As Virginia’s Office of the Attorney General, their primary focus is to safeguard the well-being and safety of the residents of Virginia. They recognize the grave threat posed by fake prescription pills containing the lethal substance fentanyl within the Commonwealth.
The mission is to enforce the laws and regulations specific to fake prescription pills and combat the distribution, manufacture, and sale of these dangerous substances. Working collaboratively with federal agencies like the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to ensure that those involved in the production, trafficking, or distribution of fake prescription pills, particularly those containing fentanyl, face criminal and civil consequences within our state’s justice system.
As part of the federal One Pill Can Kill initiative, our Virginia-specific campaign centers on raising awareness about the pervasive dangers of fake prescription pills, particularly those containing fentanyl. Through education, prevention, and accessible resources, we aim to empower Virginians with the knowledge and tools necessary to protect themselves and their loved ones from the grave consequences of fake prescription pills.
By working in conjunction with our law enforcement partners and the federal government, we are resolute in our dedication to combat the proliferation of fake prescription pills and fentanyl. Together, we strive to ensure the health, safety, and prosperity of all individuals throughout Virginia.
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Fostering and sustaining Community Preparedness is the whole community’s responsibility. VDEM supports our communities by way of our seven Regional Teams which are working with community leaders and responders daily. VDEM opened Regional Offices in each of the seven operating regions in 2017; by increasing the department’s regional capacity VDEM is in a better position to support local, Tribal, and regional planning, response, and recovery operations.
 Our regional teams work with our local jurisdictions, Tribes, and community partners to support daily operations to emergency incidents. Additionally, The Code of Virginia (§2.2-2031) establishes that the Public Safety Communications (PSC) Division “shall provide staff support to the 9-1-1 Services Board and encourage, promote, and assist in the development and deployment of statewide enhanced emergency telecommunications systems.”
The 9-1-1 Services Board is leading Virginia’s efforts to transform an outdated 9-1-1 system into a digital network that is faster, more efficient and has greater Public Safety Answering Points (PSAP) capabilities to better serve its citizens and visitors for years to come. As a result, Virginia continues to be a nationally recognized leader in 9-1-1. For more information, please visit PSC Division pages through this link: https://psc.vdem.virginia.gov/
Below are a few more independent study classes that are available, free of charge, that any member of the community can take to have a better understanding of what you can do to be prepared, learn about the National Preparedness Goal (NPG), National Response Framework (NRF) and Basic ICS. These classes are required training for all responders, (law enforcement, Fire, EMS, Emergency Managers, etc.) and are the basis for how we respond and operate. If you are interested in learning more you can go here https://www.dea.gov/onepill to read more about One Pill Can Kill or our website http://www.vaemergency.gov/
To take these classes you must have a FEMA Student ID- you can easily register for one here FEMA Student Identification (SID) System (dhs.gov)
VDEM's Role in Operation FREE Virginia - IS Courses Recommended for All Levels Courses
IS-2000: National Preparedness Goal and System Overview
CEUs:0.2
Course Length: 2 hours
Prerequisites: None
Course Description: This course provides an overview of the National Preparedness Goal and the National Preparedness System. The foundation of this course is the National Preparedness Goal which identifies the Nation’s core capabilities required for executing the five mission areas of Prevention, Protection, Mitigation, Response, and Recovery. This course also focuses on the National Preparedness System that builds on current efforts, many of which are based on the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act and other statutes. Implementing the National Preparedness System allows our Nation to work together to prepare for and address any threat or hazard. The goal of this course is to familiarize participants with the National Preparedness Goal and the six main components of the National Preparedness System.
Course Link: FEMA - Emergency Management Institute (EMI) Course | IS-2000: National Preparedness Goal and System Overview
IS-800.D: National Response Framework, An Introduction
CEUs: 0.3
Course Length: 3 hours
Prerequisites: Recommended: IS-0700, An Introduction to the National Incident Management System
Course Overview
The goal of the IS-0800.d, National Response Framework, An Introduction, is to provide guidance for the whole community. Within this broad audience, the National Response Framework focuses especially on those who are involved in delivering and applying the response core capabilities, including:
- Private sector partners
- Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
- Government officials
- Community leaders
- Emergency management practitioners
- First responders
Course Link: FEMA - Emergency Management Institute (EMI) Course | IS-800.D: National Response Framework, An Introduction
IS-200.C: Basic Incident Command System for Initial Response, ICS-200
CEUs: 0.4
Course Length: 4 hours
Prerequisites: IS-100.c An Introduction to the Incident Command System (ICS 100).
Course Overview
IS200, Basic Incident Command System for Initial Response, reviews the Incident Command System (ICS), provides the context for ICS within initial response, and supports higher level ICS training. This course provides training on, and resources for, personnel who are likely to assume a supervisory position within ICS. The Emergency Management Institute developed its ICS courses collaboratively with:
- National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG)
- U.S. Department of Agriculture
- United State Fire Administration’s National Fire Programs Branch
Note: IS-200.c is an updated version of the IS-200 course. If you have successfully completed IS-200.b or IS-200.a, you may want to review the new version of the course. For credentialing purposes, the courses are equivalent.
Course Link: FEMA - Emergency Management Institute (EMI) Course | IS-200.C: Basic Incident Command System for Initial Response, ICS-200
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