focuses on “Protecting Communities from Disasters.” Although we have no control over the occurrence of natural hazards, mitigation efforts-such as building code adoption and code enforcement-are some of the strongest strategies jurisdictions can take to protect a community. Mitigation increases building occupant health and safety during a disaster, protects the local tax base, ensures continuity of essential services, and supports faster recovery from disasters.


Building a culture of preparedness is a key part of the FEMA 2018-2022 Strategic Plan. Disaster resilience starts with building codes, because they enhance public safety and property protection. FEMA works directly with state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, and non-governmental partners, and advocates for the adoption and enforcement of modern building and property codes.


The development and adoption of building codes are beneficial to communities because they create a regulatory environment that holds design professionals and contractors accountable to a set of standards. These standards are adapted by and applicable to the jurisdictions in which they work. Most importantly, building codes help protect your family and your community in the event of a natural disaster.


FEMA’s Building Science Branch develops and produces guidance focused on creating disaster-resilient communities to reduce loss of life and property. The FEMA How to Series was developed by the Building Science Branch to help property owners and contractors learn about construction techniques to protect their building, home, or business from disaster. Check out an online video about the Evolution of Mitigation to learn more about how mitigation helps protect communities.


For more information, visit the International Code Council’s Building Safety Month webpage.


EMI Adds Advanced Public Information Officer Trainings to 2018 Schedule

The unprecedented number and intensity of major disaster incidents Americans are encountering has brought heightened focus on the importance of emergency public information. FEMA’s public information officer (PIO) curriculum plays a key role in meeting the training needs of the individuals tasked with critical message delivery. FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute (EMI) announced additional offerings of the Advanced PIO course July 16-20 in Ft. Pierce, Florida and August 20-24 in Charlotte, North Carolina.


The Advanced PIO course provides public information officers the opportunity to increase their knowledge and skills for establishing, managing and working in a joint information center (JIC). The training fosters an environment where participants can apply advanced skills during a multi-day functional exercise designed to test and enhance their ability to analyze, coordinate, process, and create information in a fast-paced, realistic environment.


Using interactive lectures from subject matter experts and an intense functional exercise, participants learn skills they can use during escalating incidents, including strategic communications and incident action planning, as it relates to JIC operations.


For information on prerequisites and course schedules, go to https://training.fema.gov/programs/pio/trainops.aspx. Contact EMI course manager Phil Politano (Philip.politano@fema.dhs.gov) for more information.


National Terrorism Advisory System Bulletin Reissued

Due to the current terror threat environment, and with input from intelligence and law enforcement partners, the Department of Homeland Security updated and extended the National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) Bulletin. This marks the sixth iteration of the Bulletin on the terror threats, and it has been reissued five times since its initial release in December 2015. 

 

To read the new NTAS Bulletin, visit https://www.dhs.gov/national-terrorism-advisory-system.


Deadline Extended Until June 8 to Apply for National Emergency Management Advanced and Executive Academies

FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute (EMI) is accepting applications until June 8, 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


Reminder of Upcoming Deadlines

FEMA Seeks Comments on Individual Assistance Policy and Program Guide

FEMA posted the draft Individual Assistance Program and Policy Guide (IAPPG) for public comment. The IAPPG will provide a single comprehensive reference document for all FEMA Individual Assistance (IA) programs. The comment period will close on June 7, 2018. FEMA will then adjudicate comments and finalize the document. Once finalized, the IAPPG will replace the Individuals and Households Program Unified Guidance (IHPUG) from September 2016, and all stand-alone IA policies. 


Please visit www.fema.gov/individual-assistance-program-and-policy-guide to review and provide comments on the draft IAPPG.