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FEMA Recognizes Outstanding Volunteers Involved in the Response and Recovery to Hurricane Sandy (06 Dec 2012) Citizen Corps volunteers are making a difference in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. Alongside interagency, state, local, and volunteer partners, FEMA and the emergency management team are working long hours each day to ensure the needs of communities affected by Sandy are identified and addressed. While FEMA has provided more than $1.04 billion in assistance, as of Dec. 6, 2012, to communities and individuals affected by the disaster, our whole community partners also remain committed to survivors. The dedication of volunteers supporting the response and recovery has made a tremendous impact on our effectiveness.

“Federal response to disasters is only one part of the equation," said FEMA Administrator Fugate." Groups like Citizen Corps Councils and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) programs provide front-line support to first responders and community members during disasters. FEMA is proud to work alongside our Citizen Corps partners. I extend a thank you and acknowledgement for all that they contribute.”

New Jersey Citizen Corps Council helped coordinate volunteers across the state and sprung into action immediately. During the height of the storm, a communications repeater went down in the Hoboken Fire Department. Thinking quickly on their feet, the Hoboken CERT utilized its amateur radio repeaters as the primary means of communication for shelter operations, shuttle bus communications, and volunteer interactions.

Again, in the Hoboken area, establishing relationships with CVS and Doctors Without Borders prior to the disaster led to smooth coordination between the programs when assistance was needed. CERT members were able to recruit doctors and nurses to provide seniors with the aid and medication they required. Additionally, CERT volunteers transported seniors to local shelters to ensure their safety.

Not far across the Hudson River, 1,200 New York CERT volunteers also worked around the clock, providing homecare for residents and ensuring food, water, blankets and emergency care were provided in hundreds of shelters throughout NYC and surrounding areas. CERT volunteers were so integrated into the day-to-day oversight of these shelters, US Health and Human Services Secretary Katherine Sebelius requested a briefing from a NY CERT team member working in Brooklyn with the Special Medical Needs Shelter. Additionally, a local American Red Cross volunteer touted the efforts of CERT and its volunteers noting the shelter wouldn’t have run as smoothly without them.

In addition to assisting the needs of survivors, NY CERT volunteers supported those impacted by the fuel shortage and various public transportation obstacles. At the request of the New York Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Home-Based Healthcare Alliance, NY CERT volunteers transported nurses and healthcare practitioners to local hospitals, throughout various communities to see homecare patients and developed a strategy to ensure residents requiring someone to check on them, would be seen.

NY CERT team members also pumped fuel from tankers at Floyd Bennett Field and in the Rockaways. This assistance provided fuel for hundreds of emergency vehicles in storm damaged areas. Most importantly, through the work of these CERTs, the support provided to emergency responders and emergency vehicles were able to respond and transport those in need to open hospitals.

To learn more about NJ CERT visit their website and click here to learn more about NY CERT.

UNISDR Invites EM Stakeholders to Engage in Round 5 of Dialogue on Post-2015 Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, on Topic of "Integrating Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate Change Adaption and Sustainable Development" (30 Nov 2012) The United Nations Office for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) invites interested EM stakeholders to register online on Monday, Dec. 3, 2012, to participate in the fifth online dialogue on the post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction. This round, on the topic of "Integrating Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate Change Adaption and Sustainable Development," aims to enhance understanding of these linkages, thus strengthening the integration of both disaster risk reduction and adaptation into development planning and practices. The three questions for discussion will be:

• Is their evidence of a change in the severity and frequency of extreme weather and climate events in your region? Has this led to changes in behaviour?
• What progress has been made in linking disaster risk reduction with climate change adaption, in policy, institutional dialogue and
  partnership and programming?
• What are the experiences in your country on mainstreaming of disaster risk reduction into development planning and sectors?
• What are the lessons learned?
  

NHSC Releases White Paper on Protecting Americans in the 21st Century (13 Nov 2012) The National Homeland Security Consortium, which is supported by IAEM-USA, has released an updated edition of its white paper, "Protecting Americans in the 21st Century: Communicating Priorities for 2012 and Beyond." The updated document was prepared to add to the ongoing dialogue between the member associations of NHSC, and to illuminate several areas of concern that require the focus of U.S. homeland security leaders. Download the white paper here.

DHS Office of Health Affairs Releases Guidance to EMS Systems on Force Protection and Stress Management amid Hurricane Recovery Efforts (09 Nov 2012) With Hurricane Sandy and the related recovery work taking a toll on the first responder (emergency services) community, EMS systems in impacted areas along the Eastern Seaboard must take steps to ease the stress on their personnel, mitigate burnout, and ensure that immediate challenges do not become long-term problems. The importance of taking care of responders with empathy and support as they serve their communities cannot be overemphasized, especially in the aftermath of a catastrophic event such as Hurricane Sandy. EMS systems must limit the psychological fallout their personnel experience for the sake of compassion and to ensure the system can carry out its mission. Download guidance from DHS Office of Health Affairs here.

Help Volunteer Firefighters Impacted by Recent Disasters (06 Nov 2012) Hurricane Sandy ripped through the East Coast last week, leaving millions without electricity, almost 115 dead, and lower Manhattan underwater. Counties in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut have been federally declared disaster areas. As citizens in these areas look to their local firefighters and EMTs for assistance, those same first responders are dealing with loss of power, damaged homes and vehicles, and other difficulties of their own. The National Volunteer Fire Council's (NVFC) Volunteer Firefighter Support Fund is designed to help volunteer firefighters who are impacted by large-scale disasters such as this. The Fund provides a stipend of $250 to volunteer fire and EMS personnel affected by state- or federally-declared disasters to help them meet basic needs in the aftermath of the disaster. learn more

Hurricane Disaster Behavioral Health Resources Released by U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (updated 01 Nov 2012) This document, compiled and recently updated by the U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services, contains a listing of Web resources that provide information and coping skills to address the hurricane-related behavioral health, stress, and trauma concerns of adults, children and youth, and first responders. download document | more details here

FEMA: Preparing for Hurricanes, Tropical Storms, and Other Severe Weather: Recommendations for Federal Departments and Agencies in the National Capital Region (25 Oct 2012)

FEMA Releases Central States Disaster and Earthquake Preparedness Report (12 Sept 2012) FEMA has published its 2011 Central States Disaster and Earthquake Preparedness Report. You can download the report on the FEMA website at www.fema.gov/earthquake. The goal of this survey was to gauge residents’ preparedness for an earthquake and provide actionable recommendations for increasing preparedness.

Congressional Research Services Issues Trends Analysis of Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act Declarations (07 Sept 2012) Download trends analysis here. The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act authorizes the U.S. President to issue declarations that provide states and localities with a range of federal assistance in response to natural and man-made incidents. Since 1953 the number of declarations issued each year has steadily increased. For example, the average number of major disaster declarations issued from 1960 to 1969 was roughly 18 per year. In contrast, the average number of major disaster declarations issued from 2000 to 2009 was 56 per year. The highest number was declared in 2011, with 99 major disaster declarations.

Declarations are of congressional concern for at least two reasons: (1) scrutiny of the budget has led to an awareness of expenditures for disaster assistance, and (2) some are skeptical that declarations are solely made to provide disaster relief. They argue that declarations have become political tools—especially during election years—to gain political favor. Advocates of this position point to incidents which, in their view, could have been handled without federal assistance. This report describes the declaration process and the types of declarations that can be declared under the Stafford Act: (1) Fire Management Assistance Grants, (2) emergencies, and (3) major disasters.

FEMA Releases Two New Independent Study Courses on Emergency Preparedness for Federal Employees (06 Sept 2012) The FEMA Office of National Capital Region Coordination (NCRC) is excited to announce the release of two new Independent Study (IS) courses on emergency preparedness for Federal employees:

• IS-450: Emergency Preparedness for Federal Employees
• IS-450.NC: Emergency Preparedness for Federal Employees in the National Capital Region

Both courses introduce practical steps Federal employees can take to prepare for emergencies that could threaten their homes, workplaces, or communities. The NCR version includes information specific to the Washington, D.C. Area, including information on Metro, OPM closure and dismissal procedures, and local alerting systems. Both courses take approximately one hour to complete.

These courses are designed so any Federal department or agency can choose to adopt them as recommended or mandatory training, depending on agency needs. Some departments, like DHS, intend to implement these courses as required training for all employees. Other organizations may choose to recommend these courses to employees with certain emergency duties, like members of an Emergency Relocation Group or Occupant Emergency Team.

These courses can be taken online, free of charge, at the public Web site for the FEMA Independent Study Program. Employees who complete training through this Web site will receive a certificate of completion after successfully passing a final exam. In addition, these courses may be available to load into your agency's own internal learning management system.

Download this document for additional details. Questions may be directed to Alexander Yesnik.

FEMA Implements New Training Registration System (06 Sept 2012) The new FEMA Training Registration System went on-line yesterday afternoon. This system, which replaced the former Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) training registration system, will be used by anyone applying for FEMA training to obtain their FEMA Student identification (FEMA SID) number. The system replaces the former CDP training registration system. Anyone already registered through CDP will not need to register again. Download the details here. Comments and questions may be directed to Smiley White.

