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IAEM
IAEM-USA is conducting its annual survey on EMPG funding and needs your help increasing responses. Your responses help IAEM educate Members of Congress on the importance of EM programming at the local level and the role funding, particularly EMPG funding, plays in building and maintaining these programs. Please respond to the survey by 6:00 p.m. EST on Jan. 27, 2017. IAEM-USA President Lanita Lloyd, CEM, provides more information in a message to local and tribal government emergency managers. Thank you in advance for your assistance.
IAEM
IAEM has scheduled its first Think Tank of 2017, “FirstNet: What You Need to Know,” for Jan. 31, 2017, 12:00-1:30 p.m. EST. The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 created the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet), charged with the mission to build, operate and maintain the first high-speed, nationwide wireless broadband network dedicated to public safety. FirstNet will provide a single interoperable platform for emergency and daily public safety communications. This broadband network will fulfill a fundamental need of the public safety community as well as the last remaining recommendation of the 9/11 Commission. Using nationwide 700 MHz spectrum, FirstNet will put an end to decades-long interoperability and communications challenges and help keep our communities and emergency responders safer. Learn what emergency managers need to know about FirstNet and how it will be useful for them. Speakers will include: Joe Sastre, EM director for the Town of Groton, Connecticut; Kenzie Capece, senior outreach advisor, FirstNet; and more to be named. IAEM Think Tank Moderator Rich Serino will host the event. Register online.
IAEM
The IAEM-Global Editorial Work Group is seeking articles by Feb. 10, 2017, on “Making Practical Applications out of Emergency Management Research.” This will be the first IAEM Bulletin special focus issue of 2017. Articles might include, but are not limited to: communications and messaging; social science research developed recently or being done currently; and research on preparedness for people who are disabled or who have other access or functional needs. Please consider writing an article for this issue, and forward the call for articles to your colleagues who might be interested in writing on the topic. Article length is 750-1,500 words, and articles must be submitted via email to Karen Thompson, editor, no later than Feb. 10, 2017. See author guidelines.
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IAEM
There is still time to enter the most prestigious competition for government communicators in the nation. The National Association of Government Communicators (NAGC) has extended the submission deadline for the Blue Pencil & Gold Screen Awards competition to Jan. 27, 2017. The NAGC Blue Pencil & Gold Screen Awards Competition is the standard setter for the best of the best in more than 40 categories. Whether you write, edit, design, broadcast, or create web and social media, there’s a category for the meaningful work that you do for your citizens. Download the call for entries and entry form.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Active members and pensioners of state-run pension fund Government Service Insurance System in seven Southern Luzon provinces, who were affected by the onslaught of Typhoon Nina last December may apply for emergency loans until February. In a statement Tuesday, the GSIS said it set aside P4.9 billion in loans for old-age pensioners as well as members living or working in Albay, Batangas, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Marinduque, Quezon province and six local government units in Oriental Mindoro.
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No cell? No wifi? No problem. Stay connected no matter what disaster brings. Thorium X keeps you in the field and connected via real-time satellite email, forms, weather and more. And at a fraction of the cost of satellite phones.
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UPI
Researchers are beginning to understand why the Mediterranean is disaster-prone. As new research revealed, the history of earthquakes in the region can be explained by the ongoing activity of the subduction boundary between the Eurasian and African plates off the coast of Southern Italy.
Until recently, scientists have struggled to pinpoint the source of tectonic activity in the region.
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| | IAEM-LATIN AMERICA & CARIBBEAN NEWS |
IAEM
The First Latin American Congress of Emergency Managers, supported by AIGELAC (International Association of Emergency Managers of Latin America and the Caribbean) and IAEM (International Association of Emergency Managers), will be held Aug. 16-18, 2017, in conjunction with the 7th International Fair of Safety at Work (Expo Proteção) and the 11th Fair of Rescue, Pre-Hospital Attendance, Firefighting, and Chemical Emergencies (Expo Emergência) at Expo Center Norte in São Paulo, Brazil. The dual expos, which will bring together more than 300 exhibitors and around 50,000 professionals, will be accompanied by technical events and various seminars, workshops, and courses. Learn more from the event brochure.
Newkerala.com
The United Nations and the countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have together crafted a blueprint for making the agriculture, food and nutritional security sectors more disaster-proof so the region can tackle hunger in a sustainable manner.
