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.ANNUAL CONFERENCE NEWS
IAEM seeks proposals for poster presentations for the 2021 annual conference
IAEM
The IAEM Poster Showcase Call for Speakers is now open! IAEM seeks students, academics, and practitioners to submit abstracts for either the competitive or non-competitive divisions. Participants have an opportunity to convey to a wide audience the significance of their research project, practice, or general findings to practitioners and scholars in the emergency management community. Proposals must be submitted in the online portal by 11:59 p.m. CDT, Apr. 23. For information on how to submit and guidelines, check out the Poster Showcase Guidance. Before submitting, watch the recording of the "Tips for Poster Showcase Success" webinar for an overview of the process.
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EMEX sponsor highlight of the week: iluminr — customizing your ultimate threat intelligence dashboard
IAEM
As the world continues to grapple with COVID-19, localized threats such as protests, power outages and severe weather continue to challenge emergency, security and safety professionals to keep people safe. In response, Catalyst Technologies has been working with emergency management teams to enhance their threat intelligence and response capabilities through the ongoing development of iluminr. Now with an expanded menu of premium threat feeds, iluminr has rapidly become the go-to for threat intelligence, emergency communications and event management empowering emergency managers to respond with advanced warning on escalating events. By customizing a broad array of threat intelligence on a single dashboard, emergency managers are now empowered to know first and lead the way in protecting people, regardless of their location. Learn more and get started for free at iluminr.
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IAEM Reimagined Virtual Conference on-demand access closes Apr. 16
IAEM
There are only three weeks left to access on-demand content from the IAEM Reimagined Virtual Conference. This is a reminder to conference registrants to view all speaker presentations online before Apr. 16, 2021, to receive up to 48.5 contact hours that may be used toward IAEM certification. If you have not registered, there is still time to sign up and begin learning. 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.
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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.
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.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 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 web page. 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.
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.IAEM-OCEANIA COUNCIL NEWS
Building disaster resilience in Fiji*
Asia & The Pacific Policy Society Policy Forum via PreventionWeb
With the world’s attention focused on the COVID-19 pandemic, Fiji has had to look within to build disaster resilience, writes Kalei Billings-Dugu with Hugh McClure.
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.IAEM-USA COUNCIL NEWS
FEMA updates policy on medical care eligible for Public Assistance (PA)
IAEM
FEMA is updating its eligible medical care interim policy and will begin processing eligible projects with a 100 percent federal cost share. FEMA is committed to the equitable distribution of pandemic response and recovery efforts. This policy includes provisions necessary to support state, local, tribal, and territorial governments by minimizing their cost-share, expanding assistance for medical care and embedding fair practices to demonstrate unburdened access to communities in need. For eligible work performed between Jan. 20 and Sept. 30, 2021, FEMA is funding the entire cost of the emergency protective measures made eligible by this policy with a 100 percent cost share. For previously awarded projects, FEMA will obligate additional funding to increase the federal funding from 75 percent to 100 percent. This interim policy is applicable to eligible PA recipients and subrecipients only and is exclusive to emergency and major disaster declarations for COVID-19.
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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.
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NHSA seeks emergency management and public health representatives for panel on COVID-19
IAEM
The National Homeland Security Association (NHSA) is looking for panelists from emergency management and public health agencies to participate in a panel on COVID-19 response best practices at the National Homeland Security Conference, Aug. 30-Sept. 2, 2021. Panelists will engage in an in-depth conversation exploring established best practices, innovative programs, continuity of operations, performance measures, and areas of improvement at the global, federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial level to identify national health security and emergency management strategies designed to strengthen our response to public health threats. Applications must be received by Apr. 30. Learn more on the conference website.
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DHS seeks input on improving the effectiveness and efficiency of its mission
IAEM
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a call for ideas and suggestions from its stakeholders, across public and private sectors, who are familiar with or interested in improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the DHS mission. Input can be submitted in the form of questions, hypotheses or problems focused on any area of DHS’ work. Contributions made will inform DHS' selection of priority questions critical to the mission of the agency. Selected priority questions will guide development of specific proposals and plans for research, policy analysis, performance measurement or program evaluation studies that DHS will conduct in the next five years. Submit suggestions by visiting the Federal Register.