OJP to Provide Regular Web Report of Grants Awarded (09/06/12) The Office of Justice Programs (OJP) now provides external stakeholders and the general public with an opportunity to view regular updates on grants awarded for Fiscal Year 2012. Each Monday, the OJP Office of Communications (OCOM) will post a weekly report of grants awarded at www.OJP.gov. The goal is to provide current information on the grants OJP has awarded; to highlight the work of OJP program offices and the impact on communities; and to improve transparency on OJP’s grant award process. Starting this week on the OJP splash page, a ticker is posted highlighting “New Grants at OJP.”

FEMA Issues Advisory on Emergency Food and Shelter Program FY 2012 Grant Award (16 Aug 2012) download FEMA advisory | link to more details The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is announcing the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) grant award to the EFSP National Board for Fiscal Year 2012 (FY12), and the National Board’s determination of funding allocations to jurisdictions throughout our country. The EFSP allocation and notification cycle resulting from the FY12 funds is referred to as Phase 30. On Dec. 23, 2012, President Obama signed the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2012 (P.L. 112-74) into law. The bill appropriated $120 million to the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP).

U.S. Gender & Disaster Alliance and EMPOWER Announce Essay and Photo Contest for Girls Grades 1-12 in Conjunction with UNISDR's International Day for Disaster Reduction (Oct. 30, 2012) theme of "Women and Girls—the (in)Visible Forces of Resilience" (12 Aug 2012) Download flyer here. Deadline: Friday, Oct. 12, 2012.

IAEM Members Asked to Participate in Annual BC Management Study (08 Aug 2012) BC Management has invited IAEM members to participate in its annual study again this year. "Assessing Business Continuity World-Wide" is the 2012 theme chosen by BC Management's International Benchmarking Advisory Board. Complete the study by Aug. 15, 2012 to be entered into a raffle for a FREE BCM Trending Report. Click here to participate in the study.

Why Take BC Management's Study?

• Years of expertise in conducting compensation and program management studies - since 2001.
• The response is immense, driven by the value the results provide.
• The scope is world-wide, due to our extensive contacts and partnerships.
• The company is independent, as we are a neutral party on the results.
• Available in English, Spanish, French, Chinese and Japanese.
  Completely confidential. Contact information is NOT required. Your company/personal information is never shared.

FEMA Launches New Employee Rotation Program (03 Aug 2012) Deadline: Aug. 22, 2012

The Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has launched an exciting opportunity to increase collaboration and teamwork across the intergovernmental emergency management community. This new program, the FEMA Employee Rotation Program, is designed to bolster relationships between FEMA and state, local, tribal and territorial governments for the purpose of improving the quality and delivery of FEMA programs. Correspondingly, it provides FEMA an opportunity to better understand the needs of our emergency management partners and contributes to a better understanding of, and greater appreciation for, the challenges our counterparts face. Letter to Stakeholders

The initial phase of this program, launched last year, has proven successful. There are currently 10 FEMA employees who have either completed, or are currently serving on detail assignments with state and local emergency management offices. These individuals worked hand in hand with their state, local, tribal and territorial counterparts across a variety of specialties within the field of emergency management. FEMA is now looking to continue this opportunity so that participants can continue to learn from one another. There are two ways you can participate in this program.

• One option is to have FEMA employees join your team. You can apply to host one FEMA employee for up to six months or two employees for three months each within the program area of your choosing. The salary, benefits, travel, per diem and lodging for these employees will be covered by FEMA. Attached you will find a form that outlines what information needs to be included in the proposal, including a description of your goals for hosting a FEMA employee, a description of the specific projects the FEMA employee may be working on, specific skills or experience the detailee must possess, and the concrete deliverables or products that will be created as a result of the detail. Once you have submitted your proposal, and FEMA has selected the final host jurisdictions, we will accept applications from current FEMA employees interested in participating in this program.
• The other option is to send a member of your team to join FEMA at our headquarters in Washington, D.C. for up to 180 days. The attached documents provide three rotation descriptions of available placements for your consideration. Travel, lodging, and per diem costs will be covered by FEMA. Your office will be responsible for continuing to pay the employee’s salary and benefits. Resumes should be submitted to the point of contact listed on the rotation description no later than Aug. 22, 2012.
• Rotation Descriptions of Available Placements:
  • Proposal to Host Non-Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Employee for Office of Intergovernmental Affairs (IGA)
  • Proposal to Host Non-Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Employee for National Preparedness Assessment Division (NPAD)
  • Proposal to Host Non-Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Employee for Office of Policy and Program Analysis (OPPA)

FEMA will review all applications and make selections and notifications no later than August 31, 2012. If you have any questions, please contact Lorraine Cantolina in the Office of the Chief Component Human Capital Officer at FEMA Headquarters in Washington, DC at lorraine.cantolina@fema.dhs.gov or 202-212-2369.

Issues with Flood Insurance Bill Being Considered by U.S. Senate (22 June 2012, Federal Information & News Dispatch, Inc.)

FEMA Announces Think Tank Conference on Emergency Management, Healthcare, and Public Health: Increasing Coordination and Collaboration (19 June 2012) Richard Serino, Deputy Administrator of FEMA, and Dr. Nicole Lurie, the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will host the next FEMA Think Tank conference call on June 28, 2012, from Houston, Texas.

• WHAT: FEMA-ASPR Think Tank
• WHEN: Thursday, June 28, 2012
  11:00am – 1:00pm (Central) 12:00pm- 2:00pm (Eastern)
• WHERE: Houston, TX
• Call In: 888-989-4401
  Passcode: Think Tank
• Captioning: Individuals who would like to access the captioning for this event may do so by following this link.
  

The FEMA Think Tank is a forum to engage the whole community, connect resources and share best practices, and develop solutions to the challenges we face in emergency management. Featured topics have included incorporating preparedness into school curriculums, new technologies in emergency management and disability integration. This conference call is a unique opportunity for the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response and the FEMA Deputy Administrator to highlight the importance of integrating healthcare, public health and emergency management.

The focus of this month’s call is Emergency Management, Healthcare, and Public Health: Increasing Coordination and Collaboration. Topics that will be discussed include:

• Emergency Management Coordination, improving communication with the Healthcare and Public Health sectors;
• Medical Incident Support Teams (M-IST), a cutting edge best practice supporting State Emergency Management; and
• Tennessee Mental Health Response Plan- coordinated state, regional, and local mental health planning and response efforts for disasters of any type; and Tennessee Recovery Project- creative approaches to providing services to reduce stress and the impact of disasters on survivors.
  

Please visit the Think Tank Online Forum and share your ideas on how to improve coordination and collaboration between emergency management, healthcare, and public health. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact FEMA’s Intergovernmental Affairs Division at (202) 646-3444.

FEMA Invites Nominations for 2012 Individual and Community Preparedness Awards (12 June 2012) FEMA is accepting nominations for the 2012 Individual and Community Preparedness Awards through July 31, 2012 at citizencorps@fema.gov. Winners will chosen from ten categories and announced in September during National Preparedness Month.

FEMA Releases Near-Final National Planning Frameworks and New Online Resources (24 May 2012) In March, FEMA asked for feedback from emergency managers on the National Planning Frameworks, and they received more than 3,000 ideas, including comments submitted via the feedback submission forms as well as collected during webinars and in-person workshops. Since then, FEMA has incorporated this feedback into the working draft documents. Download this FEMA Advisory to learn more and explore links to new documents and resources.

NEMA Invites Nominations for Lacy E. Suiter Distinguished Service Award (15 May 2012) Each year, NEMA presents the Lacy E. Suiter Distinguished Service Award in recognition of the men and women who have dedicated their careers and lives to make citizens and communities safer from both natural disasters and terrorist events. The award is named in memory of Lacy E. Suiter, one of the nation's most experienced and respected emergency management and homeland security leaders.

The prestigious honor is presented annually to an individual who has made outstanding contributions throughout his or her career to any or all facets of emergency management. This includes the areas of preparedness, mitigation, response, or recovery at a local, state, regional, or national level. The career accomplishments should be of unusual merit. All emergency management related agencies, departments, and organizations are invited to submit nominations for the Lacy E. Suiter Distinguished Service Award. Nominations Deadline: July 13, 2012. details and nominations form: PDF | Word

FEMA and its Partners Release the National Preparedness Report (03 May 2012) Today, FEMA and its partners released the National Preparedness Report (NPR). The Report identifies significant progress the nation has made in areas of prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery. Overall, the Report found that the nation has increased its collective preparedness, not only from external threats, but also for natural and technological hazards that face its communities.

• National Preparedness Report
• National Preparedness Report Fact Sheet
• National Preparedness Report IGA Advisory

 
DHS Announces Creation of the Rick Rescorla National Award for Resilience (01 May 2012) Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano recently announced the creation of the Rick Rescorla National Award for Resilience, in memory of Richard “Rick” Rescorla. During the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Rescorla led the evacuation of Morgan Stanley’s 2,700-person workforce in the World Trade Center, saving the lives of many of his coworkers.

“Rick Rescorla’s heroism during the 9/11 attacks and commitment to the preparedness of the thousands of employees under his watch serves as an inspiration and model to all of us,” said Secretary Napolitano. “The Rick Rescorla National Award for Resilience recognizes outstanding response to a catastrophic incident and leadership in fostering resilient and prepared communities.”

