This message was sent to ##Email## To advertise in this publication please click here January 21, 2021 .ANNUAL CONFERENCE NEWS IAEM seeks Annual Conference breakout speaker proposals by Feb. 19 IAEM The call for breakout speakers at the IAEM 69th Annual Conference & EMEX is now open. IAEM is excited to hear from emergency management professionals interested in speaking at the premier emergency management event of the year to be held Oct. 15-22, 2021, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The theme for this year’s conference is “Looking Back to Look Ahead.” Breakout sessions are one-hour in length and will be selected by the review committee based on selection criteria. Step-by-step instructions and the login to submit a proposal are found in the Speaker Guidance on the conference website. Questions should be directed to IAEM Conference Manager Julie Husk. Apply online before Feb. 19, 2021. IAEM webinar recording available for 'Tips for a Successful Speaker Proposal' IAEM The IAEM Conference Committee offered a free webinar, “Tips for a Successful Speaker Proposal,” on Jan. 15. If you missed the webinar and are interested in presenting a breakout session at the IAEM 2021 Annual Conference, you can view it here. The webinar included: information on all mandatory requirements for a successful proposal; insider tips from the Reviewing Committee; this year’s breakout focus areas; and how to use the online submission system. The event concluded with a question-and-answer session. The call for speakers opened on Jan. 18 and will close on Feb. 19. Detailed information on submitting a proposal appears on the conference website. EMEX sponsor highlight of the week: Penn State University World Campus IAEM Penn State World Campus has been providing quality education online since 1998 in order to make online degree programs available to students beyond the reach of its physical campuses. Today, Penn State World Campus offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs developed and taught by Penn State faculty. Its mission is to provide the Penn State educational experience to anyone, anytime – focusing on convenience, flexibility, and quality in delivering accredited degrees and certificates online. Contact a member of our helpful advising staff today to see what opportunities await you. Time is running out to view the IAEM Reimagined Annual Conference on-demand content IAEM Don’t miss the opportunity to learn and build your credentials in the emergency management field through on-demand access to the IAEM Reimagined Virtual Conference. This is a chance to explore almost 50 hours of educational sessions at the bargain price of just $199 for individuals (member and non-member) and $99 for student members. Content will be available until Feb. 16, 2021, and you will be able to claim contact hours for credit towards IAEM’s Certified Emergency Manager Program. Included on-demand are all breakout sessions, plenary speakers, and EMvision Talks. Also included are video overviews of the latest EM products and services in the EMEX Virtual Hall, 26 poster presentations representing significant insight from peers, and the 2020 Yearbook of Honors. Check out the conference program here and register for on-demand access here.  PRODUCT SHOWCASE Managing Multiple Crises Amidst COVID–19 How will you respond when the next public safety crisis hits? Learn how First Alert’s real-time breaking news alerts can keep you a step ahead. Read our eBook to be better prepared for the next emergency. LEARN MORE .IAEM NEWS IAEM seeks volunteers by Jan. 24 to participate in an emergency management job analysis IAEM IAEM is seeking volunteers representing all functions of emergency management and all emergency management job types to participate in a job analysis for emergency managers. All volunteers must be working full-time in the field of emergency management. This is open to participants worldwide. Complete details and the application form can be found on the IAEM website. The deadline to apply is Jan. 24. Questions can be directed to IAEM Program Manager Kate McClimans.  