This message was sent to ##Email## To advertise in this publication please click here March 11, 2021 .ANNUAL CONFERENCE NEWS IAEM Reimagined Conference on-demand content provides educational opportunities through Apr. 16 IAEM It has never been easier to receive emergency management education and contact hours for IAEM’s Certified Emergency Manager Program. The deadline to access the IAEM Reimagined on-demand sessions is Apr. 16, so sign up and begin learning and receiving contact hours soon. Registration fees are just $199 for individual (member and non-member) or $99 for student members. Registration includes: All breakout and plenary sessions. The ever-popular EMvision Talks – seven thought-provoking presentations. 26 poster presentations. Video overviews of the latest EM products and services from the EMEX virtual hall. The 2020 Yearbook of Honors, featuring the 2020 award winners. Register on the IAEM website. IAEM Mar. 18 webinar provides tips on submitting a successful 2021 Poster Showcase proposal IAEM The IAEM Conference Committee Poster Showcase organizers are hosting a free webinar on Mar. 18, 2021, at 2:00 p.m. EDT. The Poster Showcase allows participants to present the significance of their research project, practice, or general findings to practitioners and scholars in the emergency management community. Register online to get insider information for a successful poster showcase submission for the IAEM 69th Annual Conference & EMEX in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Oct. 15-22, 2021. This webinar will include time for a question-and-answer session. IAEM’s call for speakers for the poster showcase will open on Monday, Mar. 22, and close on Friday, Apr. 23. For more information, visit the conference website. .IAEM SCHOLARSHIP IAEM Scholarship Program is accepting applications from full- and part-time students for 2021 scholarships IAEM Full-time undergraduate and full- and part-time graduate students working towards degrees in emergency management, disaster management or a closely related field should apply now for the IAEM scholarship. Applications may be completed via the new application portal on the IAEM website. Be sure to review the application instructions before starting the application in the portal. Review the Application Checklist for your application type to identify the essay questions and to help verify that all documentation is provided. All materials are available on the Application webpage. The application deadline is 11:59:59 p.m. EDT, May 17, 2021. Questions should be directed to IAEM Scholarship Program Director Dawn M. Shiley, CAE.  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-CANADA COUNCIL NEWS Government of Canada launches Emergency Preparedness Public Awareness Campaign Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada via Cision As we continue the fight against COVID-19, we still remain at risk of other disasters including natural hazards, flooding, storms, and wildfires. The Minister for Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, the Honourable Bill Blair, announced the launch of an Emergency Preparedness Public Awareness Campaign. The campaign aims to protect Canadians, their homes, and their communities by focusing on concrete actions that they can take to better prepare against the risk of natural disasters and emergencies. READ MORE No lockdowns in Alberta if Emergency Management Agency was in charge — Former Executive Director David Redman Todayville As Canadians look south of the border it’s obvious different state governments have taken different approaches in the battle against Covid 19. Some states have been opened entirely for months while in others, children haven’t been to school in an entire year. But which approach is better when it comes to reducing Covid cases? 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 .IAEM-USA COUNCIL NEWS Manny Diaz bill to allow drones for natural disaster response zooms through first committee* Florida Politics Sen. Manny Diaz’s bill to allow state agencies and local governments to use drones to assess damage after natural disasters passed swiftly through its first committee hearing Tuesday. The bill (SB 518) earned unanimous approval from the Senate Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs, Space and Domestic Security. The legislation would expand the authorized use of drones in response to natural disasters including hurricanes, wildfires and floods. READ MORE NTIA is recruiting individuals for the FirstNet Authority Board IAEM The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is seeking applicants for 11 seats for appointment or reappointment on the First Responder Network Authority Board for current positions with terms expiring in calendar year 2021. The Board, established as part of the Middle-Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (Act), oversees and guides the deployment, operation, maintenance, and improvement of the nationwide public safety broadband network (NPSBN). Expressions of interest must be received by Apr. 5, 2021. Complete information is available in this Federal Register notice.  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 Rising sea levels impact the National Flood Insurance Program Homeland Security News Wire Insurance policy premiums from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) allow policyholders to maintain a lower, grandfathered rate even when the risk escalates. But as coastal flooding increases due to rising sea level and more intense storms, research suggests this grandfathered policy could lead to big losses for the NFIP. READ MORE Millions of U.S. homes face an expensive flooding threat NPR Sea level rise and heavier rainstorms driven by global warming are sending more water into residential neighborhoods from the Gulf Coast to New England to Appalachia to the Pacific Northwest. New data make it clear that many households and communities cannot afford the mounting costs. The cost of flood damage to homes nationwide will increase by more than 50 percent in the next 30 years, according to data released by the First Street Foundation, a nonprofit research