The Rick Rescorla National Award for Resilience is the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) first national resilience award for superior leadership and innovation by a non-governmental individual or organization who exemplifies the qualities and achievements of Rick Rescorla, emphasizing leadership in effective preparation, response, and recovery in the face of disasters.

Following the 1993 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, Rescorla drilled his Morgan Stanley employees in disaster preparedness and response. Rescorla’s actions and his commitment to preparedness ensured that the 2,700 Morgan Stanley employees who worked in the South Tower knew how to evacuate and where to go on 9/11.

Last year, Secretary Napolitano honored Rescorla posthumously with the DHS Distinguished Public Service Medal, the Department’s highest honor, and announced the creation of the Rick Rescorla National Award for Resilience.

For more information on eligibility and criteria for the Rick Rescorla National Award for Resilience and how to nominate an individual or organization, visit www.dhs.gov/rrraward. An individual or organization may be nominated for the Rick Rescorla National Award for Resilience beginning April 1, 2012 through May 15, 2012. The award will be presented annually, starting September 2012. For more information, visit www.dhs.gov.

DHS Funding Opportunity for CMAS Research and Development (01 May 2012)The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate’s Commercial Mobile Alert Service (CMAS) Research, Development, Testing, and Evaluation (RDT&E) Program is pleased to announce a funding opportunity for research related to CMAS, as referenced in the 2012 DHS S&T Long Range Broad Agency Announcement (LRBAA).

To support the evolution of CMAS, the CMAS RDT&E Program will fund research and development activities at academic institutions, private sector entities, government laboratories, and other appropriate organizations to: (1) develop innovative technologies and approaches to transmit geographically targeted mobile alerts to the public, and (2) improve understanding of public response to CMAS alerts. These RDT&E activities will improve the functionality of CMAS both by reaching crucial recipients with CMAS alerts and by enabling CMAS alert recipients to act in a way that increases individual and collective safety and security.

• The DHS S&T is looking for research in the following priority areas. Additional detail about these research priorities is available on pages 13-14 of the LRBAA: (http://bit.ly/ytu7w3).
  Public Response (FRG.03): Research to better understand how the public will respond to alert and warning messages on mobile devices.
• Diverse Populations (FRG.04): Research to better understand how to ensure the same timely and effective access to alerts and warnings for diverse populations including persons with functional and access needs, transients/tourists, elderly/older, isolated/rural populations, institutional populations and non-English speaking people.
• Geo-Targeting (FRG.05): Research to better determine when more granular geo-targeting is appropriate and how broadly targeting should be extended from the point of incident as well as Identification, testing, and evaluation of technologies that provide the capability of more granular geo-targeting.

More information about this funding opportunity, including links to the LRBAA, application, research areas of strategic interest, submission requirements and processes, and evaluation criteria can be found on Grants.gov: http://1.usa.gov/HFpUPR. Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to submit white papers via the LRBAA by May 24, 2012. CMAS RDTE Fact Sheet

FEMA Issues CPG 201: Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (04 Apr 2012) FEMA has released Comprehensive Preparedness Guide 201: Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA). The THIRA process builds on the progress achieved so far with the National Preparedness Goal and the description of the National Preparedness System. CPG 201 describes a common way to assess risks, so that all of the risks faced by communities can be more fully understood, leading to informed decisions to increase U.S. security and resilience.

• CPG 201: Threat and Hazard Indentification and Risk Assessment
• CPG 201 Supplement 1: Toolkit
• Intergovernmental Affairs Advisory
• Use of THIRA for Preparedness Grants
  
  

Emergency Manager Executive Training Opportunity at Emmitsburg, MD (02 Apr 2012) The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Emergency Management Institute (EMI) is pleased to announce a training opportunity for current and future emergency management executives involved in the whole community national emergency management arena. EMI has partnered in this first course of the Emergency Manager Executive Academy (EMEA) with Harvard University to offer E680 “Emergency Management-A Leadership Challenge.” The course will be at EMI on May 14-18 2012.

We expect a great deal of interest in this activity from current and future emergency management executives, emergency management association leaders, as well as current and future FEMA executives. There is a short deadline to apply by April 16, 2012. The application consists of a completed and signed General Admissions Application (attached) and a current curriculum vitae.

NOTE: There is no housing available on the campus. EMI will use the stipend process to reimburse local, State, territorial, tribal, and voluntary non-profit participants for transportation and lodging (meals are not covered by the stipend program). Your acceptance letter from our Admissions Office will explain the reimbursement process. Federal participants are required to fund their own travel expenses.

These documents explain the training program:

• a brief description of the four classroom training courses in the EMEA
• the description of the May 14-18 course
• the EMI application form
• the course agenda
• a local hotel list

If you have any questions, please contact by email stephen.borth@fema.dhs.gov or mary.hughes@fema.dhs.gov.

Information about EMI is found at http://training.fema.gov/Student/.

Emergency Management Standard by EMAP Is Open for Public Review (19 Mar 2012) Deadline for Comments: June 15, 2012. The Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP) is pleased to announce the public review and comment period for the Proposed 2013 Emergency Management Standard by EMAP. The public review and comment period will run from March 15th through June 15th, 2012. The public comment and review period is part of the three year Standard Review Process to update the Emergency Management Standard by EMAP. Comments may be made on any of the 64 standards, definitions or new language may be submitted for EMAP’s review. EMAP is currently in year two of the three year cycle. All comments made will be acknowledged and tracked by EMAP and notification of inclusion will be made to the submitter. If you have questions concerning this process please direct them to Scott Gauvin at sgauvin@csg.org.

FEMA Call for Nominations to the National Youth Preparedness Council (19 Mar 2012) Nominations must be receved by April 6, 2012. FEMA is looking for youth leaders who are dedicated to public service, who are making a difference in their community, and who want to expand their impact as a national advocate for youth preparedness.

Are you a 12 to 17 year old who wants to make a difference in your community that could help save lives? If you have contributed to youth disaster preparedness in your community or lived through a disaster and want to share your experiences, you could be on FEMA’s Youth Preparedness Council! Similarly, if you know of a young person with any of these qualities, you could also nominate him or her to serve.

Youth Preparedness Council nominees will represent a variety of kids: current or former students, a youth member of a local Citizen Corps Council, a youth club, or a member of a faith-based organization who is vocal and active in preparing peers, family, and neighborhood for potential emergencies. Complete Information Here

FEMA Announces Changes to Registration Process for NFA and EMI Courses (15 Mar 2012) FEMA has announced a move toward eliminating the use of the Social Security Number (SSN), where possible, when applying for any FEMA training. [Please note: This change does NOT apply at this time to non-U.S. CEM applicants who are being sponsored by IAEM to take online EMI courses.]

As an interim measure, and beginning on Apr., 15, 2012, individuals applying for National Fire Academy (NFA) or Emergency Management Institute (EMI) classes will be required to register using the Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) Training Administration System (CTAS) and obtain a CDP Student Identification (SID) number. This number will be used in place of the SSN on your application. You will be asked to provide your SSN to register in CTAS but this will be phased out with a new registration system. This is an interim step; however, anyone already registered in CTAS will not need to register again. To obtain your FEMA Training Identification Number (FTIN)/CDP Student Identification (SID) number:

• Step 1: To register, go to https://cdp.dhs.gov/elms
• Step 2: Click on the "Create Account" button on the left side of the screen.
• Step 3: Follow the instructions and provide the necessary information to create your account.
  

The Emergency Management Institute is offering the following new and updated courses:

• IS-105 - Privacy Awareness Training
• IS-910 - Emergency Management Preparedness Fundamentals
• IS-922 - Applications of GIS for Emergency Management
• IS-558 - Public Works and Disaster Recovery
• IS-908 - Emergency Management for Senior Officials
• IS-554 - Emergency Planning for Public Works
• IS-556 - Damage Assessment for Public Works

Update on Presidential Policy Directive (PPD) 8: National Preparedness and Ways to Engage (23 Feb 2012) The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's National Protection and Programs Directorate has release information regarding several ways to stay engaged and up-to-date on PPD-8 implementation efforts:

• Idea Sharing: FEMA launched a dialogue on the “Ideascale” system, http://fema.ideascale.com.
• PPD-8 Engagement Mailbox: FEMA opened this mailbox, PPD8-Engagement@fema.dhs.gov, specifically for ideas, questions, and other feedback regarding PPD-8.
• Special Topic Webinars: These online events offer opportunities for you to provide input directly to those responsible for implementing PPD-8. Download flyer on March 2012 Workshops & Webinars.
• Symposia: Join in conversations about the Preparedness System and Frameworks with leaders from all levels of government, private sector, and nonprofit organizations.
• Other Venues: PPD-8 discussions can be scheduled for existing meetings or conferences.

FEMA Seeks Applicants for National Advisory Council (16 Feb 2012) The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is seeking qualified individuals from the public and private sector to serve on the National Advisory Council (NAC). The NAC is an advisory committee established in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act to ensure effective and ongoing coordination of federal preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation for natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters.

The NAC will have a position open for applications and nominations in the following disciplines: Emergency Management (one representative appointment), Emergency Response (two representative appointments), State Elected Official (one representative appointment), FEMA Administrator Selection (one representative or Special Government Employee (SGE) appointment), In-Patient Medical Provider (one SGE appointment), Cyber Security (one SGE appointment), and Local Elected Official (one representative appointment). Additionally, there is an Ex Officio position for a representative from the Homeland Security Advisory Council which will be filled by a current member of the Homeland Security Advisory Council. The selected members will serve until June 15, 2015.

