July 2022
 Bruce Sterling is VDEM's Hurricane Program Manager. Here's an update from him:
Forecasts for the 2022 tropical season are expecting an above average number of storms. The average hurricane season produces 14 named storms, 7 hurricanes, and 3 major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher). In an average hurricane season, on June 30 we would have seen 1 named storm, 0 hurricanes, and (obviously) 0 major hurricanes. That is exactly where we were on June 30, with the only named storm to date being Tropical Storm Alex, which formed on June 2. Tropical Storm Bonnie did form on July 1 after spending most of the week as Potential Tropical Cyclone 2. Interestingly, Tropical Storm Alex spent the first three days as a Potential Tropical Cyclone also. A Potential Tropical Cyclone can be issued by the National Hurricane Center when a storm may develop, but doesn’t yet meet the definitions of a tropical cyclone, and Tropical Storm or Hurricane Watches or Warnings are needed for threatened areas.
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As of this morning, Tuesday, July 5th, Bonnie is now a hurricane, and is no threat to land. With sustained winds of 105mph, the storm is currently off the southern coast of Mexico in the Pacific Ocean and heading WNW.
Tropical Storm Colin caught many by surprise by forming off the coast of the Carolinas over the holiday weekend, bringing clouds and rain and the threat of rip currents to our beaches. That threat has passed as the storm exited the region.
At the moment, as you can see by the graphic above, there is no tropical activity expected to develop within the next 48 hours.
 It's July and that means we're in summer safety mode! Just because the 4th of July has passed, injuries from fireworks are one of the biggest concerns in the days and weeks surrounding the holiday. Heat is also a major hazard we need to prepare for and be aware of. Please don't forget to take frequent breaks, lather on the sunscreen, wear light clothing, watch for heat illnesses, and hydrate. Also, never leave children or pets in a closed car.
But summer safety means more than just keeping cool. We also need to keep our cool when it comes to outdoor cooking, fireworks, and swimming.
Let's have a fun and safe summer!
Here are some summer safety facts and tips:
Extreme Heat:
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Heat waves can be dangerous and even life-threatening for people who don't take the proper precautions.
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According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), there were 51 heat-related deaths in 2020. Heat also holds the highest 10-year average of deaths per year with 107 fatalities, and the highest 30-year average of any hazard at 143 fatalities.
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Most heat disorders occur because the victim has been overexposed to heat or has over-exercised for his or her age and physical condition. Older adults, young children, and those who are sick or overweight are more likely to succumb to extreme heat.
Fireworks:
- In 2020, U.S. hospital emergency rooms treated an estimated 15,600 people for fireworks related injuries; 44% due to burns, with 67% of injuries occurring to the eyes, head, face, ears, hands, and fingers. These injury estimates were obtained or derived from the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CSPC) 2020 Fireworks Annual Report Draft (cpsc.gov).
- 66% of injuries occurred in the month around July 4.
- In that month, 1,600 injuries occurred through the use of fireworks and 900 injuries occurred through the use of sparklers.
- Deaths due to fireworks rose from 12 to 18 from 2019 to 2020.
Outdoor cooking:
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July is the peak month for grill fires, with roughly half of injuries resulting in thermal burns (NFPA)
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Seven out of ten adults own a grill, and while that accounts for many tasty meals, it also means an increased risk for accidents (NFPA)
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10,600 home fires are started by grills each year, with almost 20,000 people per year making a trip to the emergency room due to grilling accidents (NFPA)
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Keep cold food cold, coolers closed, and don’t cross-contaminate. Not only can unsafe grilling practices get you hurt, but unsafe food handling can get you sick.
Swimming (Source: American Red Cross):
Rip Currents (Source: NOAA):
- Rip currents account for 80% of beach rescues and can be dangerous or deadly if you don't know what to do. It's simple stuff, but we can't take it for granted.
- Know before you go. Check local beach forecasts before you head to the beach, and always swim near lifeguards. Look for any warning signs or flags. If you're unsure about conditions, ask a lifeguard. And know how to swim before you venture in.
- If you do happen to be caught in a rip current, stay calm. It won't pull you under - it'll just pull you away from shore. If you try to fight the rip current and swim against it, you'll just get worn out. Instead - float!
