This message was sent to ##Email## To advertise in this publication please click here February 10, 2022 .IAEM CONFERENCE NEWS Time is running out to submit a speaker proposal for the Annual Conference IAEM The call for breakout speakers at the IAEM 70th Annual Conference & EMEX is open and the deadline to submit a proposal is 11:59 p.m. CST on Friday, Feb. 18. Use this weekend to prepare your proposal for the conference theme, “Emergency Management Unmuted.” The IAEM Conference Committee hosted a webinar to help potential speakers submit the best proposal. The webinar provides tips for success and demonstrates how to use the application portal. View the webinar to help prepare the best proposal possible. IAEM releases full program for Virtual Conference, Mar. 24-25 IAEM IAEM is excited to announce the full program for the Virtual Conference, March 24-25. Sessions include many contemporary lessons learned such as the Miami Surfside building collapse, preparing for the fragility of power grids, and much more. Walmart’s Global Emergency Management Team will present a plenary on community resilience. The program brings new, fresh content to the virtual stage. All registrants will have access to content-on-demand following the conference and credit for more than 20 contact hours that may be used towards IAEM certification. Opt for the All-In registration pass which includes registration to both the March IAEM virtual event and full registration to the IAEM Annual Conference in Savannah, Georgia Nov. 11-17, 2022. Get a discounted rate for IAEM members, IAEM student members, and even non-members today. .IAEM-OCEANIA COUNCIL NEWS The Tongan volcano is a reminder of island nations' vulnerabilities Scientific American On January 15 the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha‘apai volcano erupted in the South Pacific kingdom of Tonga, generating ashfall and a tsunami that affected 84 percent of the country’s population. A few days later, amid heat and humidity, scores of people all over Tonga came out to clean up debris and ash, even sweeping airport runways clean so aircraft carrying disaster relief could land. Barely two weeks later the Tonga prime minister announced nationwide lockdown after the country recorded its first cases of community transmission of COVID-19. READ MORE .IAEM-USA COUNCIL NEWS EMPG survey closes Friday, Feb. 11 — Last chance for U.S. local and tribal emergency managers to respond IAEM Tomorrow, Feb. 11, the annual survey on the Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) funding return on investment will close. IAEM is seeking input from local and tribal jurisdictions. Members and non-members are welcome to reply. NEMA is collecting and analyzing state data, and IAEM will analyze local and tribal data for a joint report to be distributed to key policymakers on Capitol Hill and within the Biden Administration to support efforts to secure continued EMPG funding at appropriate levels. Learn more about this initiative on the IAEM website and complete the survey. Legislation would reform FEMA rules on wildfires Government Techology After the Fountaingrove fire station burned down in the 2017 Tubbs fire, the city of Santa Rosa tried hard to persuade the Federal Emergency Management Agency that it wasn't smart to rebuild it in a place with a high chance of going up in flames again. The old station had been atop a peak at the convergence of several wind chutes that could drive sparks and flames toward it. It made more sense, both fiscally and in terms of safety, to rebuild in a more protected site, Santa Rosa Fire Chief Scott Westrope explained. READ MORE  SPONSORED CONTENT Promoted by Rave Mobile Safety Do You Know How To Prepare Your Front Lines For Community Protection? Protect Buildings, Schools and other Soft Targets with Rave Public Safety and the Need to Improve Mental Health and Emergency Response – Survey Results Prepare for both Planned and Unplanned Events with Rave’s Incident Collaboration Solution Deliver Critical Communications to Your Community in Three Clicks Across All Modes NTAS warns of threat posed by 'convergence' of violent ideology, disinformation, conspiracy theories* Homeland Security Today The Department of Homeland Security’s updated National Terrorism Advisory System Bulletin assesses that the threat environment has not “significantly changed” over the past year but warns that the converging factors of disinformation, persistent calls for violence against critical and often-soft targets, and recent calls by foreign terrorist organizations for attacks on the United States have “increased the volatility, unpredictability, and complexity” of the threat landscape. READ MORE Apply now for the Homeland Security Academic Advisory Council IAEM The Department of Homeland Security has announced the reestablishment of the Homeland Security Academic Advisory Council (HSAAC). The HSAAC will provide recommendations to the Secretary of Homeland Security on key issues across the homeland security enterprise as they relate to educational settings, institutions, and academic activity. DHS is currently collecting applications for the HSAAC. Interested candidates should send a resume, academic institution or affiliation, key issues of interest, and photo (if desired) to DHSacademic@hq.DHS.gov by close of business on Feb. 15, 2022.    