This message was sent to ##Email## To advertise in this publication please click here February 4, 2021 .ANNUAL CONFERENCE NEWS IAEM seeks proposals from speakers for breakout sessions by Feb. 19 IAEM Now is your chance to speak during a breakout session at the IAEM 69th Annual Conference & EMEX, Oct. 15-22, 2021, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Proposals should relate to the conference theme, “Looking Back to Look Ahead,” and be submitted by 11:59:59 p.m. CST, Friday, Feb. 19. Clear instructions and details on breakout focus areas are available in the Speaker Guidance. Tips for a successful proposal are discussed in a recent webinar featuring Conference Committee leadership. Questions can be sent to IAEM Program Manager Julie Husk. EMEX sponsor highlight of the week: DTN IAEM As a data, analytics and technology company, DTN delivers operational intelligence to organizations with complex supply chains around the world. They are committed to breaking through the noise and providing relevant, independent and actionable intelligence customers can depend on to drive confident decision-making to improve their bottom line and reduce risk. .IAEM SCHOLARSHIP Book a Nashville estate through this flash sale and support the IAEM Scholarship Program IAEM Daydreaming about traveling again? We've discovered a way for you to plan your trip and support the IAEM Scholarship Program at the same time. The Estate at Autumn Crest has generously made a limited number of four-night getaways to their Nashville dream estate available for purchase from now until February 22. You pay $2,500 (regular retail value is $5,000), and the IAEM Scholarship Program receives a donation of $875. Upon purchase, you'll receive a certificate with instructions to book your getaway to The Estate at Autumn Crest. You will have 12 months from your purchase date to book your trip. The eight-bedroom, 15-acre estate is perfect for a family gathering. Learn more on our flash sale site. .IAEM-CANADA COUNCIL NEWS Canada extends travel restrictions Homeland Security Today Canada has announced new rules on international travel, in addition to the multi-layered approach on COVID-19 already in place. The government and Canada’s airlines have agreed to suspend all flights to and from Mexico and Caribbean countries until April 30, 2021. This will be in effect as of January 31, 2021. READ MORE  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-USA COUNCIL NEWS Mayorkas confirmed as secretary of Homeland Security Politico Alejandro Mayorkas was confirmed on Tuesday to serve as secretary of Homeland Security, putting him in charge of carrying out the Biden administration’s immigration agenda and tackling national security concerns. The Senate backed Mayorkas in a 56-43 vote, the tightest confirmation vote for a Biden nominee so far. READ MORE GAO offers COVID-19 response recommendations Homeland Preparedness News The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued a series of recommendations regarding the federal COVID-19 response via the CARES Act, focusing on critical gaps and plans to address the gaps. The GAO indicated the agency’s recommendation concerning the importance of clear and comprehensive vaccine distribution and communication plans remains a work in progress. READ MORE  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 City's adherence to flood program reduced insurance* Emergency Management Cedar Rapids participated in the National Flood Insurance Program's Community Rating System, administered by FEMA. This means residents who buy flood insurance receive lower premiums for their homes or businesses. READ MORE Coast Guard Emergency Management acts as valuable force multiplier during crises Homeland Security Today The U.S. Coast Guard Office of Emergency Management & Disaster Response (OEM) excels in crisis leadership, planning, organizing, and training to respond to incidents during crises. Their efforts focus on domestic national response while also supporting the development of response management systems in the international community. The office is organized under the current National Response Framework (NRF) while building upon the established National Response System – the federal system for emergency response and coordination of oil and chemical discharges into U.S. waterways and the environment. READ MORE  PRODUCT SHOWCASE Real-Time Threat Detection and Validation The DataCapable® Platform™ combines patented artificial intelligence algorithms with human-in-the-loop validation to capture, automate, distribute, and visualize actionable information in a real-time common operating picture — quickly make informed decisions to mitigate hazards affecting your communities, infrastructure, and resources before they become a wider threat to operations and public safety.­ ­ LEARN MORE Administration announces retroactive 100 percent reimbursement for FEMA-eligible expenses for COVID response IAEM The Biden Administration has announced that it will retroactively fully reimburse states, territories, tribes and jurisdictions for FEMA-eligible services related to COVID response, including masks, gloves, emergency feeding actions, sheltering at-risk populations, and mobilization of the National Guard. The reimbursements will be backdated to the beginning of the pandemic in January 2020. Details are provided in a Feb. 2 Fact Sheet. On Feb. 3, FEMA issued a statement to clarify the policy. FEMA seeks public feedback for two USAR and fixed wing/disaster reconnaissance resource typing documents IAEM The FEMA National Integration Center is seeking public feedback on two Resource Typing Job Titles/Position Qualifications documents. The 30-day national engagement period will conclude at 5:00 p.m. EST, Mar. 2. The national engagement period provides an opportunity for interested parties to comment on the draft document to ensure that it is relevant for all implementing partners. The resource typing documents include "Urban Search and Rescue Incident Support Team" and "Fixed Wing Search/Disaster