SPONSORED CONTENT Promoted by American Military University COVID-19: Will This Be the Public Health’s 9/11 Earthquakes: The ‘Big One’ Might Hit the Midwest – Not California ­COVID-19: Flattening the Curve to Avoid a 'Great Depression II' Staying Safe: The Twin Threats of COVID-19 and Disaster Events ­How 1911's Triangle Fire Changed US Safety Laws .IAEM-CANADA COUNCIL NEWS Tornado experts credit average Canadians for helping them gather data in 2020 CBC COVID-19 restrictions made it a bit more challenging for experts to survey the damage at the site of every twister that touched Canadian soil in 2020, but researchers from Western University in London, Ont., say they were still able to get the job done, partly thanks to the average Canadian. READ MORE .IAEM-OCEANIA COUNCIL NEWS Landslides more dangerous than earthquakes — study Insurance Business Despite earthquakes being among the most talked about natural disasters in New Zealand, another peril outranks it in terms of danger to human life – landslides. There were around 1,800 fatalities caused by landslides or slips over the past 160 years, according to a report by Stuff, citing research from GNS Science. READ MORE  PRODUCT SHOWCASE Prepare to Serve Columbia International University’s online Master of Arts in Disaster Relief and Emergency Management provides students the knowledge and skills necessary to respond to natural disasters and crises while demonstrating Christian compassion, service, and witness. Earn your degree in Disaster Relief & Emergency management entirely online in as little as 12 months. LEARN MORE Australia Institute for Disaster Resilience is considering abstracts from speakers for 2021 Australian Disaster Resilience Conference IAEM The deadline is Feb. 8 to submit an abstract to be considered for presentation during the 2021 Australian Disaster Resilience Conference, Aug. 18-19, 2021, in Sydney, Australia. The disaster risk and resilience landscape is constantly evolving, and so too are the approaches we take. Meaningful community engagement and community-led approaches are essential to effectively support disaster resilience. The systems, frameworks and enabling environments created through well-considered policy and coordination also are necessary. To find the right balance, the Australian Disaster Resilience Conference returns in 2021 to explore the theme, “Meeting in the Middle: Community Voices and Complex Choices.” Be part of the national conversation by submitting an abstract of no more than 300 words. Complete details are available online. .IAEM-USA COUNCIL NEWS Biden's pick to lead FEMA signals urgency on pandemic and climate change Scientific American President-elect Joe Biden demonstrated his intent to give the Federal Emergency Management Agency a major role in his administration by quickly nominating an agency leader and selecting a widely praised emergency manager who has dealt with hurricanes, wildfires and pandemics. Biden’s nomination of New York City Emergency Management Commissioner Deanne Criswell marks the first time a woman has been selected to lead FEMA since its creation in 1979. READ MORE FEMA's National Response Coordination Center was activated for record 314 days in 2020 Homeland Security Today The COVID-19 pandemic, a record-breaking Atlantic hurricane season, and massive western wildfires contributed to a historic 2020 for the Federal Emergency Management Agency in which the National Response Coordination Center was activated for an unprecedented 314 days. The previous record was set in 2017, when the NRCC was activated for 78 days. READ MORE 3D Elevation Program announces three developments IAEM There have been three important recent developments regarding the U.S. Geological Survey’s 3D Elevation Program (3DEP). First, the bipartisan National Landslide Preparedness Act (H.R. 8810) was signed into law (P.L. 116-323). Section 5 of the bill authorizes USGS 3DEP. Read more here. A fact sheet/brief report has been published, and highlights the connection to 3DEP. Second, the recent omnibus/consolidated spending bill (H.R. 133) for FY2021, P.L. 116-260, contained report language on USGS 3DEP to promote LiDAR technology for enhanced elevation data collection nationwide. And third, last month to help brief the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and USDA on rural broadband connectivity and precision agriculture, the associate director for Core Science Systems at USGS, Kevin Gallagher, briefed the mapping working group for the task force authorized in the 2018 Farm Bill regarding the use of 3DEP data to serve as a base-level map for the National Broadband Map, as well as the ability to leverage this nationwide mapping dataset for gap analysis in maximizing rural broadband infrastructure deployment based on the National Terrain Model that 3DEP provides. The Broadband DATA Act (P.L. 116-130) contained a provision calling for the FCC to consult with the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) before updating the National Broadband Map. USGS helps guide the FGDC.  