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IAEM
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has announced several leadership changes that took place immediately following the Presidential Inauguration on Jan. 20, to ensure that there is no interruption in the delivery of FEMA’s critical mission. Robert Fenton, who is serving as acting FEMA administrator, has had a significant role in numerous large-scale U.S. response and recovery operations since he joined FEMA in 1996. Fenton has served as deputy associate administrator in FEMA’s Office of Response and Recovery, as well as regional administrator for Region 9. David Grant, who is serving as acting FEMA deputy administrator, has served as FEMA associate administrator of mission support since 2015. Prior to joining FEMA, Grant was chief of agency-wide shared services for the Internal Revenue Service. A full list of new acting leadership at FEMA is available online.
NACo
In 1783, the first hot-air balloon was launched and mankind could finally touch the sky. 1903 saw the famous Wright Brothers flight and the first helicopter flight soon followed in 1907. It stayed that way for nearly a century. Eventually, we began to hear of the U.S. military using something called a “drone” to conduct reconnaissance and eventually military warfare campaigns across the world. It was indeed a brave new world.
IAEM
January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Month. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has established the Blue Campaign to raise awareness. The Blue Campaign is the unified voice for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) efforts to combat human trafficking. Working in collaboration with law enforcement, government, non-governmental and private organizations, the Blue Campaign strives to protect the basic right of freedom and to bring those who exploit human lives to justice. Through the Blue Campaign, DHS raises public awareness about human trafficking, leveraging partnerships to educate the public to recognize human trafficking and report suspected instances. The Blue Campaign also offers training to law enforcement and others to increase detection and investigation of human trafficking, and to protect victims and bring suspected traffickers to justice. View available Blue Campaign resources.
Emergency Management
Nearly half of the August flood victims surveyed by Louisiana after they got help from Louisiana's house repair program said they didn't return home after the work was done, even though the goal of the effort was to get people back under their own roofs.
The $165 million Shelter at Home program, which, by design, did temporary work on flood-damaged dwellings, has been criticized by some homeowners and public officials, who have questioned its effectiveness and cost.
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PHF
The Pennsylvania Department of Health and Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency have partnered to launch TRAIN PA, the state’s new TRAIN Learning Network site.
TRAIN PA joins a growing list of TRAIN affiliates that operate in partnership with one or more state agencies.
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IAEM
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is seeking U.S. students for paid, summer internships in the fields of emergency management, human resources, administration, financial management, and law. FEMA’s mission is to support U.S. citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve the nation’s capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards. FEMA fosters innovation and rewards performance and creativity. Join the team, and use your talent to support Americans in their times of greatest need. Visit the links above to learn more about each position and to apply. Complete the application process, and submit any required documents by Jan. 31, 27, 11:59 p.m. EST. If you have any questions or want more information, please contact FEMA-PATHWAYS@fema.dhs.gov.
Campus Safety
The United State Department of Health and Human Services sent a letter to officials in the public health sector warning of potential terrorist attacks.
The letter, signed by branch chief of HHS’ Critical Infrastructure Program Laura Wolf, also included a list of resources designed to prepare public health facilities for the threat of an active shooter. Those resources are included below.
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Reuters
The World Health Organization called on all countries to monitor closely outbreaks of deadly avian influenza in birds and poultry and to report promptly any human cases that could signal the start of a flu pandemic.
Different strains of bird flu have been spreading across Europe and Asia since late last year, leading to large-scale slaughtering of poultry in certain countries and some human deaths in China. Experts fear the virus could mutate to spread more easily among people.
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IAEM
The IAEM Conference Committee webinar on “Tips for A Successful Speaker Proposal” is available for viewing on the conference website. Before you submit your proposal to speak at the conference be sure to view the webinar for the helpful tips. The Call for Speakers closes in just three weeks on Friday, Feb. 17, 2017 at 5:00 p.m. EST. You should also review the IAEM Speaker Guidance. The IAEM 65th Annual Conference & EMEX will be held in Long Beach, California, Nov. 10-15, 2017.
IAEM
Congratulations to Edward Rouse, who was randomly selected from the list of attendees who completed conference evaluations of the IAEM 2016 Annual Conference. Edward wins a complimentary full registration to the IAEM 65th Annual Conference in Long Beach, California, Nov. 10-15, 2017. Edward is the deputy division director at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia, and has been an IAEM Region 4 member since 2006.