PRODUCT SHOWCASE GET YOUR 72 HOUR KIT. ReadyWise – Are you prepared with enough food and water to last you through a disaster? ReadyWise’s delicious freeze-dried meals and drinks have up to a 25-year shelf-life and are easy to prepare, just add water. Go to ReadyWIse.com/IAEM to order you’re your 72-hour kit and use CODE: IAEM at checkout. LEARN MORE FEMA seeks public comment to enhance the agency's programs IAEM As part of its commitment to advance equity in underserved communities, FEMA proposes collecting demographic information from applicants participating in certain FEMA programs. Collecting this information will help FEMA ensure that people who apply for assistance are treated fairly and that FEMA programs comply with civil rights, nondiscrimination, and equity requirements. Participation is voluntary. FEMA urges stakeholders, community groups, and the public to comment on the information collection initiative. Collecting demographic data from individuals who participate in, or benefit from the agency's programs and activities will allow FEMA to evaluate the accessibility of its programs and the equal distribution of disaster assistance, identify possible gaps, and make alterations to existing programs. The deadline to submit comments is March 28. Learn more and submit your comments on the Federal Register website. FEMA seeks public feedback on how-to guide IAEM FEMA is seeking public feedback on an updated "Emergency Operations Center (EOC) How-To Quick Reference Guide." The 30-day national engagement period will conclude at 5:00 p.m. EST on March 1. The guide is a collection of guidance and best practices that will contribute to developing an emergency operations center that can successfully meet the jurisdiction’s needs. The updates include considerations for virtual and hybrid working environments. To provide comments on the drafts, complete the feedback form on the webpage, and submit the form to fema-nims@fema.dhs.gov. FEMA is hosting a series of webinars to aid jurisdictions with filling out the feedback form. Each stakeholder webinar will cover the same information, so choose the session most convenient for you. Advance registration is required due to space limitations. Available sessions are Webinar 1 at 3:00 p.m. EST, Feb. 15; Webinar 2 at 2:00 p.m. EST, Feb. 17; and Webinar 3 at 1:30 p.m. EST, Feb. 18.  SPONSORED VIDEO Emergency Operations that Scale Enable systems of care that scale, eliminate fragmentation of communication, and coordinate mutual aid — all on one communication and logistics platform. With Pulsara, Emergency Managers have the flexibility to assess regional and statewide needs and centrally compile needed resources during emergency response, dramatically reducing miscommunications and waste time. WATCH VIDEO .NEW INSIGHTS The fastest population growth in the West's wildland fringes is in ecosystems most vulnerable to wildfires* The Conversation The view from the foothills of the Sierra Nevada in Southern California can be beautiful – pine forests and chaparral spill across an often rugged landscape. But as more people build homes in this area, where development gets into wild land, they're facing some of the highest risks for wildfires in the country. The type of trees, plants and grasses at any location will influence how likely the area is to burn. READ MORE .UNIVERSITY/COLLEGE/SCHOOL EM ISSUES Essentials of a school-based crisis response plan Domestic Preparedness School crisis response plans come in a variety of formats. Although the structure may vary, the content must include the essentials for the plan to be usable and effective. A basic school-based crisis response plan has seven key elements: organizing structure, communications system, accountability system, parent/student reunification, alternative location, equipment and supplies, and aftermath/recovery plan. READ MORE  SPONSORED CONTENT Promoted by George Washington University This is pioneering education on counter-terrorism, intelligence analysis, emerging security threats and relevant legislation. Professors are acknowledged leaders in the field who bring first-hand experience to class. Our program is a 36-credit master’s degree program that can be completed in as little as 16 months. .HEALTHCARE EM UPDATE Hospitals begin to limp out of the latest COVID-19 surge* The Associated Press As omicron numbers drop at Denver Health, Dr. Anuj Mehta is reminded of the scene in the 1980 comedy “The Blues Brothers” when John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd pile out of a battered car after a police chase. Suddenly, all the doors pop off the hinges, the front wheels fall off and smoke pours from the engine. “And that’s my fear,” said Mehta, a pulmonary and critical care physician. “I’m worried that as soon as we stop, everything’s just going to fall apart.” READ MORE .CLIMATE/WATER/WEATHER UPDATES The tsunami could kill thousands. Can they build an escape? The New York Times The 350 children at Ocean Shores Elementary School have practiced their earthquake survival plans, dropping under desks to ride out the convulsions, then racing upstairs to the second floor to await the coming tsunami. Unless something changes, their preparations will most likely be futile. The Cascadia fault off the Pacific Northwest coast is poised for a massive, 9.0-magnitude earthquake at some point, scientists say, a rupture that would propel a wall of water across much of the Northwest coast within minutes. READ MORE  FEATURED ARTICLE   Earthquake Retrofits Are A Good Business Investment Promoted by Optimum Seismic, Inc. The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Geographic Information System technology estimates physical, economic, and social impacts of disasters such as earthquakes. This nationally applied