Qualified individuals interested in serving on the NAC are invited to apply for appointment by submitting a resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV). Letters of recommendation may also be provided, but are not required. Applications are through Friday, March 9, 2012. For more information, see www.fema.gov/about/nac.

The NAC consists of 35 members, all of whom are experts and leaders in their respective fields. The members of the NAC are appointed by the FEMA Administrator and are composed of federal, state, local, tribal, and private-sector leaders and subject matter experts in law enforcement, fire, emergency medical services, hospital, public works, emergency management, state, local, and tribal governments, public health, emergency response, standard settings and accrediting organizations, representatives of individuals with disabilities, infrastructure protection, cyber security, communications, and homeland security communities.

Members serve without compensation from the federal government; however, consistent with the charter, members receive travel reimbursement and per diem under applicable federal travel regulations. Registered lobbyists, current FEMA employees, Disaster Assistance Employees, FEMA Contractors, and potential FEMA Contractors will not be considered for NAC Membership.

FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Mary Fran Myers Scholarship Committee, National Hazards Center, University of Colorado at Boulder, Now Accepting Applications for 2012 Scholarships (30 Jan 2012) The Mary Fran Myers Scholarship Committee is now accepting applications. Recipients will receive financial support allowing them to attend the 2012 Natural Hazards Research and Applications Workshop in Broomfield, Colorado, July 14-17, 2012. Recipients may also stay through July 18 to attend either the International Research Committee on Disasters or the Natural Hazard Mitigation Association add-on events for researchers and practitioners, respectively. Scholarships can cover part or all of transportation, meals, and registration costs.

The Mary Fran Myers Scholarship is awarded annually to at least one potential Workshop participant. Recipients are recognized at the Workshop and may be asked to serve as panelists, where they can highlight their research or practical experiences with hazards and disasters.

As the longtime co-director of the Natural Hazards Center, Myers recognized that many of the people and organizations that could benefit from and contribute to the Workshop—including local practitioners, students, and international professionals—were among those least likely to afford it. The scholarship was established in 2003 to fulfill Myers’ request that qualified and talented individuals receive support to attend.

Hazards practitioners, students, and researchers with a strong commitment to disaster management and mitigation and who reside in North America or the Caribbean are eligible to enter. Eligibility is based on current place of residence, not citizenship.

Applicants from outside North America and the Caribbean will be eligible for the scholarship in 2013. Previous attendees of the Natural Hazards Workshop are not eligible for the 2012 Mary Fran Myers Scholarship. Preference is given to those who can demonstrate financial need.

For more information on past scholarship winners and how to apply, visit the Mary Fran Myers Scholarship page at the Natural Hazards Center Web site. Applications must be received by Mar. 26, 2012.

UK's Royal Air Force and Royal Navy Engage in Major Training Exercise in Preparation for Olympic Games (26 Jan 2012) Royal Air Force and Royal Navy aircraft are in operation over the skies of Yorkshire as part of a major training exercise to prepare for this year's Olympic Games. In the latest familiarisation drill, aimed at ensuring the British Armed Forces play an effective supporting role in the police-led security effort, military pilots will practise their skills and drills over a three-day period. Codenamed Exercise Taurus Mountain 1, and taking place from 24 to 26 January 2012, it will see fast jet and helicopter pilots put through their paces as they practise operating alongside one another. Other military aircraft will also take part in the exercise in supporting roles. Learn more.

FEMA Announces Youth-Based Technical Assistance Workshops (12 Jan 2012) In order to better prepare our nation’s youth to bring preparedness home, FEMA is providing technical assistance workshops to state and local practitioners who support youth-based programs and who are interested in integrating preparedness education into their offerings. As part of these workshops, participants hear from experts who have developed and delivered some of the most successful youth preparedness programs across the country. Download flyer for details.

DHS Releases "Blueprint for a Secure Cyber Future" (16 Dec 2011) The U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security on Dec. 12 issued "Blueprint for a Secure Cyber Future," which builds on the DHS Quadrennial Homeland Security Review Report’s strategic framework by providing a clear path to create a safe, secure and resilient cyber environment for the homeland security enterprise. With this guide, stakeholders at all levels of government, the private sector, and our international partners can work together to develop the cybersecurity capabilities that are key to our economy, national security, and public health and safety. The Blueprint describes two areas of action:

• Protecting our Critical Information Infrastructure Today, and
• Building a Stronger Cyber Ecosystem for Tomorrow.

The Blueprint is designed to protect the most vital U.S. systems and assets and, over time, drive fundamental change in the way people and devices work together to secure cyberspace. The integration of privacy and civil liberties protections into the Department’s cybersecurity activities is fundamental to safeguarding and securing cyberspace.

• Download "Blueprint for a Secure Cyber Future"
• Fact sheet that summarizes the report's purpose and goals
• Visit the DHS website for more information here

FEMA Seeks Comments on "Levee-Inclusive" Method for Flood Mapping and Analysis Efforts (16 Dec 2011) As part of ongoing efforts to reform the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), FEMA has been working with stakeholders to revise FEMA’s process for mapping flood risk with respect to levees. The agency has determined that an improved approach will enable FEMA to provide maps that more precisely reflect the flood risk experienced by families living behind levees.

Over the recent months, FEMA has explored a spectrum of possible scenarios to address the one percent-annual-chance flood risk in the vicinity of levees, and evaluated multiple approaches through extensive stakeholder, independent, technical, and public input. As with other, recently-adopted tools that have increased FEMA mapping accuracy, such as digital mapping technology, these new methods add to FEMA’s overall continually improving flood mapping and analysis. These new levee-inclusive tools aid in compiling more precise technical data and allow FEMA to more effectively assess the actual flood risk faced by citizens in communities throughout the nation.

FEMA is proposing a new mapping process for levees and is seeking public comment on its new mapping methodology. Flood mapping remains a team effort that requires close coordination between FEMA, its federal partners, the state and local communities to ensure that the most precise data is reflected in flood maps as they are finalized.

FEMA welcomes comments from the public during this 45-day public comment period that is open until Jan. 30, 2012. Please see Federal Register notice and instructions on submitting comments here.

FEMA Announces Release of National Preparedness System Description, Second Deliverable Required Under PPD-8 (06 Dec 2011) The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), on behalf of the administration, on Dec. 6 announced the release of the National Preparedness System description, which will help lay the groundwork for strengthening the nation’s resilience against all threats andhazards. The system description is the second deliverable required under Presidential Policy Directive PPD-8: National Preparedness, which was released Mar. 30, 2011.

“What makes this preparedness system unique is that it engages the whole community – individuals, businesses, community- and faith-based organizations, schools and all levels of government,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “We recognize that the nation will be most prepared for threats and hazards when we work together.”
The National Preparedness System description identifies six components to improve national preparedness for a wide range of threats and hazards, such as acts of terrorism, cyber attacks, pandemics and catastrophic natural disasters. The System description explains how as a nation we will build on current efforts, many of which are already established in the law and have been in use for many years.

The six components of the National Preparedness System are:

• Identifying and assessing risks;
• Estimating capability requirements;
• Building or sustaining capabilities;
• Developing and implementing plans to deliver those capabilities;
• Validating and monitoring progress made towards achieving the National Preparedness Goal; and
• Reviewing and updating efforts as needed to promote continuous improvement.
  

The National Preparedness System description incorporated input from state, local, tribal, and territorial representatives, many of whom also served on the writing team for the document.

The National Preparedness Goal, which was the first deliverable to PPD-8 and was released on Oct. 7, 2011, sets the foundation for the implementation of PPD-8. The directive also called for the development of a National Preparedness System description to explain the resources and tools needed to achieve the National Preparedness Goal. Implementation of the National Preparedness System is a multi-year effort that is being coordinated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the description lays out how the six components will interact to build, sustain and deliver the core capabilities needed to achieve the Goal.

The National Preparedness System description and additional information about PPD-8 and its implementation are available at www.fema.gov/ppd8. If you have any further questions please feel free to contact FEMA’s Intergovernmental Affairs Division at (202) 646-3444 or at FEMA-IGA@fema.dhs.gov.

Australia Opens New National Crisis Coordination Centre (31 Oct 2011) Attorney-General Robert McClelland last week opened the new Australian Government Crisis Coordination Centre (CCC) in Canberra, which will improve the Government’s capability to respond to large scale natural disasters or acts of terrorism. Mr McClelland said the purpose-built secure facility - which monitors risks to Australia and Australians 24 hours a day, seven days a week - has capacity for up to 100 officers from Commonwealth, state and territory agencies on site during a crisis. “The Crisis Coordination Centre connects Commonwealth, State and Territory agencies to centralise Australian Government actions during national emergencies,” he said. learn more

FCC to Hold Workshop/Webinar on Use of Deployable Aerial Communications Architecture Following a Catastrophic Event (26 Oct 2011) On Oct. 31, 2011, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., the Federal
Communications Commission's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) will hold a workshop and webinar in the Commission Meeting Room (TW-C305) to explore how "deployable aerial communications architecture" DACA) can be used to provide communications following a catastrophic event when the terrestrial communications infrastructure is severely damaged or unavailable. Download notice here for information on agenda, how to register to attend, and how to participate via webinar.