The Hill
A decade ago, the Federal Emergency Management Agency was in shambles. Created merely by executive order in 1979, the agency had no Congressional authorization and no clear mission. FEMA was inadequately funded and hindered by a sprawling DHS bureaucracy that buried the agency’s ability to coordinate disaster response directly with the White House.
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IAEM
The IAEM Certification Program will be offering a prep course and exam on May 16, 2017, at the Texas Emergency Management Conference in May in San Antonio, Texas. Join us to learn more about the certification process and requirements. Start reviewing the study guide now so you can sit for the exam on May 16. Registration details are on the IAEM website. The deadline to register is May 1, 2017. Please note that IAEM requires a minimum of 10 participants to conduct the prep course.
IAEM
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency on Jan. 23 released the Pre-Disaster Recovery Planning Guide for State Governments. The guide was designed to help states and territories prepare for recovery by developing pre-disaster recovery plans that follow a process to engage members of the whole community, develop recovery capabilities across state government and nongovernmental partners, and ultimately create an organizational framework for comprehensive state recovery efforts. This is the first in a series of three guides to be released this year, with subsequent guides to focus on local governments and tribal governments.
IAEM
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has released its Ready Campaign 2017 National Seasonal Preparedness Messaging Calendar, which includes key messages for each season. The website provides you with content to promote preparedness all year, with topics that can be adapted to your local area. Additionally, each season offers links to resources, with a couple of examples being the Winter Weather Safety Social Media Toolkit and the Severe Weather Safety Social Media Toolkit. Visit the website to learn more.
AccuWeather
Citizens around the world now have the opportunity to be part of one of the newest scientific developments in earthquake research using only their smartphones.
Since its launch in February last year, the University of California Berkeley's MyShake application has garnered close to 250,000 downloads. It has made great strides in collecting earthquake data from across the planet.
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IAEM
The National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) recently released First Responders Toolbox: Terrorist Attacks against Bars, Restaurants, and Nightclubs Worldwide Highlight Importance of Public and Private Sector Partnerships in the Homeland. This three-page fact sheet briefly lists recent such terrorist attacks, indicators that employees of these establishments might benefit from knowing, and considerations for owners and managers about security concerns. The fact sheet states: “Bars, restaurants, and nightclubs face a number of potential security concerns, including active shooters, improvised explosive devices, and vehicle borne improvised explosive devices. To mitigate these threats, homeland security officials, first responders, private security personnel and establishment owners and managers are encouraged to integrate the following considerations into their security measures and incident-response plans.” This information is accompanied by links to related DHS and FBI resources.
IAEM
First Observer Plus™ is a Department of Homeland Security program, administered by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to promote surface transportation security within the U.S. by training transportation professionals to observe, assess, and report potential terrorist activity. The program’s mission is to provide transportation professionals with the knowledge needed to recognize suspicious activity possibly related to terrorism, guidance in assessing what they see, and a method for reporting those observations. The program provides modally-specific anti-terrorism and security awareness training to surface transportation professionals using individualized training modules in five modules: mass transit; highway and motor carrier (bus, school transportation, general trucking); highway and motor carrier (general parking, vehicle rental, highway infrastructure); freight rail; and pipelines. Training is available in an online video format for individual use or in a classroom setting. Download program flyer to learn more.
IAEM
Gene M. Arters, 61, the long-time emergency management director of the Office of Emergency Management & Homeland Security, City of Norwich, Connecticut, died unexpectedly on Jan. 22, 2017. Funeral arrangements were not available at the time of publication of this week’s issue. A Jan. 23 article in the Norwich Bulletin quoted Norwich Fire Department Chief Kenneth Scandariato, who described Gene as "dedicated to the core…When someone like Gene passes away, it affects the entire community. We’re all saddened by it." Paul Yellen, Plainfield (Connecticut) emergency management director, was quoted as saying that Gene “was always a leader who was active with issues that affected the southeastern part of the state. He understood what it took to protect the citizens of Norwich and the hazards they faced.” A Jan. 23 article in The Day noted that “those who have worked with Arters for decades in preparing for storms [and] responding to storms, the frequent flooding of the Yantic and Shetucket rivers, and major fires that displaced residents, called his death ‘a great loss for the city’ and for the region’s emergency preparedness services.” Gene played a key role in the development of the Norwich emergency response center several years ago. Gene was a member of IAEM for many years. IAEM expresses sympathies to his family, friends, and colleagues.