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FEMA announces policy to help pay for funeral costs for COVID-19-related deaths
IAEM
In early April, FEMA will begin providing financial assistance for funeral expenses incurred after Jan. 20, 2020, for deaths related to coronavirus (COVID-19) to help ease some of the financial stress and burden caused by the pandemic. A FEMA Advisory was issued on Mar. 24, and FEMA now is moving rapidly to implement this funeral assistance program nationwide. IAEM encourages emergency managers to become aware of and plan for impacts from this policy. Of major importance to emergency managers is that among the requirements is to be eligible for relief, the death certificate must clearly indicate that COVID-19 was a contributor to the cause of death. This means that local medical examiners and coroners, as well as state agencies involved in the declarations and certificates of death, will receive many requests to change, amend, or clarify death certificates. State, territory, and tribal emergency management agencies may be asked to coordinate finding single points of contact for many aspects of the policy. Conceivably this could filter down to local EMAs as well to identify local sources of information. Also of importance is the fact that this program is strictly Individual Assistance direct to the families/loved ones of the deceased person. Public Assistance is not available to the medical examiners or coroners’ offices for costs of indigent burials or temporary holding of remains. For additional information, review the Advisory below, and visit the FEMA website.
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.IAEM NEWS
Articles are sought by Mar. 31 for the IAEM Bulletin's first 2021 special focus issue on 'COVID-19: Emergency Management a Year Later'
IAEM
The IAEM Editorial Committee seeks feature article submissions for the first 2021 special focus issue of the IAEM Bulletin. The topic of the April 2021 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 you learned about yourself 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 of 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 additional three 2021 special focus issue topics. Since the Bulletin is published monthly, the committee also is interested in submissions for the eight non-special focus issues, for which they will consider articles on a wide variety of topics of interest to emergency management professionals.
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Promoted by Optimum Seismic, Inc.
The best way to prepare for disaster is to ask yourself, “What’s the worst thing that could happen?”
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.EM NEWS
'Natural' disasters now three times more likely, warns UN food agency
Homeland Security Today
New and unprecedented forms of natural disasters are most heavily felt in the agricultural industry, says the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
At no other point in history have agri-food systems faced more hazards such as megafires, extreme weather, unusually large desert locust swarms, and emerging biological threats, as during the past year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nor have they been seen at such frequency, intensity, and complexity, the agency said in a new report .
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.UNIVERSITY/COLLEGE/SCHOOL EM ISSUES
Safer Schools and Campuses Best Practices Clearinghouse seeks resources
The Office of Safe and Supportive Schools, which is located within the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, is seeking materials for consideration in support of the new Safer Schools and Campuses Best Practices Clearinghouse. The Clearinghouse is being developed in response to Executive Order 14000, “Supporting the Reopening and Continuing Operation of Schools and Early Childhood Education Providers.” This Clearinghouse is being created to share lessons learned and best practices from the field for operating safely during the pandemic, and it will provide an opportunity for stakeholders to share with one another and access a wide variety of resources from across Federal agencies. The Clearinghouse will include resources on the following topics: safe and healthy environments; providing support to students; and teacher, faculty, and staff well-being, professional development and support. Emergency managers are invited to submit materials for consideration for the Clearinghouse, including fact sheets, step-by-step guidance, policies or regulations, sample agreements among partners, ready-to-implement resources, videos or other media focused on how to implement practices, and descriptions of how you have implemented strategies. Please include the following with each submission: contact information; topic area; target audience; short description of materials; explanation of why the submission is a best practice or lesson learned; and whether there is a focus no equity. Submit the resource or request more information to bestpracticesclearinghouse@ed.gov.
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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.
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.HEALTHCARE EM UPDATE
'Strike teams' helping vaccination efforts; how they work
Emergency Management
Three thousand people received the novel coronavirus vaccine at the Butler County Fairgrounds last week, and another 3,000 will receive it this week.
And as soon as the Butler County General Health District is allocated more of the COVID-19 vaccine, it will increase the number of people it can vaccinate at its Wednesday and Friday drive-thru clinics, said Health Commissioner Jenny Bailer.
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.CLIMATE/WATER/WEATHER UPDATES
Scientists underestimating destructive power of tornadoes, study finds
The Seattle Times
It’s unusual to see violent tornadoes near Chicago in the late summer, which is why weather watchers were stunned when a high-powered twister tore through Plainfield, Ill., on a hot August afternoon in 1990. According to the National Weather Service, tornadoes as intense as the one that hit Plainfield are rare, accounting for about 1% of all tornadoes. But that small figure may be a product of the imperfect way that experts gauge tornado intensity, according to a study co-written by Karen Kosiba, an adjunct professor at the University of Illinois’s Department of Atmospheric Sciences.
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.CYBERSECURITY NEWS
GAO warns DOE on electricity grid cybersecurity vulnerabilities*
Homeland Security Today
The U.S. electricity grid’s distribution systems—the parts of the grid that carry electricity to consumers—are becoming more vulnerable to cyberattacks, in part because of the introduction of and reliance on monitoring and control technologies. However, the scale of potential impacts from such attacks is not well understood.