The workshop represents the implementation of the first of several
recommendations made to the Commission in the staff White Paper entitled The Role of Deployable Aerial Communications Architecture in Emergency Communications and Recommended Next Steps released on September 22, 2011. The White Paper offers an analysis of how DACA could fit into the restoration of communications services in the early hours immediately after a catastrophic event. DACA involves an aerial capability that is deployable within the first 12-18 hours after a catastrophic event to restore critical communications, including broadband, temporarily for a period of 72-96 hours or more. The White Paper is available here.

FEMA, FCC and NOAA to Conduct First Nationwide U.S. National Emergency Alert Test on Nov. 9, 2011 (25 Oct 2011) The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) Program Office, in close coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), will conduct the first Nationwide U.S. EAS Test on Nov. 9, 2011, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The Test will last approximately three and a half minutes.

The national-level EAS leverages the communications support of participating radio, television, cable, satellite, and wireline providers throughout the country. FEMA administers the EAS, and conducts training, tests, and exercises as directed by Executive Order 13407.
FEMA, the FCC, and NOAA’s vision for improving the EAS is incremental, which means testing the readiness and effectiveness of the EAS as it currently exists is the first step. A more effective and functional EAS requires continual testing to identify necessary improvements so the system can deliver critical information that will save lives and protect property.

In order to prepare the public, FEMA will provide continuous and timely information through a number of resources via the FEMA IPAWS website. More online resources include:

• www.FEMA.gov
• www.FCC.gov
• FEMA press release
• FEMA blog
• FCC EAS resources
  

UK Government Releases " Keeping the Country Running: Natural Hazards and Infrastructure" (25 Oct 2011) The Infrastructure and Corporate Resilience Programme has published the Guide – Keeping the Country Running: Natural Hazards and Infrastructure. The Guide will support infrastructure owners and operators, emergency responders, industry groups, regulators, and government departments, to work together to improve the resilience of critical infrastructure and essential services. The Guide provides advice on:

• identifying and assessing risks from natural hazards;
• standards of resilience;
• business continuity and corporate governance;
• guidance for economic regulated sectors;
• information sharing; and
• understanding dependencies.

The Cabinet Office consulted government, regulators, industry, trade and professional associations, and emergency response practitioners during the production of this Guide. A summary of the consultation responses is also available to download.

Canadian Government Unveils Emergency Management Online Tools at Disaster Risk Meeting (25 Oct 2011) On Tuesday, at the National Roundtable for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Honourable Vic Toews, Canada’s Minister of Public Safety, unveiled two online tools to help Canadians prepare for emergencies. The first, the enhanced Canadian Disaster Database, will help Canadians learn about risks affecting their regions. The second, a mobile-friendly Get Prepared site, gives Canadians mobile access to steps they can take to prepare for and to cope during emergencies.

“The Government of Canada is working to reduce risks by ensuring all Canadians have access to information to keep them safe prior to and during emergencies,” said Minister Toews. “In using the Canadian Disaster Database, Canadians can learn about risks that have historically affected their region, allowing them to prepare for emergencies. Recent disasters have demonstrated the value of mobile technology in getting information to those in need.”

Public Safety is also offering Canadians tools to help them better know their risks, and to be better prepared to respond when disasters occur in their communities. The Canadian Disaster Database provides Canadians with a wealth of information about disasters since 1900, from floods and forest fires to pandemics and earthquakes. The database has been enhanced to allow Canadians access to this information with new search categories, which are easy to use and displayed on an interactive map.

The new mobile device-friendly Get Prepared website gives Canadians access to information on the steps they can take to stay safe from anywhere, at anytime. The mobile site includes convenient features, such as emailing an emergency kit shopping list to family and friends. Site content was developed with input from Public Safety Canada’s “72 Hours” campaign partners, including the Canadian Red Cross, St. John Ambulance, and The Salvation Army, as well as provincial and territorial emergency management organizations.

The National Roundtable on Disaster Risk Reduction is a gathering of disaster risk experts and stakeholders from all levels of government, non-government organizations, academia, and the private sector, who are focussed on better protecting Canadians by reducing disaster risks. Since the launch of Canada’s National Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction last year, stakeholders have been working to integrate the disaster risk reduction concept in policies, plans and programs across Canada.

DHS Announces First National Preparedness Goal (07 Oct 2011) The Department of Homeland Security today announced the release of the country's first-ever National Preparedness Goal. The goal is the first deliverable required under Presidential Policy Directive (PPD) 8: National Preparedness, which was released in April 2011. The goal sets the vision for nationwide preparedness and identifies the core capabilities and targets necessary to achieve preparedness across five mission areas laid out under PPD 8: prevention, protection, mitigation, response and recovery.

"As we work to build a more prepared nation, we must work with the entire community –the public and private sectors, faith-based and non-profit organizations, and most importantly the public," said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. "This goal recognizes that reality, and we will continue to work with all our stakeholders to implement PPD 8 and build a more prepared and resilient nation."

FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate announced the release of the goal at the annual National Emergency Managers Association (NEMA) Conference in Austin, Texas. The full goal can be found online at www.fema.gov/ppd8.

PPD 8 called for the development and maintenance of a National Preparedness Goal to define the core capabilities necessary to prepare for the specific types of incidents positing the greatest risk of security to the nation. This goal builds extensively on prior work of various stakeholder groups from around the nation, draws upon lessons learned from large-scale and catastrophic events and represent input from all stakeholders.

As directed by PPD 8, this goal will be reviewed regularly to ensure consistency with applicable policies, evolving conditions and the National Incident Management System. For more information about PPD 8 and its implementation, visit www.fema.gov/ppd8.

U.S. Technologies Will Improve Romanian Emergency Response Systems (25 Sept 2011) The U.S. Trade and Development Agency has awarded a grant to Romania's General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations (GIES) for a study to evaluate technologies deployed during field emergency response operations. The $400,000 grant was signed at the U.S. Embassy in Bucharest by U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission Duane C. Butcher on behalf of USTDA, and General Inspector for Emergency Situations, Colonel Marcel Lucaciu, on behalf of GIES. The objective of the study is to demonstrate the feasibility of the following three core technologies through portable deployment: critical information management systems, geographical information systems, and interoperable communications. The study will coordinate the selection and deployment of these technologies, support a field exercise and then evaluate the results of that exercise to recommend future implementation strategies. Read complete news release.

FEMA Publishes Final National Recovery Framework (22 Sept 2011) The final National Disaster Recovery Framework has been published at www.fema.gov/recoveryframework. This is the culmination of a two-year process that brought together departments and agencies from across the Federal government, as well as recovery partners and stakeholders from State and local governments, non-profits, and the private sector to help shape and develop this important disaster recovery landmark. The document provides a focus for how the United States will approach recovery planning, coordination and leadership in the future.

FEMA and FCC Unveil New Tip Sheet for Consumers on How to Communicate during Disasters (21 Sept 2011) As part of National Preparedness Month, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today released new tips for consumers aimed at preparing them for major disasters when communications networks are more likely to be compromised or damaged. Nearly one month ago, a 5.8 magnitude earthquake and Hurricane Irene struck the East Coast. In the minutes and hours that followed, mobile networks experienced significant network congestion, temporarily making it harder for millions of people to reach loved ones and emergency services. This tip sheet aims to help prepare Americans about how to communicate with each other, and loved ones, in the event of another disaster.

• Download joint FEMA/FCC news release here.
• Download tip sheet for consumers here.

FEMA Launches "Ready Indian Country" as Part of National Preparedness Month (19 Sept 2011) As a part of the National Preparedness Month outreach, FEMA has launched the Ready Indian Country campaign, which will provide disaster preparedness information resources for the 565 federally-recognized tribal nations and communities across the country. The goal of Ready Indian Country is to partner with tribal leaders in asking individuals and families in Indian Country to take basic steps to prepare themselves for emergencies.
Ready Indian Country is designed to promote preparedness within tribal communities through education and outreach. It is intended to serve as a resource for Tribes to prepare their citizens and provide support in developing and implementing pre-disaster policies and procedures.

Our tribal nations and organizations are key members of the U.S. emergency management team, and this campaign was planned to help build on the already strong partnerships that have been developed between these and other stakeholders. By strengthening these communities’ ability to be better prepared in the face of emergencies and disasters, together we can save lives and bolster our resiliency against all hazards.

