This message was sent to ##Email## To advertise in this publication please click here April 8, 2021 .IAEM NEWS IAEM is conducting EM job analysis — your input is needed IAEM IAEM is conducting an updated job analysis for the Emergency Manager role. IAEM is seeing input form emergency managers worldwide. Please complete our survey by Apr. 26, 2021, to assess the critical knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to safely and effectively perform the job of an Emergency Manager. .ANNUAL CONFERENCE NEWS IAEM opens application period for EMvision Talks IAEM The IAEM EMvision Talks call for speakers is now open through May 7. These talks provide a forum for people to share a personal connection to an idea, experience, or passion related to emergency management, leadership, communication, community engagement, or other related topics. Talks are limited to seven minutes and will be held live on the plenary stage on Oct. 19, 2021, at the IAEM 2021 Annual Conference, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. To apply, submit a biography and an abstract. Review the Speaker Guidance for more information. Submittal period for IAEM's Poster Showcase closes on Apr. 23 IAEM The IAEM Poster Showcase call for speakers is open. IAEM seeks students, academics, and practitioners to submit abstracts for either the competitive or non-competitive divisions. Participants have an opportunity to share the significance of their research project, practice, or general findings. Posters will be presented at the IAEM Annual Conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Oct. 15-22. Proposals must be submitted in the online portal by 11:59 p.m. CDT, Apr. 23. For information on how to submit and the program guidelines, review the Poster Showcase Guidance. IAEM recomends watch the recording of the "Tips for Poster Showcase Success" webinar for an overview of the process.  SPONSORED CONTENT Promoted by Esri Webinar Series: Incident Management and Disaster Preparedness — Register today! Esri's Disaster Response Program Supports Frontline Real-Time Tool Transforms Wildfire Operations in Pennsylvania Founded to Help Solve the World's Most Difficult Problems - GIS Supports Disaster Response Efforts UN’s Urban Search and Rescue Network Gains New Awareness After the Beirut Blast .IAEM SCHOLARSHIP Bid online before Apr. 19 for gifts for moms, family vacations, or challenge coins IAEM The IAEM Scholarship Program’s 2021 Spring Online Auction is now open through Apr. 19, 2021. Take a moment to view the catalog of items and find a special present for Mother’s Day, vacation, or special challenge coin. Bid now on some of these items: Italian silver jewelry. Kentucky Bourbon Trail getaway for two. 3-day/2-night stay in a railway caboose in the Smoky Mountains on a buffalo ranch. COVID response challenge coins. Three nights in “Sweet Retreat,” a home that sleeps 8 near the Sequoia National Park. Historic dude ranch getaway. Language or guitar lessons. Vacation to Sonoma wine country. Visit the auction website to set up a Bidding for Good account. Contact IAEM Scholarship Program Director Dawn Shiley for assistance.  PRODUCT SHOWCASE Threat Monitoring and Real-Time Alerts 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. 14-Day Free Trial Available! LEARN MORE .IAEM-CANADA COUNCIL NEWS Earthquakes are an existential threat to B.C.'s Lower Mainland — but we can defend ourselves now The Globe and Mail British Columbia has an opportunity to reduce the effect of natural gas-related explosions and fires when a major earthquake inevitably happens in the Lower Mainland. But that window is about to be slammed shut – unless we act soon. Researchers have determined that the potential for the Big One is one in three in the next 50 years. Other, less powerful earthquakes located closer to the cities of Vancouver and Victoria are even likelier to occur, and in many ways these are more disconcerting because of their proximities to major population centers. 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 IAEM and NEMA release annual report on EMPG ROI IAEM This week, the annual report on EMPG was released. Each year, IAEM and NEMA join forces to complete an exhaustive survey on how their members utilize the Emergency Management Performance Grants (EMPG). The resulting report highlights how these funds are utilized. This year’s version includes some data on the CARES Act funding and covers other issues such as: In FY 20, while there were 228 disasters requiring a major or emergency declaration, state, local, and territorial governments managed an additional 19,752 events without additional federal expenditures. There were 16,978 statewide and local preparedness outreach campaigns reaching 115 million residents. 4,020 state and local exercises reached 138,821 responders. 5,316 training classes provided 75,954 personnel advanced levels of knowledge. 