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The emergency management community has been operating in a pandemic environment for over a year. FEMA released the "COVID-19 Pandemic Operational Guidance: All Hazards Incidents Response and Recovery."
The document was designed to help emergency managers plan for disaster response and recovery, while adhering to public health guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The guidance serves as a tool for governments, outlining guidance related to new priorities that have arisen in recent months.
Through all disaster response and recovery operations, FEMA will continue to operate under the framework of locally executed, state managed and federal supported incident response. The pandemic operational guidance helps to create a shared understanding of expectations among FEMA and all our partners, which allows our nation to be better positioned to achieve operational outcomes in disaster response and recovery efforts.
FEMA is offering a series of webinars focused on the guidance throughout the month of June:
- Webinar 1 – 10 a.m. ET, June 3
https://fema.connectsolutions.com/cpog_webinar1/event/registration.html
- Webinar 2 – 3 p.m. ET, June 8
https://fema.connectsolutions.com/cpog_webinar2/event/registration.html
- Webinar 3 – 11 a.m. ET, June 10
https://fema.connectsolutions.com/cpog_webinar3/event/registration.html
- Webinar 4 – 7 p.m. ET, June 16
https://fema.connectsolutions.com/cpog_webinar4/event/registration.html
- Webinar 5 – 1 p.m. ET, June 17
https://fema.connectsolutions.com/cpog_webinar5/event/registration.html
To sign up for a webinar, simply click on the registration link associated with the preferred date of attendance.
To best serve applicants for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance, FEMA has used an innovative and interactive technology for those applying for funeral assistance and calling with questions on the program. This state-of-the-art technology, known as an intelligent virtual agent, uses artificial intelligence to engage with a person.
A caller can speak in plain language when reaching an intelligent virtual agent at the contact center. Due to its flexibility, the intelligent virtual agent technology offers improved customer experience over a traditional menu-based response system, as many callers questions can be answered by the intelligent virtual agent.
The intelligent virtual agent can answer questions related to funeral assistance and general COVID-19 questions. The virtual agent may also transfer and connect individuals with a live agent who will help them apply for assistance or respond to questions about their application. The intelligent virtual agent is also able to assist a caller contact the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-FEMA (800-621-3362).
This technology helps callers by answering a wide variety of the most frequently asked questions. If the caller needs further assistance from a live agent, the system can route the caller to an available agent for additional assistance.
The virtual system can also connect callers to live agents with different proficiencies. Some agents help with funeral assistance applications, others answer questions about COVID-19 or route callers to basic or advanced help. The agents may also provide guidance on how to appeal FEMA’s decision or get information about their application or case.
To learn more about the funeral assistance program, visit FEMA's Funeral Assistance webpage. To get answers to frequently asked questions about the application process, visit FEMA’s Funeral Assistance FAQ webpage.
The Resilient Nation Partnership Network is hosting a panel discussion, “Seismic Shift in Perception: Taking Bold Steps to Mitigate Earthquake Risk,” with several subject matter experts to discuss earthquake risk across our nation. The panel discussion will take place from noon – 1 p.m. ET on May 19.
Topics include:
- The perception of earthquake risk.
- Developing collaborative partnerships to support mitigation actions to reduce earthquake risk.
- Implementing creative solutions for seismic retrofits.
- Earthquake losses are estimated to be about $6 billion per year in the United States. Each topic is related to funding activities to reduce earthquake impacts at all levels of government, commercial and residential levels.
The panelists include representatives from:
Visit the Resilience Exchange Eventbrite webpage to register. To learn more about the Resilient Nation Partnership Network, visit FEMA.gov.
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FEMA released the “National Incident Management System Implementation Fact Sheet for Private Sector Organizations,” a resource document for private sector partners to help implement the National Incident Management System.
Private sector organizations play an important role in preparedness, response and recovery efforts. FEMA’s National Integration Center updated this fact sheet with current information to help guide and promote the incorporation of the National Incident Management System into private sector organizational incident response plans.
The document identifies specific activities that are involved in the National Incident Management System implementation for state, local, tribal and territorial private sector organizations.
The fact sheet revision is part of a collaborative effort comprised of a dozen private sector and nonprofit subject matter experts and stakeholders from various state, local, tribal and territorial levels.
For additional National Incident Management System information, visit FEMA.gov.
FEMA released shelter-in-place pictogram guidance for 10 hazards and three building types.
The pictograms provide clear, visual guidance to the public on shelter-in-place actions classified by hazard and building type to ensure the public takes effective protective actions when instructed to shelter-in-place during emergencies.
The guidance provides recommended interior locations for specific hazards, additional actions for protection and the recommended duration for staying sheltered-in-place
The ten hazards are:
- Active shooter.
- Chemical hazard.