Ready Indian Country’s resources include existing Ready Campaign messaging and builds on existing capacity with specific tools customized for Indian Country. These include:

• Brochures, posters and billboards customized by geographical region to reflect diverse local conditions and American Indian and Alaska Native cultures.
• Radio Public Service Announcements (PSAs) in :60, :30 and :15 second formats; and,
• Tribal Leader Resources to help guide community emergency and disaster planning efforts.
• Find Ready Indian Country resources at: http://www.ready.gov/america/getakit/indiancountry.html
  

UK Oil and Gas Industry Successfully Tests Emergency Spill Response Equipment (12 Aug 2011) The UK oil and gas industry has successfully tested its ability to deploy a well capping device in the waters west of Shetland. As part of the industry’s commitment to further strengthen the UK’s emergency response capabilities, the Oil Spill Prevention and Response Advisory Group (OSPRAG) has undertaken a number of initiatives to improve well engineering and oil spill response capability, including the development of a well capping device for use in UK waters to seal-off an uncontrolled subsea oil well in the unlikely event of a major well control incident. The purpose of the recent Emergency Equipment Response Deployment (EERD) exercise was to simulate the logistical process of transporting a well capping device, loading it on to a vessel and lowering it over the side before fixing it to a specially-built simulated well on the sea floor. more on this story here

New Zealand Announces Plans for Rebuilding Earthquake-Damaged Christchurch as Sustainable "Garden City" (12 Aug 2011) New Zealand on Aug. 11 announced plans to rebuild the center of earthquake-damaged Christchurch as a safe, sustainable "garden city," with costs estimated at NZ$2 billion. The plans would reduce the size of the business district, limit the height of buildings, and provide more parkland space. The Feb. 22 quake killed 181 people and wrecked the city center, with large portions of it rendered uninhabitable. The government has stated it will compensate 5,000 homeowners whose houses cannot be rebuilt. more on this story here

FEMA Encourages Americans to Participate in September’s National Preparedness Month (21 July 2011) The Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Ready Campaign, in partnership with Citizen Corps and the Ad Council, today announced the launch of new web tools that will make it easier for individuals and organizations throughout the nation to join the 2011 National Preparedness Month (NPM) coalition and pledge their support to help prepare their families, businesses and communities for emergencies of all kinds. IAEM-USA is a National Preparedness Month Coalition Member.

The eighth annual NPM will kickoff this September, using the slogan: "A Time to Remember. A Time to Prepare." The campaign seeks to transform awareness into action by encouraging all Americans to take the necessary steps to ensure that their homes, workplaces and communities are prepared for disasters and emergencies of all kinds.  

"As we move forward with planning for this year's events and activities, we also recognize that this September marks the ten year anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks," said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. "By doing what we can to ensure that our communities, and our nation, are prepared to respond and recover from all types of disasters and hazards, we honor the memory of those who were lost that day."

Individuals and groups can now register to become NPM coalition members by visiting http://community.fema.gov. Once registered, members have access to a toolkit that includes suggestions for activities and events, templates, articles, banners and customizable materials. Coalition members also have access to an events calendar allowing them to post and promote preparedness events, share success stories, and participate in national and regional discussion forums to engage with fellow coalition members and FEMA representatives.

By hosting events, promoting volunteer programs and sharing emergency preparedness information, coalition members can help ensure that their communities are prepared for emergencies. Becoming a coalition member is easy and free, so register now to get started. Nearly 2,000 coalition members have already joined this year's campaign.

While NPM is held each September, FEMA's Ready Campaign promotes individual emergency preparedness at home, in the workplace, and throughout America's communities throughout the year. Ready is a national campaign, produced in partnership with The Ad Council, designed to educate and empower Americans to prepare for and respond to all types of emergencies, including natural disasters and potential terrorist attacks.

The Ready Campaign's websites (ready.gov and listo.gov) and toll-free numbers (1-800-BE-READY and 1-888-SE-LISTO) provide free emergency preparedness information and resources available in English and Spanish. Additionally, through FEMA's partnership with the Ad Council, public service announcements are available to increase the American public's involvement in preparedness.

FEMA Announces New National Advisory Council Members (16 June 2011) The Federal Emergency Management Agency on June 15 announced the selection of 16 new members to its National Advisory Council (NAC). The 35-member council provides FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate with diverse perspectives and advice from a broad cross section of the overall emergency management team.

The National Advisory Council was mandated by Congress in the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006. The NAC is comprised of state, tribal, and local governments, private sector, and non-governmental partners who advise and provide recommendations to the FEMA Administrator on the National Preparedness System, National Incident Management System (NIMS), National Response Framework (NRF), FEMA grants programs, and more.

New NAC Members:

• Lee Feldman, City Manager, City of Fort Lauderdale, Florida
• Edward Gabriel, Director, Global Crisis Management and Business Continuity, The Walt Disney Company
• Jerome Hatfield, Lieutenant Colonel /Deputy Superintendent of Homeland Security, New Jersey State Police
• Clifton Lacy, Director, University Center for Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Response
• Cathy Lanier, Chief of Police, Metropolitan Police Department
  Robert Lee, Former Adjutant General, State of Hawaii, Department of Defense
• Robert Davidson Leipold, Executive Director, National VOAD (Term ends June 15, 2012)
• David Miller, Former Administrator of Iowa Homeland Security & Emergency Management Division
• Michael Rackley, Director, Global Security Services, Target
  George Schloegel, Mayor, City of Gulfport, Mississippi (Term ends June 15, 2012)
• Kurt Schwartz, Homeland Security Advisor and Emergency Management Director State of Massachusetts (Term ends June 15, 2013)
• Charles Shimanski, Senior Vice President Disaster Services, American Red Cross (Term ends June 15, 2013)
• Mary Troupe, Executive Director, Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities
• David L. Waldrop, Chief Evangelist / Architect, Public Safety Initiative, Microsoft Corporation
• Rebecca White, Tribal Council Chairwoman, Ponca Tribe of Nebraska, Omaha
• Phil Zarlengo, Chairman, AARP Board of Directors

The latest NAC membership application period was announced in early February and ended in March 2011. Newly-appointed members will serve from June 15, 2011, through June 15, 2014, unless otherwise noted.

The NAC mission ensures effective and ongoing coordination of federal preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation for natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters. Additional information on the NAC, including the list of all current members, can be found at http://www.fema.gov/about/nac/.

NDMA India Holds Exercise to Address Response Preparedness to Nuclear and Radiological Emergencies (10 June 2011) The National Disaster Management Agency of India is holding a June 10-11, 2011, exercise to assess response preparedness to nuclear and radiological emergencies at Tarapur Nuclear Power Station. The exercise follows a June 1 meeting held by India Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the NDMA Chairman to review India’s disaster preparedness in the wake of the recent Japanese disasters.

In order to assess the capability of the District administration to deal with an off-site emergency, NDMA is conducting a mock drill at the Tarapur Nuclear facility. The two-day programme will commence with a June 10, which also includes a table-top exercise on the conduct of the mock drill. This will be followed by a June 11 mock drill involving all stakeholders. Subsequently, any gaps identified in coordination and response preparedness will be addressed by all concerned. Learn more.

NIST Offering Free Access to Standards For First Responders (07 June 2011) The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Office of Law Enforcement Standards (OLES), in collaboration with the NIST National Center for Standards and Certification Information, has launched an Internet pilot project to measure the U.S. emergency and first responder communities’ need for documentary standards. As part of the study, NIST will offer U.S. first responders free access to documentary standards published by ASTM International, IEEE and the National Fire Protection Association during summer 2011. Contact Mark Esser at mark.esser@nist.gov for details.

Documentary standards can specify product characteristics, establish accepted test methods and procedures, characterize materials, define processes and systems, or specify knowledge, training and competencies for specific tasks. First responders use basic, testing and product standards primarily to determine the fitness/interoperability of their equipment for the work required. Typical subjects include equipment such as body armor, communications systems and biometric ID systems.

This pilot will contribute to a better understanding of whom in the federal, state and local first responder communities needs access to standards, what types of standards they use the most, and how OLES can better serve this community with future research and development. OLES chose the three standards-developing organizations because they publish a large number of responder-relevant standards, such as the Code of Federal Regulations, Department of Defense Military Specifications, etc. complete NIST news release here

Metropolitan College of New York to Award Honorary Degree to Wayne Blanchard for Outstanding Contributions to the Field of Emergency Management (27 May 2011) Metropolitan College of New York (MCNY) has announced that it will award an honorary doctorate degree to Dr. B. Wayne Blanchard at its June 11 commencement. The degree is being awarded to honor Dr. Blanchard's contributions to the field of emergency and disaster management.

Dr. Blanchard, who is regarded as one of the pioneers in the EM field, retired last fall after a 30-year career with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He began work there on civil defense programs and steadily advanced as training coordinator, staff officer and manager of the Family Protection Program before joining the Emergency Management Institute in 1994, where he was the creator of the Emergency Management Higher Education Project.

He was instrumental in the approval process for MCNY's MPA in Emergency and Disaster Management degree program. In his 16 years as Project Manager of the FEMA Higher Education Program, MCNY’s MPA in Emergency and Disaster Management is the only degree program for which Dr. Blanchard agreed to be an independent reviewer. At the time, there were only 19 such master's degree programs in the country; MCNY in 2004 became the 20th.

Emergency Management Institute Offers New Training Program, the Emergency Management Foundations Academy (23 May 2011)

download flyer with schedule & complete details

The Emergency Management Institute (EMI) is launching a new training program, the Emergency Management Foundations Academy. Spaces are available in the June and July Pilots for this new program. In the very near future, this new EMI Academy Program will also include EM Specialties, Executive Management and Strategic Leadership Programs.

This program is being established as FEMA has recognized the need to tie its training programs to an established set of emergency management competencies and to a career development program through a progressive training and education system that will include an entry-level academy. Training objectives are based on the newly established EM competencies that the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM), National Emergency Management Association (NEMA), and local, state, and tribal emergency management professionals have established in coordination EMI.