4,960 state and local mutual aid agreements were created minimizing the need for immediate federal support. Read the press release with more details and download the full report on the IAEM website. Questions may be directed to IAEM Government Affairs Director Thad Huguley. Biden plans to make America's infrastructure more resilient and to invest in climate tech Homeland Security Today President Biden’s recently announced American Jobs Plan makes much mention of climate change and building back greener. In his call to Congress, Biden sets out how expansion and improvement projects must be carried out appropriately to avoid worsening environmental impacts, noting “every dollar spent on rebuilding our infrastructure during the Biden administration will be used to prevent, reduce, and withstand the impacts of the climate crisis”. But the plan also highlights the resilience of critical infrastructure under threat from climate change, and calls for $50 billion in dedicated investments. READ MORE  PRODUCT SHOWCASE Water Activated Flood Control Quick Dam provides innovative flood protection solutions that are compact, lightweight and easy to use. Completely activated by water, Flood Bags and Flood Barriers can stack to create an efficient wall of protection. No sand, bags, labor or additional tools are needed. Optimize your flood protection with Quick Dam. LEARN MORE FEMA opens application period for emergency management programs IAEM FEMA's Emergency Management Institute (EMI) announces the application period for the National Emergency Management Advanced Academy, the National Emergency Management Executive Academy, and the Master Public Information Officer Program. The application period ends June 1 and applicants will be notified in late summer of their selection status. Download the application packets from the FEMA website. National Emergency Management Advanced Academy National Emergency Management Executive Academy Master Public Information Officer Program DOD should update emergency response plans to accommodate telework, IG says* FCW The need -- and appetite -- for telework isn't going away even as the Defense Department workforce goes back to the office as COVID vaccination becomes more available. To accommodate demand, DOD needs to revamp its official pandemic response plans, according to a new inspector general report. The DOD's IG evaluated personnel access to communications and IT systems during the early days and months of the coronavirus pandemic last year in a report released April 1. READ MORE The U.S. needs a macrogrid to move electricity from areas that make it to areas that need it Homeland Security News Wire Many kinds of extreme events can disrupt electricity service, including hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, wildfires, extreme heat, extreme cold and extended droughts. Major disasters can leave thousands of people in the dark. During such events, unaffected regions may have power to spare. For example, during the February blackouts in Texas, utilities were generating electricity from hydropower in the Pacific Northwest, natural gas in the Northeast, wind on the northern Plains and solar power in the Southwest. READ MORE .EM NEWS Not the government's '911': FEMA stretched with multiple deployments* NPR The Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, is the agency we think of responding to natural disasters like hurricanes and earthquakes. But in recent weeks it's also been helping to administer COVID-19 vaccinations in several states, as well as assisting at the border. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said last month FEMA was helping the Department of Health and Human Services place unaccompanied minors in shelters and with families. "They're playing a number of roles there to address what we feel is a significant problem and a significant challenge." READ MORE  FEATURED ARTICLE   Resilience Reduce Earthquake Disaster Risk Promoted by Optimum Seismic, Inc. The best way to prepare for disaster is to ask yourself, “What’s the worst thing that could happen?” LEARN MORE   Integration can prevent failures in large power grids Homeland Security News Wire The recent power outages in Texas brought attention to its power grid being separated from the rest of the country. While it is not immediately clear whether integration with other parts of the national grid would have completely eliminated the need for rolling outages, the state’s inability to import significant amounts of electricity was decisive in the blackout. READ MORE .UNIVERSITY/COLLEGE/SCHOOL EM ISSUES How Japanese schools stayed open during the pandemic Emergency Management Physical distancing, mask-wearing and rigorous hand-washing practices are among the measures touted as essential. A typical day now starts with the staggered arrival of children to disperse crowds as much as possible. READ MORE .HEALTHCARE EM UPDATE Proof of vaccination offers benefits but stirs debate Vaccine passports have been discussed since before vaccines were even authorized for use, but those conversations have been elevated as the world looks to recover from a deadly and economically crippling pandemic. READ MORE Biden makes all adults eligible for a vaccine on April 19* The Associated Press President Joe Biden announced Tuesday that he’s bumping up his deadline by two weeks for states to make all adults in the U.S. eligible for coronavirus vaccines. But even as he expressed optimism about the pace of vaccinations, he warned Americans that the nation is not yet out of the woods when it comes to the pandemic. READ MORE PRODUCT SHOWCASE Online Executive Programs at Harvard Executive Education at Harvard Kennedy School is an invaluable educational and networking opportunity for leaders seeking to make a difference. Explore upcoming online programs, including Leadership in Crises and Strategic Leadership, featuring live sessions with Harvard faculty. Browse our 2021 Program Guide to find the program right for you.   