- If you can, wave and yell to get the attention of lifeguards and people on shore to let them know you need help.
- If you're a good swimmer, swim parallel to shore until you've cleared the pull of the rip current. Swim with the waves, allowing them to push you to shore.
 VOPEX-- Virginia Operations Exercise-- is a radiological exercise that is required by FEMA. Virginia has two Dominion-owned plants (North Anna and Surry) and therefore conducts an exercise on an annual basis, alternating facilities each year.
Emergency response personnel from several Virginia agencies, local governments, and Dominion Energy will hold a Biennial Radiological Emergency Preparedness Exercise on July 19th with the North Anna Power Station in Louisa County.
The Virginia Operations Plan Exercise (VOPEX) will involve the following localities: Caroline County, Hanover County, Louisa County, Orange County, and Spotsylvania County. The Virginia Emergency Support Team (VEST) will participate which includes the state departments of Emergency Management, Health, State Police, Transportation, Social Services, Military Affairs, and Agriculture and Consumer Services.
 The picture above is from a practice run of the radiological exercise that happened last month.
The full-scale exercise will test and assess emergency operations functions, and emergency response capabilities, at the local and state level. The exercise will be evaluated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Within 90 days, FEMA will send its evaluation to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for use in licensing decisions. The final report will be available to the public approximately 120 days after the exercise.
You can read more about the North Anna plant and how it operates at North Anna Power Station | Dominion Energy
VDEM team members recently visited Tangier Island, Chincoteague, Accomack, and Northampton, to meet with locals and discuss topics such as flooding, sheltering, and mitigation efforts to limit erosion.
Take a look at some photos from the trip!
 At the Tangier Air Strip learning about mitigation efforts that had been implemented to limit erosion on the eastern side of the island. Laurie Pruitt (Town Manager, Town of Tangier) C. Ray Pruitt (Emergency Manager with Accomack County), VDEM Hurricane Planner Stewart Baker, VDEM State Coordinator Shawn Talmadge.
 High water marks, Bayford, Va. VDEM Hurricane Program Manager Bruce Sterling, John Northon, Eric Seymour with National Weather Service, VDEM State Coordinator Shawn Talmadge, Harrison Bresee, Jack King.
 Group photo before leaving the island. Brian Rush (EM, Town of Chincoteague), TJ Rippon (Olson Group), Eric Seymour (NWS Wakefield), Stewart Baker, C Ray Pruitt (EM, Accomack County), Harrison Bresee, Bruce Sterling, John Northon, Todd Cannon, Jack King, Brian Russell, Sarah Dickey (EM, Accomack County), Shawn Talmadge, not pictured Chris Bruce.
 The Partners in Preparedness program is up and running! We have advertised to local Emergency Managers, and plan on advertising on social media to garner more attention soon.
We have requested money in VDEM's budget for printing of Partners in Preparedness materials, translation services to get these materials in the top 6 languages that have been identified here in Virginia, VDEM swag to hand out at events, and more. We are waiting for approval, then we will be ordering copies of the materials that we can distribute to Partners.
We will be working next on expanding preparedness materials for kids, and bringing more resources to the "Prepare" page at vaemergency.gov.
If you can think of a specific need in your community in terms of preparedness information, please email Katie.Carter@VDEM.Virginia.gov.
In the meantime, direct people to visit Vaemergency.gov/Partners-In-Preparedness to sign up and explore what's available.
 **FEMA has recently established key deadlines for applying for FEMA Public Assistance for eligible work that your organization may have performed that was required to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
December 31, 2022 marks the deadline to submit a streamline project application(s) in FEMA Grants Portal for eligible COVID-19 work and costs that occurred between January 20, 2020 and July 1, 2022. The streamlined project application must include information and documentation sufficient for FEMA to determine whether the work is eligible, and either the actual or estimated cost of the work.
How to Submit a Streamline Application - FEMA Grants Portal
Individuals looking for Individual Assistance, please visit disasterassistance.gov for assistance.
Businesses looking for assistance should visit the Small Business Administration’s disaster assistance website.
Do you serve or represent individuals or communities in Virginia who are impacted by flooding?
You probably do — flooding is the most common and costly natural disaster. Anywhere it can rain, it can flood.
