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FEMA developed the Individual Assistance Program and Policy Guide (IAPPG), which is an inclusive, single-policy resource for all Individual Assistance (IA) programs. The new guide consolidates policies for the Individuals and Households Program, Mass Care and Emergency Assistance, and the Community Services Program into one document. The guide also replaces the Individuals and Households Program Unified Guidance (IHPUG) as the primary reference resource for IA programs.
The IAPPG provides a comprehensive policy resource for state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, non-governmental partners, and other entities that assist survivors during disasters. Resources written specifically for disaster survivors can be found at https://www.fema.gov/individual-disaster-assistance.
The IAPPG furthers the goal of reducing the complexity of FEMA as outlined in the agency’s 2018-2022 Strategic Plan.
FEMA’s National Integration Center seeks public feedback on four documents related to the National Incident Management System (NIMS) to support further implementation of the National Preparedness Goal.
The NIMS National Qualification System (NQS) documents for review are:
• NIMS National Qualification System Supplemental Guide for Coaches and Evaluators. This guide provides processes, procedures, and tools to assist authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs) develop and maintain coaching and evaluating programs as part of the larger qualification process.
• NIMS NQS Supplemental Guide for Qualification Review Boards. This guide provides basic processes and procedures to assist AHJs develop and maintain a Qualification Review Board as part of the larger certification process.
FEMA will host 60-minute webinars (on March 7, 12 and March 14) to discuss these NQS supporting tools and answer questions.
The Hazardous Material (HAZMAT) documents for review are:
• National Incident Management System Job Title/Position Qualification and Resource Typing Definitions: Hazardous Materials Response Team and Hazardous Materials Technician.
• NIMS Job Titles/Position Qualifications and Resource Typing Definitions, which 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.
To review the four draft documents and for additional webinar information, visit https://www.fema.gov/national-incident-management-system/national-engagement.
To provide comments on the drafts, complete the feedback form on the webpage listed above and submit the form to fema-nims@fema.dhs.gov. Feedback on the supplemental guides must be received no later than 5 p.m. ET on March 25, and by 5 p.m. ET March 28 on the HAZMAT documents.
FEMA is offering the Advanced Public Information Officer course April 29 – May 3 at the National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, Maryland. The 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.
To register, contact the National Emergency Training Center Admissions Office at (301) 447-1035 or netcadmissions@fema.dhs.gov no later than March 18. For information on prerequisites and course schedules, go to http://training.fema.gov/programs/pio/ and read the Training Bulletin.
The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 directs federal agencies to thoroughly assess the environmental consequences of major federal actions that could significantly affect the environment. In May 2018, FEMA published a Record of Decision in the Federal Register to announce its intent to implement the Preferred Alternative program modifications to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). FEMA undertook the preparation of a Nationwide Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (NPEIS) and completed the Record of Decision because changes to the NFIP are considered to be a major federal action. As a first step toward implementation, FEMA is sending an awareness letter to more than 22,000 communities that participate in the NFIP.
The program modifications contained in the Preferred Alternative to the NFIP NPEIS are needed to implement the legislative requirements of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012, the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014, and to demonstrate compliance with the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The three primary NFIP component areas are mapping, insurance, and floodplain management.
At this time, NFIP participating communities are not required to implement the program modifications contained in the Record of Decision’s Preferred Alternative. FEMA is continuing its outreach to ensure communities are aware of the forthcoming changes. FEMA will continue to develop the necessary policies and processes to implement the program modifications listed in the final NPEIS, and will coordinate with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service.
The final NPEIS, Record of Decision and a copy of the Community Awareness Letter are available on FEMA.gov at https://www.fema.gov/programmatic-environmental-impact-statement.
FEMA is updating the National Response Framework as the agency incorporates lessons learned from the 2017 hurricane and wildfire season. The latest episode of the FEMA podcast describes the changes to NRF that include adding an additional Emergency Support Function and the implementation of Community Lifelines.
The FEMA Podcast is an 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.
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