FEATURED ARTICLE   Earthquake Resilience Is Good Economics, Sound Business, Responsible Public Policy, Say Experts In New Webinar Series Promoted by Optimum Seismic, Inc. A coalition of leading business organizations will launch a monthly webinar series, “The Resilience Advantage,” on Thursday, Jan 21 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Each webinar will include a 20-minute video featuring interviews with leading experts addressing earthquake resilience issues, challenges and accomplishments. LEARN MORE   .HEALTHCARE EM UPDATE FEMA releases Coronavirus Initial Assessment Report IAEM FEMA released its “Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Initial Assessment Report,” which assesses the agency’s initial response to the global pandemic. Highlighted items in the report show the agency faced many challenges, including the need to clarify roles and authorities between responding agencies and the difficulty of managing complex interagency coordination while still protecting its own workforce. The report covers FEMA’s response from mid-March through Sept. 30 and provides 32 key findings and 57 recommendations in five areas. The report findings and recommendations will be used to inform FEMA and the emergency management community with the purpose of improving current and future response plans to pandemics. The Initial Assessment Report represents part of FEMA’s continuous improvement process, helping the agency learn how to respond faster and to communicate to the emergency management community where there are opportunities to build greater capacity. New COVID-19 variants: What CDC does and does not know* Homeland Security Today Information about the characteristics of these variants is rapidly emerging. Scientists are working to learn more about how easily they might spread, whether they could cause more severe illness, and whether currently authorized vaccines will protect people against them. At this time, there is no evidence that these variants cause more severe illness or increased risk of death. READ MORE  PRODUCT SHOWCASE The Ultimate Sandbag Filling Tool If your responsibility includes sandbag production, you realize the biggest challenge is output: the maximum number of bags in the least amount of time. The mobile, low cost ExpressBagger® is a perfect solution if your sandbagging operation uses "people power" and needs a high output with a minimal investment. www.expressbagger.net. LEARN MORE .CLIMATE/WATER/WEATHER UPDATES 3 ways the Biden Administration and Congress can lower America's flood risk — and costs Pew Flooding is a major, persistent, and widespread problem across the United States. 2020 brought another record-breaking hurricane season that caused billions of dollars in damage, and, with spring flood season fast approaching, the country could soon face another round of costly weather disasters. Fortunately, there are several initiatives that Joe Biden and his administration can take to mitigate flood risks to Americans as well as costs, which have ballooned by more than $100 billion each decade since the 1980s. Here are three actions the Biden administration and Congress should take to make sure that our country’s infrastructure and communities are better able to withstand the growing threat of flooding. READ MORE .EM RESOURCES New tool helps organizations improve crisis communications Sacramento State University When a wildfire, pandemic, or other crises strike, good communication can mean the difference between order and chaos – and in some cases life and death. A new tool developed by Sacramento State business professors is designed to help companies, agencies, and nonprofit groups convey information more effectively to their employees, stakeholders, and the public during natural disasters. READ MORE FEMA releases Emergency Operations Center Toolkit IAEM FEMA has released five emergency operations center toolkit documents. The toolkit has a collection of customizable tools, templates and guides designed to assist emergency management, specifically emergency operations center managers and staff members on preparing and operating in emergency environments. These documents will contribute to developing an emergency operation center that can successfully meet a jurisdiction’s needs. The toolkit documents cover topics such as hazard vulnerability assessments, physical site selection, mitigation considerations, capabilities and requirements, information management systems as well as training and exercises. .CYBERSECURITY NEWS National strategy to secure 5G implementation plan released Homeland Security Today Fifth generation wireless technology, or 5G, will be a primary driver of our Nation’s prosperity and security in the 21st century. The National Strategy to Secure 5G details how the United States will lead global development, deployment, and management of secure and reliable 5G infrastructure. The work to enhance the security of 5G networks will require a range of efforts from across the U.S. government, working in close collaboration with our international and industry partners. The U.S. government is committed to fostering innovation and realizing the technological promise of 5G, while continuing to safeguard our economy and national security and ensuring continued access to 5G networks. READ MORE PRODUCT SHOWCASE Online Master's in Infrastructure Planning & Management The University of Washington's online Master of Infrastructure Planning & Management program prepares you to lead development of the next generation of critical infrastructure systems ­­— resilient, secure and accessible. Earn your degree completely online in two years of part-time study. Apply now to start in fall 2021.   