IAEM
Dr. Tom Phelan, a visiting professor and lecturer at Hamilton College (New York), associate faculty at Royal Roads University (Canada), and an instructor at the FEMA Emergency Management Institute, passed away on Jan. 17, 2017. He was the author of Emergency Management and Tactical Response Operations: Bridging the Gap. His most recent research projects focused on digital/virtual group processes and concerns with literacy in public preparedness. He worked with FEMA, DMORT, and other international groups on emergency preparedness. He was a past member of IAEM. A memorial service was held on Jan. 20, 2017, at the Hamilton College Chapel. IAEM expresses sympathy to Dr. Phelan’s family, friends, and colleagues. Any notes and cards may be sent to his wife, Professor Catherine Phelan, c/o Hamilton College, 198 College Hill Road, Clinton NY 13323. Details are posted here.
IAEM
BC Management, Inc., recently launched its 15th annual BCM compensation study, which will remain live until Mar. 5, 2017, 11:00 p.m. EST. There are three compensation assessment surveys to accommodate all BCM professionals, including permanently employed, independent contractors/consultants, and unemployed professionals. Complete any of the surveys to receive a complimentary copy of all study findings. BC Management has been conducting BCM data metrics research and assessments since 2001. The scope of the findings is worldwide, and the surveys are available in English, Spanish, French, Chinese, and Japanese. Your responses will be completely confidential. Visit the BC Management site to learn more and participate in the study.
IAEM
The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Emergency Management Institute (EMI) Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) has scheduled six sessions of a hurricane scenario for March and April 2017. The four-hour exercise is scheduled for 12:00-4:00 p.m. ET on Mar. 21, 22, and 23, and on Apr. 11, 12, and 13. The application deadlines are Feb. 21 for the March offerings and Mar. 14 for the April offerings. Content is the same each day, and participants would attend only one session. The exercise will help communities prepare for the upcoming hurricane season using historical events and recovery actions. The design of the VTTX is for a group of 10 or more representatives from state, local, tribal, and territorial emergency communities of practice and is intended to provide an opportunity for responders across the nation to simultaneously participate in a hazard-specific facilitated discussion. To participate, email Doug Kahn at douglas.kahn@fema.dhs.gov or call 301-447-7645. Also, send a courtesy copy email to the Integrated Emergency Management Branch at fema-emi-iemb@fema.dhs.gov or call 301-447-1381. Additional information is available online.
KTVI-TV
The Southeast picked up the pieces on Monday after deadly tornadoes tore through the region, killing more people in one weekend than in all of last year, and officials called out for the federal government to urgently help their devastated communities.
At least 41 reported twisters ravaged the Southern states over the weekend, killing 19 people and destroying homes, CNN meteorologists reported.
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Los Angeles Times
Since Oct. 1, downtown L.A. has received more than 13 inches of rain — 216 percent of normal rainfall for this period.
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The Associated Press via The Oxford Eagle
A tornado that tore a 31-mile path across south Mississippi over the weekend killed four people and damaged or destroyed more than 1,100 homes, state officials said Monday, as the governor assured residents that federal funds were being sought to help them recover from the widespread devastation.
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BBC News
Rescuers in central Italy have found 10 survivors after an avalanche buried a mountain hotel.
Four were pulled from the snow overnight, bringing the total number rescued to nine.
Workers say they will continue efforts to free the others, and to find about 20 people still missing.
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The Star
The number of flood evacuees here increased drastically from 54 victims to 1,303 on Saturday morning.
State Disaster Management secretariat chief and Civil Defence Force director Lt Kol Che Adam A Rahman said that Besut was the worst hit district, with 1,037 victims from 303 families.
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Reuters
Chile declared a state of emergency on Friday as more than a dozen wildfires that have scorched nearly (123,500 acres threatened to encroach on towns, factories and vineyards.
Firefighters, forestry service personnel and members of the military are battling 18 separate blazes in the center and south of the country that have been fueled by strong winds and a heat wave.
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Xinhua
The bodies of the 12 people who died when a landslide destroyed part of a hotel in central China's Hubei Province have been recovered.
Among the three injured, one is in a critical condition in the intensive care unit, according to Bai Zunguo, deputy head of Nanzhang County.
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RNZ
A magnitude 7.9 earthquake has struck Papua New Guinea, but has not caused any tsunami threat for New Zealand.
The earthquake was 136km deep and struck 41km west of Arawa on Bougainville island, Papua New Guinea.
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