organization that studies flood risk and housing. READ MORE American Rescue Plan applauded by nation's emergency managers for inclusion of funding for critical programs — bill passes in Congress and sent to President Biden for signature IAEM IAEM, joined by the National Emergency Management Association (NEMA), issued a joint press release supporting the passage of the American Rescue Plan. The bill includes several items that will aid the response and recovery to COVID-19 as well as other ongoing disasters. The $100 million included for Emergency Management Performance Grants (EMPG) will allow for increased capacity at both the state and local levels. With these funds, emergency managers conduct coordinating activities across state and local agencies; augment ongoing disaster preparations, responses, and recoveries for other events; activate Emergency Operations Centers for monitoring, interagency coordination, and response activities; coordinate with public health and K-12 partners; conduct interagency training and exercise opportunities across governments; and develop strategic communications and public outreach to educate the general public on mitigation and preparedness strategies. With the additional $50 billion for the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF), ongoing disaster response can occur without fear of the account dwindling below sustainable levels. President Biden is expected to sign the bill on Friday, Mar. 12. .IAEM NEWS IAEM Bulletin 2021 special focus issue topics announced; first topic is 'COVID-19: Emergency Management a Year Later' with articles due by Mar. 31 IAEM The IAEM Editorial Committee has announced the 2021 special focus topics for the IAEM Bulletin, the association’s official monthly newsletter. At least four times a year, the IAEM Bulletin includes a special focus section on a selected topic of interest to emergency management professionals. This year the overall focus will be on various aspects of the 2021 conference theme, “IAEM 2021: Looking Back to Look Ahead,” and the first special focus topic to appear in our April issue will be “COVID-19: Emergency Management a Year Later.” A year ago, we were struggling with even calling COVID-19 a problem. How have the experiences of dealing with the pandemic influenced you and your approach to emergency management? What have we learned about ourselves and the opportunities for growth, development, change and synergy as we move into the next new normal? The article submission deadline is Mar. 31, 2021. Email articles, 750 to 1,500 words in Word or text format, to IAEM Bulletin Editor Karen Thompson. Visit the IAEM Bulletin webpage to learn about the rest of the 2021 special focus issue topics.  FEATURED ARTICLE   Los Angeles County Tops FEMA Disaster Risk List Promoted by Optimum Seismic, Inc. Is your neighborhood at high risk of suffering from an earthquake? If you live in or near Los Angeles County, you could face greater than risk all other counties in the nation. LEARN MORE   .EM NEWS Tornado alert mistake sent to cellphone customers in Kansas* Leavenworth Times via Emergency Management Some Kansas residents may have received text alerts on their cellphones indicating a tornado warning had been issued. But the warning was intended only as a test as part of a statewide tornado drill, according to Leavenworth County Emergency Management Director Chuck Magaha. Magaha said his office received a number of phone calls and messages from people who received the alert. READ MORE After year of isolation, vaccinated older Americans start to reclaim their lives* Reuters Across the United States, COVID-19 vaccinations are changing seniors’ daily lives in ways large and small a year after the pandemic drove many in the high-risk group into forced isolation. Older Americans are again visiting family members, eating at their favorite restaurants and shopping in stores without fear of death or hospitalization. READ MORE  PRODUCT SHOWCASE Be Ready for Flooding Season 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 Unravelling the when, where and how of volcanic eruptions Homeland Security News Wire There are about 1,500 potentially active volcanoes worldwide and about 50 eruptions occur each year. But it’s still difficult to predict when and how these eruptions will happen or how they’ll unfold. Now, new insight into the physical processes inside volcanoes are giving scientists a better understanding of their behavior, which could help protect the 1 billion people who live close to volcanoes. READ MORE A bolder way to tweet about boulders: How a traffic alert typo rocked the internet Route Fifty On Jan. 27, 2020, San Miguel, Colorado Sheriff's Office PIO Susan Lilly tweeted a warning of a highway obstruction: a "large boulder the size of a small boulder." The rest is internet history. READ MORE Researchers see need for warnings about long-range wildfire smoke Colorado State University via ScienceDaily The team believes that evacuation efforts and media coverage of local wildfires may have helped protect residents from adverse health effects of smoke exposure as well as direct impacts of the fires. READ MORE .HEALTHCARE EM UPDATE If your state is struggling with the vaccine rollout, this is probably why Route Fifty Anyone following the rollout of coronavirus vaccines around the country is thoroughly familiar with the relentless drumbeat of depressing news reports about confusion and frustration in securing appointments, insufficient supplies and equity issues. In multiple conversations we’ve had with state and local officials over the last several weeks, a common theme has emerged: The federal government planned the rollout with states, leaving it up to state leaders to make decisions about how to involve lower levels of government. READ MORE CDC issues first set of COVID-19 guidelines on how fully vaccinated people can visit safely with others Homeland Security Today The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued its first set of recommendations on activities that people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can safely resume. The new guidance—which is based