FEMA External Affairs Bulletin Week of March 23, 2015

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EXTERNAL AFFAIRS BULLETIN

Week of March 23, 2015

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In this Edition:

Important Dates & Deadlines

March 25 - Federal Flood Risk Management Standard Listening Session Webinar

Federal Flood Risk Management Standard Listening Session Webinar

March 27 - Federal Flood Risk Management Standard Listening Session in New York, New York

Federal Flood Risk Management Standard Listening Session in New York, New York

April 11 - Individual and Community Preparedness Awards Application Deadline

Individual and Community Preparedness Awards Application Deadline

April 17 - Fiscal Year 2014 Fire Prevention & Safety Application Deadline

Fiscal Year 2014 Fire Prevention & Safety Application Deadline

April 30 - National PrepareAthon! Day

National PrepareAthon! Day

May 6

Federal Flood Risk Management Standard Draft Implementing Guidelines Open Comment Period Deadline

2015 U.S. Spring Outlook Released

Last week, NOAA released the 2015 U.S. Spring Outlook. According to the outlook, rivers in western New York and eastern New England have the greatest risk of spring flooding, partially because of heavy snowpack combined with potential spring rain. Widespread drought conditions are expected to continue in California, Nevada, and Oregon as the dry season begins.

 

March, April, and May are three months where spring weather preparedness is critical. Late season snowstorms can impact the East Coast and the Northern Plains, thunderstorms rip across the South and Midwest, rivers overflow their banks and heat waves begin in the Southwest. Additionally, tsunamis pose a hazard that can strike the coasts at any time.

 

Know your risk, take action and be a force of nature. By preparing for spring weather hazards, FEMA is working towards building a weather ready nation.


The 2015 National Preparedness Directorate National Training and Exercise Symposium

The Emergency Management Institute (EMI) is preparing for the 2015 National Training and Exercise (NT&E) Symposium. The symposium, which takes place May 19-21, 2015 at EMI in Emmitsburg, Maryland, provides federal, state, tribal, territorial training and exercise officials the opportunity to discuss current and future training and exercise programs and share case studies, lessons learned, and smart practices. The symposium also provides a platform to communicate changes to current and introduce new FEMA policy and doctrine.

 

At the NT&E annual symposium, presenters discuss current and future training and exercise programs and initiatives which impact the federal, state, local, tribal, territorial, and non-government sectors. The symposium provides an instructional, participatory environment for emergency management training and exercise officials to engage their peers from across the country as well as interact with FEMA leadership.

 

This year, the presentations include panel discussions on school safety initiatives, using new EMI state and local recovery courses to address capability gaps in long term recovery, and the Emergency Management Basic Academy, and a presentation on the impact of solar and space weather on emergency management and animal emergency management. Other breakout sessions include an overview of The National Center for Campus Public Safety, a briefing of EMI’s Virtual Table Top Exercise Series, and a presentation on Homemade Explosives by New Mexico Tech.

 

In addition to the array of presentations, EMI will also be offering four pre-symposium courses. These one-day courses will be taught by the members of the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium (NDPC) and the Rural Domestic Preparedness Consortium (RDPC).

 

For more information about the NT&E Symposium, visit www.training.fema.gov/nte.   


FEMA Logistics and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Developing More Efficient Ways To Deliver Temporary Power In Disasters

FEMA’s Logistics and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) recently completed a joint, comprehensive analysis designed to identify and put in place new, more efficient methods of delivering temporary power to disaster survivors when a disaster strikes.

 

Among the methods identified is the implementation of the Emergency Power Facility Assessment Tool (EPFAT), an online resource that stores the updated critical public facility generator requirements data of states. Access to this accurate and updated online data will help FEMA Logistics and USACE expedite the installation of temporary power at facilities where commercial power has been cut due to a disaster.  By reducing by one-third of those generators that are currently warehoused, FEMA Logistics and USACE will be able to dedicate funds to this data-driven, more efficient method of moving electric generators when and where there is a critical need for them during disasters.  

 

FEMA and the U.S. Army Corps are also currently developing a Temporary Power Training Course, to be available and free of charge for state directors, emergency managers and planners through FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute.


REMINDER: Fiscal Year 2014 Fire Prevention & Safety Application Period Now Open

The Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grants are part of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant and support projects that enhance the safety of the public and firefighters from fire and related hazards. The FY 2014 Fire Prevention & Safety (FP&S) application period is open until April 17, 2015 at 5 p.m. EDT.


REMINDER: 2015 FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness Award Application Period Now Open

The application period for the 2015 Individual and Community Preparedness Awards is open until April 10, 2015. The awards highlight innovative local practices and achievements by recognizing individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions toward making their communities safer, stronger, better prepared, and more resilient.

 

To be considered for this year’s awards, all submissions must be received by April 10, 2015, at 11:59 p.m. EDT and must feature program activities taking place between January 1, 2014, and April 10, 2015. Applications should be submitted to citizencorps@fema.dhs.gov.


REMINDER: Register for a Federal Flood Risk Management Standard Listening Session

FEMA and federal partners are providing a series of listening sessions on the implementation guidelines of the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS). These sessions provide the opportunity to learn more about the Standard, ask questions, and provide feedback on how federal agencies implement the Standard. Upcoming sessions will be held in New York, New York; with additional sessions to be announced soon. Listening session dates and locations are available online.


Due to space constraints of the facilities, seating may be limited. To reserve a seat in advance, please provide a request via email at least three days in advance with the contact information of the participant (including name, mailing address, and e-mail address), and the meeting to be attended to FEMA-FFRMS@fema.dhs.gov and include the subject/attention line: Reservation Request for FFRMS. For anyone attending the meetings who is hearing or visually impaired, or who requires special assistance or accommodations, please also contact FEMA-FFRMS@fema.dhs.gov.

 

For those unable to attend a listening session, there will be an FFRMS webinar on March 25, 3-6 p.m. EDT. Participants can register for the webinar online.

 

The deadline to comment on the draft version of Implementing Guidelines has been extended until May 6, 2015. Questions and comments may be submitted to FEMA-FFRMS@fema.dhs.gov.