Reconnaissance Team." These resource typing documents will facilitate the sharing of deployable resource types at all jurisdictional levels. To provide comments on the drafts, complete the feedback form provided in the links above and submit the form to fema-nims@fema.dhs.gov. GAO report concludes FEMA should take additional steps to streamline hazard mitigation grants and access program effects IAEM The Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report on Feb. 2 concluding that FEMA should take additional steps to streamline hazard mitigation grants and access program effects. FEMA obligated more than $11 billion through four grant programs that fund state and local hazard mitigation efforts (e.g., elevating homes and building tornado-safe rooms) for fiscal years 2010 to 2018. The agency awarded about 88% of this amount through two grant programs that award grants post-disaster. However, state and local officials report that the grant application process is complex and lengthy. FEMA intends to review the process but has no documented plans to do so. Also, FEMA has developed training and guidance resources for applicants, but they can be hard to find on FEMA's website. GAO made six recommendations to address these and other issues. Download the report and highlights. .EM NEWS Dennis Mileti, luminary in the field of hazards and disaster research, passed away on Jan. 30 IAEM IAEM is sad to share the news that a frequent conference speaker and friend, Dennis Mileti, Ph.D., has died of complications from COVID-19. He was the former director of the Natural Hazards Center and the University of Colorado, Boulder. Dr. Mileti is recognized as one of the world’s leading risk communication scholars, while he authored more than 100 publications on the societal aspects of hazards and disasters. The Natural Hazards Center has created a tribute page. Visit it to read a full bio and leave your comments about and photos of Dr. Mileti. IAEM sends condolences to Dr. Mileti’s friends and family. His contributions to the field of emergency management will live on through those who learned from his teachings. Senate GOP group floats $618B pandemic relief plan ahead of Biden meeting Roll Call A group of 10 Republican senators on Monday released details of their slimmed-down COVID-19 aid proposal hours before a scheduled meeting with President Joe Biden at the White House to discuss it. The $618 billion outline is a fraction of the $1.9 trillion proposal the Biden administration released last month, and scales back many of the elements Democrats consider essential to bolstering the economy and assisting those facing financial struggles from the ongoing pandemic. READ MORE  FEATURED ARTICLE   California Can Safeguard Against Earthquake Risk Promoted by Optimum Seismic, Inc. "Chaos followed recent earthquake devastation in the Aegean Sea. The magnitude 7.0 quake of Oct. 30 was the deadliest temblor of 2020[i] – killing 116 in Turkey, and claiming the lives two teenagers in Greece crushed by a wall on the island of Samos[ii]. More than 1,050 people were injured[iii]. Three hundred buildings were severely damaged or destroyed, and a wall of water as high as 19 feet threatened islands along the coasts of Turkey and Greece." LEARN MORE   .HEALTHCARE EM UPDATE University of Washington predicts possibility of spring increase in deaths due to COVID-19 variants Homeland Preparedness News A new forecast from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington establishes the danger of two new variants of COVID-19, warning of the possibility of a surge of deaths later this year, even despite the vaccine rollout. READ MORE These states found the secret to COVID-19 vaccination success Route Fifty Alaska’s Herculean vaccine distribution effort this month evokes the historic “serum run” nearly 100 years ago that saved the town of Nome from a diphtheria epidemic and inspired the Iditarod sled dog race. But this year, instead of driving dog sleds, the state used planes, amphibious vehicles and snowmobiles to make Alaska one of the most successful states so far at getting the COVID-19 vaccine into the arms of its residents. 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 Hurricane hunters test new technology to take them deeper into the storm WFTV-TV Even though hurricane season is over, there is no break for the hurricane hunters. Hurricane hunters are testing new new technology for next season. They are deploying drones from within a hurricane and then flying them right into the part of the storm so dangerous, even the hunters can’t fly there. READ MORE Sensors show how rising seas are inundating one city's stormwater system Route Fifty Like many low-lying coastal areas, flooding is a growing concern for Norfolk, Virginia. But the danger doesn’t just come from coastal waters or rivers. Often, it’s storm drain systems that pose a problem. READ MORE .EM RESOURCES FEMA Vaccine Support Webpage is now available IAEM In coordination with the White House COVID-19 Response Plan, FEMA is working with federal, state, local, tribal and territorial partners to deliver vaccinations across the country. As part of these efforts, FEMA has made vaccine support information available on FEMA.gov. The webpage includes information on: how to get vaccinated; FEMA support for vaccine distribution; accelerated state vaccine efforts; identifying and filling resource gaps; and supporting and establishing vaccine sites. FEMA updates to flood insurance bulletin are now available IAEM FEMA updated two technical bulletins for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The bulletins provide guidance on complying with NFIP minimum floodplain management requirements for building performance. The bulletins are intended for use by state and local officials responsible for interpreting and enforcing building codes and floodplain regulations. The updated technical bulletins include information from the latest International Codes and American Society of Civil Engineers Standards. 