on the latest science — includes recommendations for how and when a fully vaccinated individual can visit with other people who are fully vaccinated and with other people who are not vaccinated. READ MORE PRODUCT SHOWCASE 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   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   .CLIMATE/WATER/WEATHER UPDATES Scientists blow up decades of thinking on why hurricanes are becoming more deadly The Hill When analyzing and tracking hurricanes and storms that develop in the North Atlantic Ocean, meteorologists and scientists have long looked toward the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) for justification. Understood as a naturally occurring phenomenon, the AMO is supposed to cycle through warm and cool phases every 20-40 years, which accounts for seasonal hurricane activity. New research posits that there is no AMO at all, however, and that changes in hurricane activity within the Atlantic are directly related to human-caused climate change. READ MORE La Niña could supercharge this year's tornado season, just like it did to deadly effect in 2011 Albany Herald A massive cold air outbreak over the central US in early February set hundreds of cold temperature records, stretching the power grid in Texas and leaving millions without power. Sound familiar? READ MORE National Hurricane Center may move up the start of hurricane season The Virginian-Pilot via Daily Press For more than a half-century, hurricane season has lasted from the beginning of June until the end of November. In each of the past six years, a named tropical storm has risen in May. That is among the reasons the officials who set the dates for the season are considering a change, though it will not happen this year. READ MORE .EM RESOURCES Tool to explore national response framework Homeland Security News Wire When a disaster strikes, FEMA outlines an organized process for response. To navigate the framework more easily, researchers designed a tool which visually captures and explores FEMA’s 470-plus requirements, recommendations, and other elements. READ MORE FEMA updates the NFIP Flood Insurance Manual IAEM The latest update to the National Flood Insurance Program’s "Flood Insurance Manual" is now available at FEMA.gov. The update is effective Apr. 1. FEMA regularly updates the manual to enhance the customer experience and evolve the National Flood Insurance Program into a world-class organization. The Flood Insurance Manual incorporates the minimal program changes announced in October 2020. Two additional updates will be effective as of Jan. 1, 2022. The April 2021 edition also replaces outdated content, clarifies guidance and replaces physical mailing addresses with email addresses. The manual does not change flood insurance coverage or supersede the terms and conditions of the standard flood insurance policy. .NEW INSIGHTS Managing necessary risks in critical infrastructure tech after Florida water hack* Homeland Security Today With the benefit of time and commendable candor from investigating authorities, the national security and critical infrastructure operator communities are learning more about how an intruder tried to tamper with chemical levels in the water supply in Pinellas County, Florida. Even in our data breach and cyber attack-saturated headlines, this incident gave everyone pause – particularly similar municipal water and other utilities. READ MORE Responding to a disaster within a disaster EMS 1 EMS agencies and first responders were tasked with shuffling from one crisis to another when Texans faced an unprecedented winter storm in the midst of a once-in-a-century pandemic with COVID-19. These challenges stress-tested all EMS agencies and first responders to continue providing life-saving care during the winter storm while adjusting to the changes of providing care, setting up mass vaccination sites, and continuing our mission during the COVID-19 pandemic. READ MORE Mitigating wildfires — Conceptualizing possibilities Domestic Preparedness Mitigating wildfires is not only essential for protecting life, property, and critical infrastructure. It also is essential for controlling climate change, which ultimately causes disasters around the world. National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) estimates that wildfires now cost between $63 and $285 billion a year. READ MORE .IAEM CERTIFICATION UPDATES Help Wanted for the IAEM Certification Commission IAEM The IAEM Certification Commission has issued a call for commissioners, with applications due by June 1, 2021. Details are posted on the Certification News webpage. Please consider applying for this opportunity to serve the association as an IAEM Certification Commissioner. .SURVEY REQUESTS Interview participants needed for capstone research project on how vaccination refusals affect emergency response plans during major events IAEM Capella University doctoral candidate in emergency management, Christie Morris, is conducting a capstone research project on how vaccination refusals affect emergency response plans during epidemics and pandemics. The purpose of the study is to identify and address potential problems with vaccination refusals during a national public health emergency event. Morris seeks interviews with emergency management response planners and specialists who are currently working in the field, preferably in the healthcare industry. Individuals must have experience working with planning and vaccinations. Interviews will take no more than 15 minutes and will be conducted via Zoom. All information collected will be maintained in a confidential manner, and at no time will there be any identifying information used in the final document. All participants will have access to the results and findings of this study through a social media page. All interested in helping Christie Morris with this project should contact her via email. This invitation will remain open until further notice. .EM CALENDAR ASPR/TRACIE to present Mar. 18 webinar on 'Healthcare System Cybersecurity Response: Experiences and Considerations' IAEM The