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The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is developing a Flood Protection Master Plan to address the threat of flooding statewide.
Your responses to this brief survey will help us ensure that your community is invited to participate as we create a Flood Protection Plan that works — for ALL Virginians.
Thank you for your help!
SURVEY
Please forward this email and survey link to other community and organization representatives.
For any questions or comments please reach out to the Department of Conservation and Recreation, Flood Resilience Program, at Flood.Resilience@dcr.virginia.gov.
REGIONAL NEWS
Region 1: VDEM Region 1 employees will be at many of the upcoming Richmond Flying Squirrels partner nights. Join us to learn more about Emergency Management!
- Tues, July 26– National Weather Service
- Thurs, Aug 18 – CERT
- Thurs, Sept 1 – Preparedness Night
Region 2: VDEM Region 2 will conduct the FEMA-evaluated Bi-Annual North Anna Power Station Radiological Emergency Preparedness drill this month. This is a federally required and evaluated initiative in collaboration with local Emergency Managers, state-agency partners, FEMA and Dominion Energy.
Region 2 will be welcoming the new All-Hazards Planner this month. Be on the lookout for more details!
Region 3: Farmville will have their July 4th festival on July 2nd in downtown Farmville. The Region 3 team is very involved in the planning for this event. Peter Homan serves as the Planning Section Chief, Lucy Carter Smith is the Liaison Officer/PIO, and Gene Stewart serves as the Safety Officer. We are glad to announce Emily Seigel started as the Recovery Specialist for Region 3 and we welcome her aboard. The Region 3 staff will stay busy with the Blue Ridge Rock Festival planning, exercises, training, and many other "blue sky" day meetings and events. Region 3 has the most square miles out of all the 7 regions at 8,403. The staff is well placed throughout the region from the northwest to the southeast, but there is still a lot of travel every team member does monthly.
Region 4: Region 4's July is all about planning. This month, FEMA is coming to meet with Region 4 (Southwest Virginia's) Planning Commission Coordinator to discuss mitigation planning and mitigation grants. They will also meeting with localities about the LCAR survey, or the Local Capability Assessment of Readiness. This is a survey sent out to assess the readiness and capability of organizations to help in a crisis or disaster. This helps update our database so that we know what capabilities to serve there are in our communities should a need arise.
Region 5:
June 23: Participated in the Eastern Shore (of Virginia) Coalition meeting.
June 29: Region 5 is hosting HURREVAC training at CNU (hurricane forecasting software for government, emergency managers)
July 6 : Region 5's Hurricane Program is sponsoring the L311 Hurricane Readiness for Coastal Communities class at the VEOC
July 28: Region 5 is holding the Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck Emergency Manager's Meeting
Region 6:
VDEM's Region 6 is excited to host the National Cave Rescue Commission (NCRC) National Week-long Seminar in Covington at the Mountain Gateway Community College July 16-23. The seminar consists of both classroom and intense fieldwork in all phases of cave rescue including working in the underground environment, search, rescue, patient care, packaging, movement and extrication, rigging, hauling and technical rescue systems along with managing these extended rescue operations. Over 100 students from all over the US are expected to participate in this physically and mentally demanding training. VDEM Region 6 staff are not only helping to coordinate but are also signed up to take the training!
We're also excited to be supporting FloydFest, a 5-day music festival nestled in the mountains of Patrick County along the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway. With camping on and off site, festival shuttles, and scores of amazing musicians, this festival supports over 10,000 people July 27-31. VDEM Region 6 staff along with National Park Service, Virginia State Police, Patrick County and Floyd County Emergency Management and Sheriff's are supporting this event.
Region 7: VDEM's National Capital Region has a busy July coming up! They will be providing support for Fourth of July celebrations to localities, should they need assistance.
The team continues to monitor the developments and rulings out of the Supreme Court of the United States, and any demonstrations and activities as a result.
They are also continuing to help support Operation Afghan Welcome.
Later this month, the National Capital Region Incident Management Team will be participating in an exercise. VDEM's various regions and teams participate in numerous exercises every year that help us prepare for, plan for, and practice our response to would-be scenarios.