New Zealand and United States Sign Joint Statement on Global Supply Chain Security (18 May 2011) U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano on May 17 joined New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully to sign a joint statement on global supply chain security cooperation — further strengthening ongoing collaboration between the United States and New Zealand to promote economic prosperity and make the global supply chain system stronger, smarter and more resilient. During the meeting, Secretary Napolitano and Minister McCully reiterated their commitment to pursuing global supply chain security initiatives designed to prevent terrorists from exploiting the global supply chain to plan and execute attacks; protect the most critical elements of the supply chain system, such as transportation hubs and related critical infrastructure, from attacks and disruptions; and build the resilience of the global supply chain to ensure that if something does happen, the supply chain can recover quickly. complete DHS press release

BC Management Inc. Publishes Canada and USA Results of its Business Continuity Compensation Study (09 May 2011) BC Management, Inc., has published reports on 2009 business continuity management compensation for Canada and USA.

• Canada BCM Compensation Complimentary Report. Focus is on 2009 compensations for full-time, permanent employees in Canada. Some findings include:
  • BCM Average Total Compensation for Canada is $94,132 CAD.
  • 90.91% of Vice Presidents/Directors received an increase in total average compensation and the average total compensation increase was 15.14%.
  • 34.15% of study participants indicated 1-3 years of business continuity related expertise while 42.96% of the study respondents indicated 21 - 35 years of total work experience.
  • According to our study results, the top certification for Canada was the Associate Business Continuity Professional (ABCP) - DRI International, which made up 54.17% of the study participants.

• USA BCM Compensation Complimentary Report. Focus is on 2009 compensations for full-time, permanent employees in the USA. Some findings include:

  • BCM Average Total Compensation for USA is $105,980 USD.
• 57.89% of Global Managers received an increase in total average compensation and the average total compensation increase was 14.44%.
• 39.08% of study participants indicated 4-10 years of business continuity related expertise while 53.94% of the study respondents indicated 21 - 35 years of total work experience.
• According to our study results, the top certification for the USA was the Certified Business Continuity Professional (CBCP) - DRI International, which made up 66.96% of the study participants.
  

National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) Information Resources (29 Apr 2011) Last week DHS Secretary Napolitano announced the implementation of the new National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS), which replaces the color-coded Homeland Security Advisory System (HSAS) in use since 2002.

Downloads: DHS press release | Public Guide for Citizens

Also, a full slate of public materials is available on the new NTAS webpage: www.dhs.gov/Alerts, which will serve as the hub for all things related to NTAS, including:

• A Public Guide for Citizens
• A template NTAS alert
• A link to the press release announcing the launch of NTAS
• A link to a blog posting on NTAS
• Examples of the new NTAS posters that will appear in airports and other public venues to replace the color-coded images
• Web resources for using NTAS on your Web site

FCC Extends Deadline to May 13 for Nominations for its Local and State Government Advisory Committee (20 Apr 2011) The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is seeking nominations to fill three vacancies on the Commission's Local and State Government Advisory Committee (LSGAC). These vacancies are due to the departures of three current LSGAC members, Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell, Albuquerque City Councilor Michael Brasher and Louise Renne, City Attorney, City and County of San Francisco. Therefore, one vacancy will be filled by a local government attorney (elected or appointed), and two will be filled by elected municipal officials (mayor or council member). The LSGAC is comprised of elected and appointed officials of municipal, county, state and tribal governments. It provides advice and information to the FCC on key issues relevant to the LSGAC, including public rights-of-way, facilities siting, universal service, removal of barriers to competitive entry and public safety communications. The deadline has been extended to May 13, 2011. more details here

BC Management Inc. Publishes Results of its U.S. Business Continuity Compensation Study (22 Mar 2011) BC Management, Inc., has recently published two new reports as a result of its U.S. 2010 BCM Annual Study, which closed on December 15, 2010. These reports include:

• BCM Compensation Report-Complimentary Summary (17 Pages) – Complimentary to all professionals. Download summary report here.
• BCM Compensation Report-Comprehensive Report (48 Pages) – Complimentary to study participants only. Those who did not participate in the study may purchase this report at $150. IAEM members may purchase the report at a 10% discount. 
  • Example of the report that was published in March 2010
  • Table of contents for the recently published report
  • Those individuals who didn’t participate in the 2010 study and want to purchase the comprehensive report may do so via the BCM website; choose “BCM Compensation Comprehensive Report.” Those who qualify for the 10% discount should contact BC Management directly at info@bcmanagement.com. 
• Additional reports coming soon include: Canada, Europe, and Asia Pacific.

FEMA Bulletin Clarifies Accounting for Personnel Costs as Related to Federal EM-Related Grants (21 Mar 2011) The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has released Information Bulletin #358, which clarifies the implementation of the PRICE Act in regard to the State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSP), Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI), Tribal Homeland Security Grant Program (THSGP), and Operation Stonegarden (OPSG), and provides examples of how to account for typical personnel costs. Download Information Bulletin #358 here. Questions may be directed to your FEMA Program Analyst or the Centralized Scheduling and Information Desk at askcsid@dhs.gov or 1-800-368-6498.

FEMA, NOAA and Partners Encourage U.S. Residents to Prepare for Springtime Flooding through 2011 Flood Awareness Week (14 Mar 2011) With many communities throughout the nation facing threats of spring flooding, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are once again joining forces to commemorate Flood Safety Awareness Week March 14 - 18. FEMA and NOAA's National Weather Service are providing tips and information to help individuals and families prepare for flooding dangers during the week and throughout the spring season.  The resources can be accessed at the Flood Safety Awareness Week landing page, located at www.ready.gov/floodawareness.

   "As the nation's most common and expensive natural disaster, floods can strike virtually every community," said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. "We're encouraging individuals and families to take a few simple steps to protect themselves and their property.  These include learning about their risk of flooding, having an emergency preparedness kit, storing important documents in a safe place and considering the purchase of flood insurance.  Most homeowners insurance policies don't cover flooding, and most policies take 30 days to go into effect so it's important to act now."

   Floods do more than damage property; they can also threaten lives if safety precautions are not followed.  "Floods occur somewhere in the United States or its territories nearly every day of the year, killing nearly 100 people on average annually, and causing damage in the billions of dollars," said Jack Hayes, Ph.D., director of the National Weather Service.  "Awareness, preparedness and action are the key ingredients to protecting lives and property when floods threaten.  One essential safety tip is to never cross a road that is covered by water.  Remember, Turn Around, Don't Drown."

   According to the National Weather Service, more deaths occur due to flooding each year than from any other severe weather related hazard.  The main reason is people underestimate the force and power of water.  All areas of the country can be at risk for flooding and when such conditions are forecast, important information and life-saving alerts are available at www.weather.gov.

   More than half of all flood-related deaths result from vehicles being swept downstream.  Remember, flash flooding can take only a few minutes to a few hours to develop.  Be prepared to take detours and adjust your route due to road closures if there is standing water.  As little as six inches of water may cause you to lose control of your vehicle.  Flood water may be much deeper than it appears as the roadbed may be washed out.  Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize flood dangers.

   In most cases, standard homeowner's insurance policies don't cover flood damages.  FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program makes flood insurance available to renters, homeowners and business owners through thousands of insurance agents located in nearly 21,000 communities around the nation.  Flood coverage can be purchased for properties both in, and outside of, the highest risk areas but should be considered regardless of where you live since 20 percent of all flood insurance claims come from moderate-to-low-risk areas.

   The average cost of a policy is $570 a year, and Preferred Risk Policies outside of Special Flood Hazard Areas can be as low as $129 a year.  Individuals can learn more about seasonal flood risks and what to do to prepare by visiting FEMA's FloodSmart.gov website, or by calling 1-800-427-2419.

FEMA Announces Disaster Management Interoperability Services (DMIS) Toolset System Will Be Decommissioned on 30 June 2011 (10 Mar 2011) This announcement was sent to emergency management stakeholders, including IAEM, by Mark A. Lucero, Chief, IPAWS Engineering, FEMA National Continuity Programs:

   "The primary mission of the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA’s) Integrated Public Alerts and Warning System (IPAWS) program is to provide integrated services and capabilities to local, state, and federal authorities that enable them to alert and warn their respective communities via multiple communications methods. The federal mandate is to develop, deploy, and maintain the infrastructure for aggregating emergency messages originated by federal, state, local, and tribal officials and routing them to public dissemination systems including the Emergency Alert System (EAS), the Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS), and others. FEMA is committed to achieving this mission.

   "The IPAWS Open Platform for Emergency Networks (IPAWS-OPEN) will serve not only as the IPAWS Aggregator for Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) emergency messages, but also enable the interoperable exchange of other standards-compliant messaging between commercial systems. Currently, over 40 private sector companies are in various stages of developing and testing interoperable software applications compatible with IPAWS-OPEN. Many of these applications are expected to come to market over the next several months and further information about these products will be available from the Responder Knowledge Base (RKB) Website. In addition, FEMA is investigating a viable solution for an Open Source CAP authoring tool and will provide updates via the IPAWS Website.

   "IPAWS-OPEN will supersede the existing DM-OPEN which is scheduled for decommissioning on June 30, 2011. Concurrently, the Disaster Management Interoperability Services (DMIS) Toolset system will also be retired. All software currently connecting to the legacy DM-OPEN application must be migrated to IPAWS-OPEN 2.0 by June 30, 2011. After that time, legacy DM-OPEN will no longer be available and IPAWS-OPEN 2.0 must be utilized.