LEARN MORE   Reach Your Prospects Every Week Thousands of industry professionals subscribe to association news briefs, which allows your company to push messaging directly to their inboxes and take advantage of the association's brand affinity. Connect with Highly Defined Buyers and Maximize Your Brand Exposure   LEARN MORE   SolarWinds close to figuring out how cyberattack occurred Government Technology Austin-based SolarWinds, the software company at the center of what is considered one of the most sophisticated cyberattacks in U.S. history, said it believes it is closer to understanding how the attack was carried out. The company said that it has reverse-engineered the code used in the attack to better understand how it was deployed. READ MORE CISA warns of vulnerabilities in cloud use, shares solutions list Nextgov The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency shared 21 bullet points—more for organizations using Microsoft’s Office 365—for diminishing the extent to which adversaries are taking advantage of challenging-to-secure cloud configurations. Analysis CISA issued recently draws from incidents the agency has responded to where indicators of compromise show threat actors effectively targeting organizations’ use of the cloud with techniques such as phishing. READ MORE .DISASTER TECHNOLOGY NEWS Developing first responder emergency alerts technology Homeland Security News Wire As emergency communications technologies adapt to an increasingly interconnected nation, DHS S&T announced it awarded more than $1.5 million to develop an Alerts, Warnings, and Notifications (AWN) Guidance Tool. READ MORE Managing extreme weather events with artificial intelligence Homeland Preparedness News Can combining deep learning (DL)— a subfield of artificial intelligence— with social network analysis (SNA), make social media contributions about extreme weather events a useful tool for crisis managers, first responders and government scientists? READ MORE Drone checklists play a critical role in disaster response, and wind techs should adopt these practices Windpower Energy Development In the aftermath of a natural disaster, drones can be critical tools for first responders and recovery workers. As an eye in the sky, drones provide situational awareness that helps response teams target critical locations even when roads are blocked and areas remain dangerous. One of the largest U.S. electric and gas utilities recognizes cost and time savings to be just a few of the key benefits of using drones for tasks such as power line repair following severe wind events. READ MORE .EM STUDENT NEWS Witt O'Brien's offers new scholarship and internship opportunities for HBCU students; application deadline is Jan. 31 IAEM Witt O’Brien’s has announced a new opportunity this year that is specifically for students who attend Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). Two applicants will receive the “Resilience Through Diversity Award,” which will provide them with both a $5,000 scholarship and a paid $5,000 summer internship with Witt O’Brien’s. Download flyer for details and student eligibility. The application form and required attachments are available on Witt O’Brien’s website. The application deadline is Jan. 31, 2021. .IAEM MEMBER NEWS OC's top emergency response coordinator resigns, heads to private sector* Voice of OC Orange County’s top emergency manager for disaster response resigned, saying she’s leaving for a job in the private sector. Donna Boston, who directs emergency management at the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, is the fourth high-ranking county executive to step down during the coronavirus pandemic, following sudden departures last year of top Health Care Agency executives Richard Sanchez, David Souleles and Nichole Quick. READ MORE .GRANT ANNOUNCEMENTS FEMA announces $35 million for fire prevention and safety grants IAEM The funding notice has been released for $35.5 million to support the 2020 Fire Prevention and Safety Grants. These grants are part of the Assistance to Firefighters Grants, which