Region 7 will also be participating in the State Hazard Mitigation Plan workgroup. The Commonwealth of Virginia Hazard Mitigation Plan provides guidance for hazard mitigation activities within the Commonwealth. Its vision is supported by goals, categories, and actions for Virginia that will reduce or prevent injury from natural hazards to residents, communities, state facilities, and critical facilities. The workgroup will be reviewing and updating this plan.
Region 7 will also be hosting a class that is part of FEMA's Emergency Management Institute. The class, called Intermediate Emergency Operations Center Functions, is a three day course with the goal of assisting individuals and jurisdictions who desire to develop or improve their Emergency Operation Centers (EOC). By the end of the course, students will be able to demonstrate, through activities and a Final Exam, the managerial and operational roles of the modern-day EOC as a NIMS Command and Coordination functional group operating within a Multiagency Coordination System (MACS).
 We have a number of digital preparedness resources available for download and print here: Make a Plan | VDEM (vaemergency.gov). Start by encouraging people to print the Emergency Reference Card to fill out and display on their refrigerator. This has basic contact information that is useful and easy to reference in an emergency.
The next thing you'll want is "My Emergency Plan". It has everything you need before, during, and after a disaster from emergency information, an emergency kit checklist, how to find your hurricane evacuation zone, a place to list where you will go in the event of an evacuation, important contact information, and much more. There are also resources for recovery after a disaster.
Watch for an updated July calendar very soon with graphics on preparedness and general awareness topics such as UV Safety Month, Fireworks Safety Month, and Summer and Extreme Heat Safety. Take a look--we've also got graphics that you can post with tips and reminders for Hurricane Season, Pet Preparedness Month, National Lightning Safety Awareness Week, and more. You are welcome to send these out in a newsletter, and even add your own organization's logo to them to showcase our partnership.
Go to Preparedness Calendar | VDEM (vaemergency.gov) to see the new additions!
 We are proud to announce our latest Partners!
The Near Southwest Preparedness Alliance out of Roanoke is also a new Partner. Executive Director Robert Hawkins has one simple mission: to support the healthcare infrastructure of Southwestern Virginia with disaster preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation resources. In other words, they help keep the doors of healthcare open when disaster strikes. They do this by providing comprehensive disaster resource management, delivering world-class training, education and exercises, supporting response through incident coordination, improving healthcare intelligence with real-time situational awareness before, during and after disaster, and more. Learn more about Near Southwest Preparedness Alliance: NSPA - NSPA (nspa1.org).
Loudoun County is now a Partner! Quinchela Dent-Harris is the Outreach Coordinator with the Office of the County Administrator, Public Affairs & Communications, and has years of experience with the Department of Health and non-profits. She has a degree in public health and saw the need to partner with VDEM to spread important information about emergency preparedness to those in her community. Thanks for your dedication, Quinchela!
Tammy Oakes is the Executive Director of Arms Open Wide Ministries. They're a non-profit in Blackstone, VA. Arms Open Wide Ministries will make available effective opportunities and resources to promote overall enrichment by empowering individuals to complete wellness in every aspect of life providing exposure to resources that will inspire people to be the best they can be at whatever stage in their lives and by investing in people with resources they might otherwise not have, Arms Open Wide Ministries will stimulate integral growth within the communities and in the lives of others and beyond all for the glory of God. Check out their website at Arms Open Wide Ministries.
Jackie Green-August is the Executive Director of People Empowered by And Committed to Education, another one of our newest Partners. They're a non-profit organization in Crewe, VA. PEACE empowers individuals to address obstacles and barriers hindering their quality of life. In addition, PEACE empowers communities to build equitable and accessible systems of health care, education, food, transportation, and employment. Check out more at People Empowered By and Committed To Education - GuideStar Profile
We are also proud to welcome the Crater Health District of the Virginia Department of Health to our network of Partners! Steven Herring is the Local Health Emergency Coordinator. He will be coordinating with VDEM for outreach and learning opportunities. Visit the Crater Health District's website: Crater Health District - Crater Health District (virginia.gov).
Our last new Partners is Centra Southside Community Hospital located in Farmville. They are the only hospital to serve 8 counties. Since a hospital serves people from all walks of life, they will be able to help us spread preparedness information to everyone from kids to seniors and everyone in between. Centra Southside Community Hospital | Centra Health - Central Virginia's Comprehensive Medical Resource
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