standard, called HAZUS, has put Los Angeles/Orange County at the top of this list for annualized earthquake damage from an earthquake LEARN MORE   Navajo Nation nears completion of Chinle berm project designed to prevent flooding KNAU-FM Navajo Nation officials are nearing completion of a newly restored wash berm project in Chinle. It’s designed to help prevent flooding in residential areas that have experienced significant water damage from monsoon rains and spring runoff from the Chuska Mountains. READ MORE Preparing for Category 6 hurricanes, a new facility will test winds of 200 mph and storm surge CNN Writes CNN meteorologist Jennifer Gray: "I lived and worked in Miami for four years before coming to Atlanta to join CNN. I've visited the Wall of Wind on the Florida International University (FIU) campus many times. It is a wall of enormous fans inside a big warehouse-type building that can blow air up to 160 mph, which would be a Category 5 hurricane, to test infrastructure and research the power of wind. However, in our changing climate, sadly, 160 mph isn't strong enough." READ MORE  PRODUCT SHOWCASE Disaster Recovery. Simplified Deloitte’s Close as You Go (CAYG) is a secure cloud-based software platform built to help agencies manage recovery documentation for procurement and contracting, model policies and procedures, and plan for disaster. Developed alongside specialists in preparedness and response, CAYG helps you prepare, so you can focus on recovery. LEARN MORE .CYBERSECURITY NEWS DHS launches Cyber Safety Review Board Homeland Security News Wire The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the establishment of the Cyber Safety Review Board (CSRB). DHS says that the CSRB is an unprecedented public-private initiative that will bring together government and industry leaders to elevate our nation’s cybersecurity. READ MORE .EM RESOURCES CONVERGE releases Reciprocity in Hazards and Disaster Research Training Module — demonstration webinar scheduled for today, Feb. 10 IAEM The CONVERGE facility, headquartered at the Natural Hazards Center at the University of Colorado Boulder, has released the Reciprocity in Hazards and Disaster Research Training Module. This module provides an overview of what reciprocity means, why it is important for conducting ethical research, and how researchers can effectively practice reciprocity in their work. You can register and access the free module. To learn more, register and participate in a webinar, today, Feb. 10, 2022, at 3:00 p.m. EST. where the CONVERGE team will provide a demonstration of the training module. This new module is part of a larger series designed to accelerate the education of diverse hazards and disaster workforce. The new module, like the others in the series, concludes with a 10-question quiz. Upon successful completion of the quiz, users receive a certificate, which is worth one contact hour of general management training through the IAEM certification program. 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   .DISASTER TECHNOLOGY NEWS FEMA rolls out text feature to help Americans find open shelters during disasters* The Hill The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has updated its texting feature to help Americans find open shelters during disasters. The agency announced that a person will be able to text “shelter” and their ZIP code to 43362, and a list of shelters within 200 miles of their location will be sent to them. READ MORE .IAEM MEMBER NEWS Portland names new Director for Bureau Of Emergency Management KXL-FM The Portland Bureau of Emergency Management has a new Director. Mayor Ted Wheeler announced that Shad Ahmed has been hired after a national search. Ahmed currently lives in New England and serves on the International Association of Emergency Managers’ Certified Emergency Manager Commission. READ MORE Spotlight on Higher Education Campus Safety Director of the Year Finalist Ginger Walker Campus Safety Congratulations to University of Houston Director of Emergency Management Ginger Walker for being named one of this year’s higher education Campus Safety Director of the Year finalists. READ MORE .GRANT ANNOUNCEMENTS Explore the new grants finder tool on schoolsafety.gov IAEM The Federal School Safety Clearinghouse team has launched the Grants Finder Tool on SchoolSafety.gov. The new site feature is designed as a decision-making support tool to help kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) schools and districts determine the eligibility and applicability of funding opportunities for their specific needs, challenges, and characteristics and was developed to enable members of the K-12 community to more easily find, apply for, and ultimately receive funding that can be used to implement and enhance school safety measures. The Grants Finder Tool houses federally-available school safety-related grants in one centralized location, as well as provides school personnel with a variety of ways to search for and access grant opportunities from across the Federal government. .SURVEY REQUESTS NOAA seeks information on customer experience — complete the survey by Feb. 15 IAEM To support a more climate-ready nation, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), is looking to advance the equitable delivery of its climate products and services, especially for historically underserved and vulnerable communities, which are often disproportionately impacted by extreme weather and climate events. NOAA invites participation in an online survey to understand how climate-related data and service