   "In order to focus more fully on its primary mission and make the most effective use of its resources, the IPAWS Program Office has recently completed a re-evaluation of its priorities. As a result, the decision has been made to cancel the release of the Framework incident management support tools originally planned to replace the DMIS Tools. A number of Web-based incident management systems are now widely available and emergency management practitioners are encouraged to assess their requirements and apply for grant funding assistance to meet their needs. For further information see the Interoperable Emergency Communications Grant Program (IECGP) or the Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP).

   "We regret any inconvenience resulting from this decision. In the long-term, FEMA believes this is in the best interest of the public safety. For further information, please contact Mark Lucero at FEMA-DMIS@DHS.GOV.

FEMA, National Commission on Children and Disasters Announce New Partnership to Promote Fire Safety Awareness for Families (14 Feb 2011) With home fires on the rise in winter months, and a new study showing that young children are at an especially high risk of getting seriously injured or dying in residential fires, today the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Commission on Children and Disasters are announcing a new public awareness campaign to help keep children and families safer from the threat of home fires.

As part of this effort, today FEMA's U.S. Fire Administration is releasing a new report on the risks fires pose to children. The report, which is based on the latest available data released by the National Center for Health Statistics, found that young children face the greatest - and a growing - risk of death or serious injury in home fires, with 52 percent of all child fire deaths in 2007 involving children under the age of four, a slight increase from the most recent previous study in 2004. In addition, the report found that:

• Deaths from fires and burns were the second leading cause of accidental deaths not related to transportation, after drowning;
• Boys are at higher-risk of dying from fires than girls;
• Between 2006 and 2008, smoke alarms were not present in at least 23 percent of residential fires;
• African-American children are at an increased risk of fire deaths; and
• Low-income children are at greatest risk of exposure to home fires.
  

To provide families with important tips about fire safety and lists of additional resources, FEMA is launching online and social media tools, including:

• An updated web page dedicated to children's fire safety, including tips on how to prevent the two leading causes of fire during the winter months: cooking and heating;
• A widget that will link to this website and resources;
• A Facebook tab; and
• A dedicated Twitter hashtag to engage the public in a dialogue about how to protect kids from fires.
• Among other things, these updated tools with offer tips for how to prevent the two leading causes of fires during the winter months: heating and cooking.
• To view the updated web page and the widget, click here.
• Join our conversation on Twitter by using the hashtag #kidsfiresafety.
   

Related Links & Documents:

• FEMA News Release (14 Feb 2011)
• Report: Fire Risk to Children in 2007
• Fact Sheet
• Talking Points

U.S. Senators Landrieu, Alexander, Cochran Reintroduce Children in Disasters Bill (11 Feb 2011) United States Senators Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., and Thad Cochran, R-Miss., on Feb. 3, 2011, reintroduced legislation to address the unique needs of children before, during and after a disaster. The Child Safety, Care and Education Continuity Act is the culmination of work over the last two years, including a number hearings held by Sen. Landrieu, and incorporates recommendations made by a National Commission on Children and Disasters (NCDD) report released in 2009.

• Press Release from Sen. Landrieu's office (03 Feb 2011)
• S. 263, the Child Safety, Care and Education Continuity Act of 2011 

FEMA Seeks Applicants for National Advisory Council (01 Feb 2011) The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is requesting individuals who are interested in serving on the National Advisory Council (NAC) to apply for appointment. The NAC is an advisory committee established in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act to ensure effective and ongoing coordination of federal preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation for natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters.

   The NAC will have a position open for applications and nominations in the following disciplines: Emergency Management, Emergency Response, Health Scientist, Standard Settings, Infrastructure Protection, Communications, Disabilities, Local Non-Elected Official, Tribal Elected Official, and three appointments which will be selected at the discretion of the FEMA Administrator. The selected members would serve until June 15, 2014. In addition, FEMA seeks applications to fill the remaining term for a Local Elected Official position (to serve until June 15, 2012), a State Non-Elected Official position (to serve until June 15, 2013), and an Administrator’s Selection (to serve until June 15, 2013).

   Qualified individuals interested in serving on the NAC are invited to apply for appointment by submitting a resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV). Letters of recommendation may also be provided, but are not required. Applications are accepted on Friday, February 4, 2011 through Friday, March 4, 2011. See details about the NAC and its mission at www.fema.gov/about/nac. Information about applications for membership: Federal Register Notice

FCC's Public Safety & Homeland Security Bureau Seeks Comments on Rapidly Deployable Aerial Telecommunications Architecture Capable of Providing Immediate Communications to Disaster Areas (31 Jan 2011) An important mission of the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau’s (Bureau) is to support and advance state-of-the-art communications initiatives and strategies that further strengthen and enhance the security and reliability of the nation's communications. In order to advance this important mission, the Bureau seeks comment on current and future technologies, specifically aerial telecommunications architecture, such as unmanned aerial vehicles or balloon mounted or unmounted systems, that can be rapidly deployed to an area within the first few hours after major natural disasters or terrorist attacks. For details on the request for comments and how to respond, you may download the complete request here.

The National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Societal Impacts Program (SIP) Announces the Call for Applications for the 2011 Summer WAS*IS Workshop, Aug. 4-12, 2011, Boulder, Colorado (31 Jan 2011) For complete details on application and to apply, please visit http://www.sip.ucar.edu/wasis/boulder11/apply.php. Application deadline is Mar. 25, 2011.

WAS*IS is a grassroots movement to fully integrate social science into meteorological research and practice. WAS*IS is doing this by:

• building an interdisciplinary community of practitioners, researchers, and stakeholders who are dedicated to the integration of meteorology and social science; and
• providing this community with opportunities to learn about ideas, methods, and examples related to integrated weather-society work.

The workshop will bring together diverse stakeholders including forecasters, broadcasters, emergency managers, academics, and other public and private sector individuals. The workshop will involve capacity building activities among a small group of moderators and facilitators, a set of expert topic presenters, and approximately 25 workshop participants.

   NCAR will cover reasonable costs of travel, lodging, and meals for all participants except for U.S. government federal employees. Because the funding for our workshop comes from federal sources, we are not legally allowed to reimburse federal participants for transportation, lodging, and food costs. Therefore, all federal employees who apply and are accepted into the workshop will have to cover their own costs. Please note that, because of funding limitations, only people living within the United States, Canada, or the Caribbean will be accepted for this WAS*IS workshop.

   Graduate students, scientists, agency personnel, practitioners, professors, and others are encouraged to apply. Applicants must have completed a minimum of an undergraduate degree (or have commensurate professional experience) in anthropology, communication, economics, emergency management, environmental science, geography, hydrology, meteorology, psychology, public administration, public health, sociology, or another related field.

European Commission Publishes Staff Working Paper on Risk Assessment and Mapping Guidelines for Disaster Management (27 Jan 2011) The European Commission has published a Staff Working Paper on Risk Assessment and Mapping Guidelines for Disaster Management. Risk assessments, when carried out at national level, are crucial for enhancing disaster prevention and preparedness activities and contribute significantly to planning and capacity building. The main aim of the guidelines is to improve coherence among the risk assessments undertaken in the EU Member States at national level in the prevention, preparedness and planning stages and to make these risk assessments more comparable between Member States. This will lead to a greater transparency and facilitate co-operation in efforts to prevent and mitigate shared risks, such as cross-border risks. The EU guidelines for national risk assessment and mapping also can serve as a basis for the 2012 overview of the major risks the EU may face in the future. The document is available for download here.

Report from Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters Cites 2010 as One of the Worst Years for Natural Disasters in Decades (27 Jan 2011) A report issued by the Belgium-based Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters describes the year 2010 as one of the deadliest years in at least two decades. Nearly 300,000 people lost their lives in more than 370 natural disasters. The report notes most of the deaths resulted from the earthquake in Haiti, which killed nearly one-quarter of a million people. The second deadliest disaster was the summer heat wave in that caused about 56,000 fatalities in Moscow. In addition, the report showed that for the first time, the Americas became the world's worst affected continents in terms of fatalities, with 75 percent of total deaths caused by the earthquake in Haiti. Europe was the region with the second highest number of deaths, with the heat wave in Russia accounting for nearly a fifth of 2010's total fatalities. Asia experienced fewer disaster-related deaths, but remained the region most prone to natural disasters. Five of the ten most Asian deadly disasters occurred in China, Pakistan, and Indonesia.

• Read more about the report.
• Additional comments from CRED and from the UN Secretary General for Disaster Risk Reduction.

FEMA Provides Guidance on National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) Section 106 Review Requirements for Communication Facilities (24 Jan 2011) The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Information Bulletin 351 provides guidance on the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) Section 106 review requirements for GPD grant funded projects involving communication facilities. GPD funds a variety of projects related to communication facilities including the construction, replacement, or repair of towers as well as the installation or repair of associated equipment such as antennas or repeaters. Section 106 of the NHPA requires Federal agencies to take into account the effect of their undertakings on historic properties through consultation with the relevant State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), Tribal Historic Preservation Office (THPO) for Federally-recognized tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations (NHOs). Historic properties are those listed in, or eligible for listing in, the National Register of Historic Places. Download Information Bulletin 351 here.

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