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   Match Vaccine Supply with Resident Demand Address challenges around vaccine appointment scheduling. Avoid system crashes that frustrate and confuse residents. Data and targeting features increase reach and facilitate two-way communication. Automate appointment signup to provide clear status information. Generate vaccination heatmaps to discover and address problem areas. Request a Demo!   LEARN MORE   New website aims to enhance disaster response, boost preparedness Legal Services Corporation The Legal Aid Disaster Resource Center (LADRC.org), a national website helping legal aid and other service organizations more effectively meet the civil legal needs of disaster survivors, has officially launched. The Legal Services Corporation’s (LSC) Disaster Task Force worked for more than a year studying how legal aid organizations can better help low-income disaster survivors recover. READ MORE .NEW INSIGHTS Moving on from 2020 — A future for emergency management Domestic Preparedness The events that unfolded over the course of 2020 and 2021 challenged emergency managers in ways only previously imagined. In the midst of a global pandemic, emergency managers worked through the complexities of a global response while delivering core administrative functions and coordinating the response to countless other threats and hazards. This response tested emergency management capabilities and challenged long-held assumptions about mutual aid systems. READ MORE The complex decisions around rebuilding after a wildfire NPR The year 2020 saw a record-breaking wildfire season. With those wildfires came many destroyed homes. Rebuilding with fire-resistant materials reduces the risk of future fires burning down a house, but as NPR science correspondent Lauren Sommer explains, only three Western states require building with fire-resistant materials. Without such improvements, communities face increased risks with the next fire. READ MORE .DISASTER TECHNOLOGY NEWS Has DHS cracked the code for accurate location tech? Emergency Management New technology from the Department of Homeland Security, in collaboration with NASA, may provide a breakthrough for tracking and pinpointing first responders, especially firefighters, on the scene. READ MORE DHS seeks to improve communication between public safety agencies in joint emergency response scenarios Homeland Security Today The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) jointly announced today that the Integrated Justice Information Systems (IJIS) Institute will spearhead a $268,000 project to develop interoperability standards for Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) systems used by the Nation’s public safety agencies. READ MORE Here's why effective disaster management needs responsible AI* ITU via PreventionWeb The use of artificial intelligence holds promise in helping avert, mitigate and manage disasters by analyzing swaths of data, but more efforts are required to ensure that technologies are deployed in a responsible, equitable manner. According to UNDDR, about 1.2 million lives have been lost worldwide and more than 4 billion people affected in disasters that took place between 2000 and 2019. READ MORE .EM CALENDAR FEMA co-hosts building codes webinar on Feb. 9 at 1:00 p.m. EST IAEM The Natural Hazards Center and FEMA will host a webinar “Building Codes Save: The Data Behind a Nationwide Effort to Reduce Hazard-Related Property Loss.” This webinar, scheduled at 1:00 p.m. EST, Feb. 9, is part of the University of Colorado Boulder’s National Hazard Center’s Making Mitigation Work series. During the webinar, you will learn more about FEMA’s November 2020 study, “Building Codes Save: A Nationwide Study.” Visit the Natural Hazards Center page to register for the event. .IAEM-EUROPA NEWS Flooding risk rises as UK's wetlands lost The Guardian This has been another wet winter of big downpours and flooding, but that should come as no surprise. Winters in the UK are turning increasingly wet and climate change predictions point to even wetter winters and record-breaking rainfalls in the future. Flooding from these rains is not inevitable, though. READ MORE .AROUND THE WORLD One dies as torrential rain causes flash floods in Turkey's Izmir Daily Sabah Heavy rainfall, which started late Monday wreaked havoc on Izmir, the country's third-largest province where roads were inundated and authorities urged people to stay indoors on Tuesday. One person was killed in the floods. READ MORE 59 homes lost, more threatened in Australian wildfire The Associated Press An out-of-control wildfire burning northeast of the Australian west coast city of Perth has destroyed at least 59 homes and was threatening more Tuesday, with many residents across the region told it is too late to leave. The 7,000-hectare (17,000-acre) blaze, which has a 80-kilometer (50-mile) perimeter, began on Monday and raged through the night near the town of Wooroloo, with the shires of Mundaring, Chittering, Northam, and the city of Swan affected. READ MORE Tropical Cyclone Ana: Fiji suffers second deadly storm in a month The Guardian One person has died, and five, including a three-year-old boy, are still missing after Cyclone Ana pummelled Fiji on Sunday, just over a month after category 5 Cyclone Yasa tore through the country’s northern islands. Two more cyclones are already forming off Fiji’s coastline, and cyclone season still has three months left to run. READ MORE Wildfire ravages massive section of Argentine forest RTL Today A wildfire raging in the south of Argentina has consumed a vast swathe of forestland in three days, local authorities said Wednesday -- an area half the size of Liechtenstein. About a hundred firefighters, 26 fire trucks, two water-bombing helicopters and two planes are fighting to contain the blaze in a region unaccustomed to forest fires, officials said. READ MORE   IAEM Dispatch Connect with IAEM Jason Zimmerman, Director of Publishing, MultiView, 469-420-2686 | 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