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CISA leader: Agency must expand visibility into risks, incident response capacity after SolarWinds*
Homeland Security Today
The SolarWinds supply chain compromise and the recently announced exploitation of vulnerabilities in Microsoft Exchange have lent even more urgency to the Department of Homeland Security’s “urgent improvements across four areas of strategic growth,” Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Acting Director Brandon Wales said.
Wales told the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee last week that “while these lines of effort are in response to this intrusion, they form the framework around which we think about our response to any cyber incident.”
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.EM RESOURCES
FEMA and Utah release a seismic risk resource for local communities
IAEM
One year after a damaging earthquake affected Magna, Utah, FEMA and Utah’s Emergency Management Agency released the Wasatch Front Unreinforced Masonry Risk Reduction Strategy. The document addresses the seismic risks posed by unreinforced masonry structures. It is estimated that nearly 140,000 various structures of individual homes, businesses, schools and houses of worship fit this description. This strategy leverages resources and case studies from Utah and other seismically vulnerable areas. Building upon past and current earthquake mitigation successes, this report was developed to be actionable by recommending best practices in identifying unreinforced masonry buildings, designing retrofits and developing and implementing locally appropriate risk reduction programs. The interagency National Mitigation Investment Strategy group, led by FEMA, selected the Wasatch Front Unreinforced Masonry Risk Reduction Strategy as a pilot project for a national effort to reduce seismic risk damage and find solutions to address it. The collaborative approach in this strategy resource is intended to support and guide the development of unreinforced masonry risk reduction programs across the United States. The strategy is written to provide state and local policymakers with a list of actions to take as soon as possible. Download the full document from the FEMA website.
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FEMA updates flood map tool
IAEM
FEMA updated the online FIRMette Web tool, which provides simple downloads of a Flood Insurance Rate Map which a user can print. The updated tool will have similar capabilities as before, but with a modernized and more user-friendly interface. Visit FEMA.gov for instructions on how to use the new tool and to create a FIRMette. The FIRMette web tool helps FEMA provide digital flood maps to millions of users each year through the Map Service Center. The FIRMette web tool has generated about 20 million FIRMettes since its introduction and continues to be an important application for Map Service Center users.
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.NEW INSIGHTS
People gave up on flu pandemic measures a century ago when they tired of them — and paid a price*
The Conversation
Picture the United States struggling to deal with a deadly pandemic.
State and local officials enact a slate of social-distancing measures, gathering bans, closure orders and mask mandates in an effort to stem the tide of cases and deaths.
The public responds with widespread compliance mixed with more than a hint of grumbling, pushback and even outright defiance. As the days turn into weeks turn into months, the strictures become harder to tolerate.
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Tips & Tricks for Effective Disaster Planning
Domestic Preparedness
One of the most critical yet least understood core emergency management capabilities is planning, which reduces the chaos present during a disaster. However, the emergency management community is awash in various planning systems, various types of plans, and confusing terminology that complicates the work. This often causes problems when emergency managers are tasked to lead new planning efforts, to update existing plans, and to adapt them to real-life emergencies. Eleven tips and tricks can help solve these problems.
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.IAEM CERTIFICATION UPDATES
New AEM®/CEM® Study Guide now available
IAEM
IAEM has published a new version of the AEM®/CEM® exam study guide on the IAEM website. Use this updated version as you prepare for the IAEM certification exam. A new version of the New Zealand exam will go live on May 15, 2021. Use the reference lists in the updated study guide to prepare for the new version of the exam.
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.GRANT ANNOUNCEMENTS
DHS makes $20 million in funding available for Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention Grants
IAEM
On Wednesday, Mar. 24, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it is making $20 million available through the Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention (TVTP) Grant Program to help communities across our country develop innovative capabilities to combat terrorism and targeted violence. Four priorities were established for the Fiscal Year 2021 TVTP Grant Program: (1) preventing domestic violent extremism; (2) enhancing local threat assessment and management capabilities; (3) implementing innovative solutions for preventing targeted violence and terrorism; and (4) challenging online violence mobilization narratives for the first time through this program. The TVTP Grant Program application period will close on May 25, 2021. State, local, tribal, and territorial governments; non-profit organizations; and institutions of higher education are eligible to apply for funds to establish capabilities or fill gaps in their prevention capabilities. Applying for this grant is a multi-step process and it is recommended that applicants begin that process early to allow sufficient time to complete interim steps. Applicants should consult the Notice of Funding Opportunity for more specific information.