needs are being met today and to identify products and/or services that NOAA should focus on to better support the needs of vulnerable communities and its customers. The survey will take no more than 10-15 minutes and should be completed by Feb. 15. Take the survey now. .EM CALENDAR Merit is offering a 'Diversity and Inclusion in Whole-Community Disaster Management' digital event on Feb. 17 IAEM Merit, the IAEM Virtual Conference Driving Partner, is bringing together experts Dr. Rodric Bowman, director of northeastern operations at The Olson Group LTD, Chauncia Willis, co-founder and CEO, Institute for Diversity and Inclusion in Emergency Management, and Lauren D. Bonica, Merit’s director of emergency services, to discuss “Diversity and Inclusion in Whole-Community Disaster Management.” Join these industry leaders as they share practical steps emergency managers and agencies can take to include all voices, particularly those of the underserved, in every phase of the emergency cycle. You are invited to participate at 1:00 p.m. EST, Feb. 17. If you are unable to attend the webinar in person, please register and Merit will send the video recording following the event. Register now. National Advisory Committee on Children and Disasters relaunch meeting is Feb. 17 IAEM The inaugural public meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Children and Disasters (NACCD) will be held on 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. EST, Feb. 17. Registration for this event is required and can be accessed along with additional meeting information through the online event page. Join the new advisory committee, as they are sworn in along with the presentation and discussion of challenges, opportunities, and priorities for national public health and medical preparedness, response and recovery, specific to the needs of children and their families in disasters. In addition to having an opportunity to introduce and meet the new advisory committee, there will be presentations from the ASPR Pediatric Disaster Centers of Excellence, HRSA Regional Pandemic Preparedness Network, and subject matter experts and colleagues on current challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and related mental health crisis impacting children and families. Following the presentations, committee members are inviting subject matter experts from industry, academia, health systems, health consumer organizations, and state, local, tribal, and territorial public health, and emergency management agencies to provide comments to the NACCD. Those wishing to speak during the meeting or who wish their written remarks to be addressed during the meeting may email NACCD@hhs.gov. Individual remarks during the meeting are limited to four minutes. For inclusion in the public speaking portion of the agenda, please provide name, position title, organizational or sectoral association, and a summary of planned comments. Those selected for public comments will receive a confirmation by email prior to the meeting with additional instructions. Meeting materials will be made available to the public on the NACCD webpage. .IAEM-ASIA NEWS Climate change is stretching Mumbai to its limit The Atlantic Rain had been falling for several hours on the night of July 18, 2021, when the Tiwaris called their relatives and told them to evacuate their house. The Tiwaris live in suburban Mumbai, in the hillside shantytown of Surya Nagar, and their relatives were perched in one of a row of single-room tenements atop the steep terrain. Some of those homes had collapsed in a landslide two years earlier and had been recently rebuilt. Now, as the rain thundered on, the Tiwaris began to worry. READ MORE Over 70,000 people affected by natural disasters in Laos in 2021 Xinhua Over 70,000 people were affected by natural disasters, mostly floods, in Laos in 2021, in which 17 people were injured and 19 were killed. Issues on extreme weather were the theme of the Disaster Management Committee Meeting for 2021 and a report on the Disaster Preparedness Plan for 2022, which took place online recently, local daily Vientiane Times reported. READ MORE .AROUND THE WORLD Homes engulfed as deadly landslide hits Colombia* BBC A landslide triggered by heavy rains has killed at least 14 people in central Colombia, officials say. Another 35 people were now in hospital after several homes were engulfed in the Dosquebradas municipality, Risaralda province. READ MORE Madagascar's 2nd cyclone in two week kills 20, displaces 50,000 VOA Officials in Madagascar say Cyclone Batsirai swept through the Indian Ocean nation this past weekend, killing 20 people, displacing 50,000 and destroying crops that were almost ready to be harvested. With a population of nearly 30 million, Madagascar had already been dealing with the aftermath of Tropical Storm Ana, which killed 55 people and displaced 130,000 just two weeks ago. READ MORE Two people dead, 4 missing and more than 1,000 displaced by flooding in Tshwane metro News 24 Two people died and more than 1 000 were displaced during heavy rain and flooding in the Tshwane metro over the last four days. The body of a man was found on Sunday after a bakkie was washed away in the Centurion area on Friday night. A second body was found at the Soul City informal settlement in Mamelodi after a man "drowned in his shack," said Tshwane Emergency Services spokesperson Charles Mabaso. READ MORE   IAEM Dispatch Connect with IAEM Hailey Golden, Director of Publishing, MultiView, 469-420-2630 | 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