support projects that enhance the safety of the public and firefighters from fire and related hazards. The application period for the program opens at 8:00 a.m. EST on Jan. 26 and closes at 5:00 p.m. EST on Feb. 28, 2021. The primary goal of Fire Prevention and Safety Grants is to reduce injury and prevent death among high-risk populations. The program accomplishes this by making awards within the areas of fire prevention and firefighter safety research and development. Fire departments and national, regional, state, local, tribal and nonprofit organizations that are recognized for their experience and expertise in fire prevention and safety programs are eligible to apply for fire prevention funding. National, state, local, federally recognized tribal and nonprofit organizations, including academic institutions, public health, occupational health and injury prevention institutions are eligible to apply for funding in research and development. The notice of funding opportunity is available at www.grants.gov. For more information on the Fire Prevention and Safety grants, visit the FEMA website. .SURVEY REQUESTS BC Management seeks participants for its 19th annual compensation study IAEM BC Management is celebrating the 19th anniversary of its data research initiatives and seeks participants for its annual BCM Compensation Study. All professionals who participate in the 2021 BCM Compensation Study will receive a customized BCM Compensation Dashboard. This dashboard will not only be of great value to study participants in providing customized BCM program data points (by industry or company revenues) and customized BCM compensation data points (by years of experience or job title), but also will increase the efficiency in assessing data trends internally for the PDF reports. All data shared will be maintained in a confidential manner and will not be shared in the customized dashboards. Visit the study site to participate before it closes at 11:00 p.m. EST, Feb. 28. .EM CALENDAR CHDS to hold Jan. 29 webinar on 'Building Trust in a Disinformation Age' IAEM The Center for Homeland Defense and Security’s (CHDS) Executive Education Program will offer a webinar, “Building Trust in a Disinformation Age,” on Jan. 29, 2021, 2:00 p.m. EST. IAEM is a sponsor of this event. In an age of information overload, it is increasingly difficult to deliver critical information to targeted audiences and the public at large. The influx of disinformation, hoaxes and conspiracy theories complicates matters further. In this webinar, speakers will discuss how homeland security professionals can get above the noise to communicate credible information effectively so that communities can act with confidence. Panelists will include: Julie Parker, CHDS communications subject matter expert, and former senior advisor for media, International Association of Chiefs of Police; Dr. Swapna Reddy, clinical assistant professor, College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University; and Dr. Kristy Roschke, managing director, News Co/Lab, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Arizona State University. The moderator will be Dawn Wilson, associate director, CHDS Executive Education Program. Register online. Attendees are encouraged to submit questions in advance on the webinar registration page or by email to chds-eep@nps.edu. Animal Evac New Zealand to hold Feb. 14-24 virtual Global Animal Disaster Management Conference IAEM The Global Animal Disaster Management Conference, scheduled online on Feb. 14-24, is a world-first that looks at the considerations for animals and brings together leading emergency experts in this field. Organized by Animal Evac New Zealand, the conference will connect leading animal emergency and disaster researchers with practitioners and fellow academics. The format will offer a staggered series of free-to-view online and recorded webinars. The interactive presentations offer convenient time zones for those presenting and viewing. Register online. 2021 National Resilience Exchange Virtual Summit to be held Jan. 26-28 IAEM The All-Hazards Consortium (AHC) will hold the 2021 National Resilience Exchange Virtual Summit on Jan. 25-28. Register online prior to the conference. Attendees will learn, network, and collaborate with private sector critical infrastructure partners, state emergency managers, DHS/CISA, DHS/FEMA officials, trade associations, and research groups. The forum will help participants to: create increased awareness of cross-sector vulnerabilities and inter-dependencies in supply chains to ensure the security and reliability of our nation's critical functions and systems; understand key risk considerations and risk reduction strategies to protect your