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.SURVEY REQUESTS
EMAP seeks input on its Business Consultant Subscription and Training
IAEM
The Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP) is planning to launch its Business Consultant Subscription and Training in 2021. The goals of the EMAP Business Consultant Subscription and Training are to provide consultants with an understanding of the intent and application of the Emergency Management Standard; how the elements of the Emergency Management Standard can be addressed in the plans, programs, processes, and procedures of public and private sector emergency management programs; and how the EMAP Accreditation Process can better assist programs. In anticipation of the launch of the EMAP Business Consultant Subscription and Training, EMAP is conducting market research to determine the level of interest in the initiative among consultants, contractors, and consulting firms. Please help EMAP with their research by completing this online survey.
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Emergency management participants needed for research on improving social media usage during hurricane response and recovery
IAEM
Rose Juma, Capella University EM doctoral candidate, is conducting a resource project asking respondents to examine these questions:
- How do emergency managers in the Southeastern region of the United States describe challenges in using social media during Hurricane Irma in 2017?
- How do they perceive they can improve social media use during response and recovery phases in future hurricanes?
Rose seeks to interview emergency managers who used social media in the response and recovery phases of Hurricane Irma in 2017, and who speak and understand English. Participation in this research is voluntary. Those interested in participating should contact the researcher by email, or the research supervisor, Dr. Harold Cohen.
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IAEM urges members to support O*NET with research project
IAEM
The Occupational Information Network (O*NET) program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, is gathering occupational information for a national database that is being used by millions of employers, workers, educators, and students across the country. This database provides information about the skills, abilities, activities, and work context for about 900 occupations nationwide. O*NET is conducting a data collection for essential information about emergency management directors. IAEM is supporting the project and encourages anyone contacted by an O*NET representative at the Research Triangle Institute (RTI) to participate in the survey. By completing and returning the O*NET questionnaires, you will contribute to a key resource providing our nation’s citizens with continuously updated occupational information. Responses from all experts will be combined to define the activities, tasks, knowledge, and other aspects of work in your field.
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.EM CALENDAR
Join CHDS and partners on Mar. 31 for a webinar on 'Whose Pandemic Is It Anyway? Response to the Next Public Health Crisis'
IAEM
The Center for Homeland Defense Security (CHDS), in partnership with IAEM, ASTHO, NEMA, and the Naval Post-Graduate School, is hosting two-part webinar series, “Frameworks for Governing: 2021 and Beyond.” The first webinar, “Whose Pandemic Is It Anyway? Response to the Next Public Health Crisis,” will be held 2:00 p.m. EDT, on Mar. 31, 2021. In this two-part webinar series, legal and public policy experts will discuss how government roles, responsibilities, and authorities have evolved in recent years and what homeland security professionals might anticipate next with a new presidential administration, Congress and US Supreme Court majority. Looking back at the major events of 2020, the panel will explore what this could mean for local, state and federal government. Presenters will be: Eileen Decker president, Los Angeles Police Commission, former deputy mayor, Los Angeles, and former U.S. Attorney, Central District of California; Dan Farber, Sho Sato Professor of Law, University of California at Berkeley author of Disaster Law and Policy; and John Yoo, Emanuel S. Heller Professor of Law Director, Public Law & Policy Program, University of California at Berkeley. Download the series flyer. Register to participate.
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IAEM-USA Region 9 announces premiere Talk Series webinar on 'Women in Emergency Management'
IAEM
Region Talk is hosting a quarterly webinar series devoted to addressing the topics members want to discuss. From all things emergency management to diving in depth with ethical topics such as diversity and inclusion. Created and hosted by IAEM Region 9, the sessions are open for everyone. Join IAEM-USA Region 9 on Apr. 21, 6:00-8:00 p.m. EDT, for its premiere webinar of the series to discuss “Women in EM.” Listen in and ask questions to our plenary speaker, Carolyn Levering, on her presentation detailing the personal successes and challenges of being a woman in the field of emergency management. Then hop in a Q&A panel discussion with EM women from across Region 9: Melody Hardwick, Mary Ann Swendson, and Abby Browning. Attendees may elect to stay after the presentations for the networking component to talk with all the attendees and speakers. Download the flyer and register online.
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.AROUND THE WORLD
Icelandic volcano erupts after 6,000 years of dormancy
Smithsonian Magazine
A volcano in southwestern Iceland exploded with radiating waves of molten lava last Friday, reports the Associated Press.
The sight was met with much anticipation and excitement after seismic activity in the area increased within the past few weeks. The Reykjanes peninsula, not far from the country's capital Reykjavik, hasn't witnessed a volcanic eruption in 800 years, reports Alyse Stanley for Gizmodo. The volcano Mount Fagradalsfjall has been dormant for 6,000 years, AP reports.
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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/
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