- Earthquake.
- Flooding/flash flooding.
- Hurricane.
- Nuclear/radiological hazards.
- Pandemic.
- Thunderstorm.
- Tornado and winter storm.
The three types of buildings are:
- Manufactured or mobile home.
- One- or two-story buildings.
- Multistory buildings.
The shelter-in-place pictograms can be used by community partners in multiple communication channels, such as posters, websites, just-in-time social media posts and by emergency managers for Integrated Public Alert & Warning System messages.
The shelter-in-place protective actions guidance can be found on FEMA.gov.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. To commemorate the month, the Department of Homeland Security, Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships is hosting a webinar to support faith-based and community organizations, emergency managers and first responders who are responding to COVID-19 and/or have personally experienced the traumatic impact of COVID-19. The webinar will take place from 2 – 3 p.m. ET on May 25.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a major shift in how we relate to one another. Even when following guidelines and using personal protective equipment, life can be unpredictable from day to day and cause increased stress.
To address the stress and social and emotional impacts associated with COVID-19, mental health subject matter experts will provide diverse perspectives from communities of color and various faith traditions. The intent for the webinars is to present strategies and resources that will be applicable to all who attend.
Visit FEMA Zoom to register for the webinar. Registered participants will be sent a recording of the webinar in case they are unable to attend or wish to share.
Presenters include:
- All Healers Mental Health Alliance Chair Annelle Primm, MD, MPH.
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Wheaton College Blanchard Chair of Humanitarian Disaster Leadership and Humanitarian Disaster Institute Executive Director and Founder Jamie Aten, Ph.D.
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Michigan State University Department of Psychiatry Assistant Professor and Muslim Mental Health Consortium Director Farha Abbasi, MD.
- Neshama: Association of Jewish Chaplains President and The Oscar and Ella Wilf Campus for Senior Living Director of Religious and Spiritual Services Rabbi Bryan Kinzbrunner, BCC.
The webinar will be captioned. For questions or additional information, send an email to partnerships@fema.dhs.gov.
FEMA Hosts Exercise Starter Kit Webinars
FEMA’s National Exercise Division developed exercise starter kits with sample documents to assist organizations in planning and conducting tabletop exercises aligning with the updated National Exercise Program 2021-2022 Principal's Strategic Priorities.
FEMA will host webinars for whole community exercise practitioners. The webinars will introduce the new exercise starter kits, providing stakeholders with an overview of the kits along with how to use them. The webinars are scheduled for:
- 5 p.m. ET, May 20.
- 1 p.m. ET, May 28.
- 9 a.m. ET, June 7.
Each webinar will present the same content and a recording will be made available later on FEMA.gov. Visit the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program Webinar webpage to register.
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May is Building Safety Month
The International Code Council launched the Building Safety Month initiative each May more than 40 years ago. The annual educational campaign raises awareness about the importance of building codes to ensure safety in the spaces in which we live, work and learn.
This year’s weekly themes emphasize “Prevent, prepare, protect. Building Codes Save.” With ongoing social distancing and safety measures in mind, all planned events during the month will be held virtually. The weekly themes for the 2021 Building Safety Month are:
More information about Building Safety Month, including details regarding virtual events, can be found at: www.buildingsafetymonth.org. In addition, initiatives throughout the month will be highlighted on using the hashtag #BuildingSafety365.
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FEMA Seeks Feedback for Resource Typing
The FEMA National Integration Center is seeking public feedback on six resource typing documents. The 30-day national engagement period will conclude at 5 p.m. ET on June 10.
The national engagement period provides an opportunity for interested parties to comment on the draft document to ensure that it is relevant for all implementing partners.
The resource typing documents include:
- Structural collapse search team.
- Structural collapse search team leader.
- Structural collapse search technician.
- Structural collapse rescue team.
- Structural collapse rescue team leader.
- Structural collapse rescue technician.
These resource typing documents will facilitate the sharing of deployable resource types at all jurisdictional levels. To provide comments on the drafts, complete the feedback form on FEMA.gov and submit the form to fema-nims@fema.dhs.gov no later than 5 p.m. ET on June 10.
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FEMA Seeks Public Feedback for Programs
FEMA is seeking public comments for programs that deal with climate change and underserved populations.
FEMA posted in the Federal Register a Request for Information on programs, regulations and policies. The feedback will assist FEMA in identifying specific action that will better address climate change and underserved communities and populations. The comment period will be open through June 21.
Comments can be submitted through June 21 via the Federal eRulemaking Portal, Docket ID: FEMA-2021-0011. Please follow the instructions on the page and contact the Regulations.gov Help Desk if you have technical issues.
FEMA encourages public comment and responses to these questions. For additional information on the request for information, visit FEMA.gov.
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