employees, contractors, customers, supply chains and communities; and become equipped with new ideas, approaches, and perspectives that will inspire you to immediately apply what you have learned to your day-to-day activities. .IAEM-EUROPA NEWS UK National Security Committee launches inquiry into preparedness and effectiveness Homeland Security Today The U.K.’s Joint Committee on National Security Strategy (JCNSS) has launched an inquiry into how well the national security machinery operates. This inquiry launched following concerns highlighted in the Committee’s Biosecurity and national security report and the urgent need to establish effective national security structures to prepare for future emergencies. READ MORE .IAEM-INTERNATIONAL NEWS With free buses and WhatsApp, southern Africa steps up storm preparedness* Thomson Reuters Foundation After cyclones brought devastation in 2019, authorities and aid agencies in Zimbabwe and Mozambique are evacuating people, sending phone alerts and strengthening homes. READ MORE .IAEM-MIDDLE EAST NEWS UAE tells organizations to develop emergency response teams* Gulf Today The National Crisis and Emergency Management Authority (NCEMA) announced the third edition of the National Standard for Business Continuity Management System. Dr Saif Al Dhaheri, Official speaker at NCEMA said, “The launch of the 3rd edition of the National Standard for Business Continuity Management System, in coordination with partners, with the aim of strengthening the capacity of business community to respond emergencies was announced.” READ MORE .IAEM-JAPAN NEWS The true cost of the climate crisis on Japan The Japan Times When Yoshihide Suga declared in October that Japan would be carbon neutral by 2050, he became the first Japanese prime minister to set a specific timeline in the country’s bid to become emissions free. As ambitious as Suga’s pledge may be, it’s far from being a pipe dream. The world is slowly taking concrete steps to address the climate crisis, and Japan simply can ill afford to sit on the sidelines any longer. READ MORE .AROUND THE WORLD Indonesia grapples with earthquake, flooding, landslides and fallout from Sriwijaya Air crash CNN As Indonesia continues to count the number of dead from last week's earthquake on Sulawesi island, search and rescue teams are being stretched to breaking point, as they grapple with a series of disasters unfolding across the country. Flooding in South Kalimantan has killed more than a dozen people and displaced tens of thousands. READ MORE Several cars trapped in floodwaters overnight in one-in-100-year rainfall event on Brisbane's bayside ABC News Emergency services responded to several cars becoming trapped in floodwaters overnight, as storms brought major flash flooding to bayside areas. The State Emergency Service (SES) crews responded to at least six calls for help from people whose cars were caught in floodwaters. READ MORE Bolivians scramble to save belongings from floods Reuters via Yahoo News In Guanay and Tipuani in the La Paz area, local rivers burst their banks early in the morning and catching residents off guard. Residents complained of the lack of assistance from authorities to help those in homes who have been damaged by the flood waters. In Cochabamba the floods have also affected livelihoods. READ MORE Semeru volcano on Indonesia's Java island spews hot clouds The Associated Press via WCIV-TV Mount Semeru, the highest volcano on Indonesia's most densely populated island of Java, spewed hot clouds as far away as 4.5 kilometers (nearly 3 miles) on Saturday. There were no immediate evacuations, but the National Disaster Mitigation Agency warned people who live in the villages on the slopes of the 3,676-meter (12,060-foot)-high mountain to be vigilant in looking for signs of danger. READ MORE More than 100 families evacuated due to flooding in Davao City At least 106 families evacuated from their homes after the Davao and Talomo rivers reached critical level due to flooding in some parts in Davao City on Friday night. READ MORE   IAEM Dispatch Connect with IAEM Dennis Hall, Director of Publishing, MultiView, 469-420-2656 | Download media kit Bob Kowalski, Executive Editor, MultiView, 469-420-2650 | Contribute news International Association of Emergency Managers 201 Park Washington Court  |  Falls Church, VA 22046-4527  Elizabeth B. Armstrong, MAM, CAE, IAEM CEO, IAEM Executive Director Dawn M. Shiley, CAE, IAEM Dispatch POC, IAEM Communications and Marketing Manager (703) 538-1795  |  Contact Us  |  www.iaem.org/ Click here to unsubscribe.  Learn how to add us to your safe sender list so our emails get to your inbox. ADVERTISE SUBSCRIBE PAST ISSUES   7701 Las Colinas Ridge, Ste. 800, Irving, TX 75063