ASPR/TRACIE Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Information Gateway will present a webinar, “Healthcare System Cybersecurity Response: Experiences and Considerations,” on Mar. 18, 1:30-2:45 p.m. EDT. As part of U.S. critical infrastructure, healthcare facilities large and small must be proactive and move quickly to protect themselves from cyberattacks that could directly impact the health and safety of patients and the community. According to medical health experts experienced in cybersecurity preparedness, cyberattacks are identified as the top threat in many healthcare systems’ annual Hazard Vulnerable Analyses (HVA). Healthcare systems, government agencies, and other partners have worked diligently to defend against the growing number of cyberattacks on the healthcare industry. Presenters will discuss their experiences and tangible lessons learned in responding to cybersecurity incidents. This webinar builds on the recently released Healthcare System Cybersecurity: Readiness and Response Considerations document and accompanying overview presentation about how to use the resource. Register online. .IAEM-ASIA NEWS Floods, cyclones caused maximum deaths by extreme weather events in past 50 years Mongabay An analysis of deaths from extreme weather events (EWE) in India in the past 50 years has revealed that though tropical cyclones were the least frequent event, they caused 28.6 percent of the mortalities, second only to floods responsible for maximum human deaths. Floods and tropical cyclones contribute almost 75 percent to the total mortalities per year due to EWEs. READ MORE .IAEM-JAPAN NEWS Efforts made to archive 2011 Japan disaster data to pass on lessons The Mainichi Entities in Japan have been stepping up efforts to archive data of the 2011 devastating quake-tsunami disaster in the northeast, such as documents, pictures and video footage to pass on lessons of the catastrophe as people's memory fades. Their collections serve as useful sources of information for researchers, educators and members of the general public who wish to learn from the past. READ MORE Residents can now get earthquake alerts, privacy protection as part of Japanese smart city push News18 Digital tools launched in a Japanese smart city that can send disaster alerts to safeguard residents are part of an optional technology push aiming to overcome social and economic challenges, while also allaying privacy fears. The smartphone alerts were introduced in Aizuwakamatsu city, Fukushima prefecture, last week by consultancy firm Accenture, which has worked with researchers to revitalise the city using technology since a devastating earthquake in 2011. READ MORE Japan seeks 'recovery of people's hearts' decade after quake* The Associated Press Ten years after Japan’s earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster, the lives of many who survived are still on hold. On March 11, 2011, one of the biggest temblors on record touched off a massive tsunami, killing more than 18,000 people and setting off catastrophic meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. Nearly half a million people were displaced. Tens of thousands still haven’t returned home. READ MORE Some 20% of local governments in Japan have no disaster specialists The Japan Times Across the nation, 20.5% of municipalities have no officials exclusively tasked with handling disaster responses, a Kyodo News survey showed Sunday ahead of the 10th anniversary of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that devastated northeastern Japan. The survey also found that 14.1% of respondents have only one official for that particular responsibility, with those in charge of elections, traffic safety and other duties doubling in such roles. READ MORE In wake of Japan disaster, scientists aim for faster and more accurate tsunami warnings The Japan Times In the 10 years since the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami of March 11, 2011, scientists have sought answers to a variety of questions relating to the deadly tsunami that began tearing through coastal communities just 15 minutes after the quake. Researchers have probed how a tsunami gathers height as it nears a shoreline and how this affects the damage it can cause. They’ve also begun to assess technologies for the early detection of tsunamis and improving tsunami observing systems across Japan. READ MORE .AROUND THE WORLD Austin, Texas, still struggling even after winter storm* Austin American-Statesman via Emergency Management As much of Austin moves on from the storm, many residents still are dealing with the fallout of the winter event. Some people have gone weeks without running water. Some face hefty repair costs. And for many of them, the situation is worsened due to the financial squeeze of going without work for a week. READ MORE Maui flooding: Homes destroyed, evacuations ordered during day of torrential rain The Associated Press via The Mercury News Homes on Maui were destroyed, evacuations ordered and the Hana Highway was closed after more than 13 inches of rain fell in eight hours on Monday. Evacuees were being asked not to return to their homes on Tuesday because flood advisories were still in effect. Officials initially thought that the Kaupakalua Dam in the community of Haiku was breached by flood waters, “but after closer inspection, county officials determined there was no structural damage,” said a statement from Maui County late Monday. READ MORE Swarm of 20,000 earthquakes could make Iceland's volcanoes erupt LiveScience More than 20,000 earthquakes have shaken southern Iceland this week, rattling the capital city of Reykjavik and keeping geologists on their toes as all signs point to a pending volcanic eruption, the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) reported on Thursday (March 4). This week's marathon of quakes continues a swarm of seismic activity that began on Feb. 24, when a 5.7-magnitude earthquake struck near Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula — about 20 miles (32 kilometers) from the capital city. 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. 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