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   .EM RESOURCES CONVERGE training module on 'Broader Ethical Considerations for Hazards and Disaster Researchers' now available — Apr. 15 webinar will provide demonstration IAEM The CONVERGE facility, headquartered at the Natural Hazards Center at the University of Colorado Boulder, has released the seventh CONVERGE Training Module. This online course, supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Science Foundation, focuses on “Broader Ethical Considerations for Hazards and Disaster Researchers.” Access the free module on the CONVERGE website. To learn more, register for a live webinar and demonstration of the module on Apr. 15, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. EDT. FEMA releases updates to the Resilience Analysis and Planning Tool — webinars offered to review updates IAEM FEMA updated the "Resilience Analysis and Planning Tool." This update includes the latest Census data from the American Community Survey five-year data from 2015-2019, including tribal census data and a new data layer on broadband internet access. In addition, FEMA added data on National Flood Insurance Program penetration rates for residential buildings in special flood hazard areas. The resilience tool now includes county-level estimates of how often hazards are likely to occur per year for 15 natural hazards, which are drawn from FEMA’s National Risk Index analysis. Through FEMA’s collaboration with the National Weather Service, the planning tool maintains real-time weather, watches and warnings data. The tool also includes historic hazard data on tornadoes and hurricanes, which is drawn from the Homeland Infrastructure Foundation-Level Data Open datasets. This website also includes supporting documents on the tool, including a user guide, a summary list of resilience analysis and planning data layers and sources, a summary of community resilience indicators research, and video how-to guides to demonstrate functions and tools. FEMA will host two 60-minute webinars on Apr. 13, at 5:00 p.m. EDT, and on Apr. 15 at 2:00 p.m. EDT to provide additional background on the Resilience Analysis and Planning Tool updates, demonstrate multiple capabilities and answer questions from users. Register online for Apr. 13 webinar. Register online for Apr. 15 webinar. .DISASTER TECHNOLOGY NEWS 7 emergency preparedness apps to keep on your phone WIRED The past 20 years have seen an increase in the amount of climate-related disasters and the destruction they cause. It’s become increasingly crucial to prepare for natural disasters, including ones you don’t expect. READ MORE .IAEM CERTIFICATION UPDATES Certification Commission seeks applications for commissioners for terms beginning in 2022 IAEM The Certification Program is now accepting applications for new commissioners. Any USA CEM who has recertified at least once are encouraged to apply. Deadline to submit your application to KMcClimans@iaem.com is June 1. The IAEM website has more details including expectations and how to apply.  FEATURED ARTICLE   Small Safety Teams Respond to Mass Crises Promoted by Omnilert People find themselves in varying situations during an emergency, which require specific instructions to best guide each individual to safety. Similarly, those individuals can provide intelligence as the situation dynamically unfolds. Unfortunately, it is extremely difficult to open a dialog and manage the incoming information from a large group of people under duress. So, how can small safety teams respond to mass crises? The answer to this question is “mass engagement.” Mass engagement allows a large audience to be easily subdivided into groups, which can be contacted and queried independently as to their specific needs and observations. LEARN MORE   .IAEM MEMBER NEWS Profiles in Excellence: Interview with Bridget Pelaez, Assistant Director of Emergency Management at FIU Homeland Security Today Each year, Homeland Security Today honors shining stars in the community who are making their own unique, invaluable contributions to advance the mission of keeping America safer from myriad threats. Their strong commitment to mission touches every part of their work, from day-to-day operations to special projects and work in the community. This year, with the unprecedented coronavirus pandemic affecting every facet of homeland security, HSToday is interviewing these individuals for a Profiles in Excellence series: to highlight the stories and successes from our winners. READ MORE Diane Mack named Director of Emergency Management at University of Nebraska Omaha and University of Nebraska Medical Center* Security Magazine Diane Mack has been named Director of Emergency Management for both the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) and the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). She is the first to hold the joint role and, at UNMC, succeeds Elayne Saejung. READ MORE North Port honors its firefighters, retiring emergency manager Sun North Port North Port’s Fire Rescue units recognized staffers of the year and its retiring Division Chief of Emergency Management this week. “It’s an exceptional honor,” Fire Rescue Chief Scott Titus said of peer-driven recognition in the 130-person, six station-house department. READ MORE .EM CALENDAR FEMA co-hosts a webinar on mitigation IAEM The Natural Hazards Center and FEMA will host a Making Mitigation Work webinar, “Implementing Mitigation Near and Far: U.S., New Zealand and Applied Research,” 1:00-2:00 p.m. EDT, Apr. 13, 2021. This webinar will examine the capacity and processes that communities use to implement mitigation strategies from the perspectives of the state hazard mitigation officers in the United States and local officials in New Zealand. The webinar also will compare housing buyout programs in the United States and New Zealand. Register online to participate in this webinar. CHDS Executive Education Program Lecture & Webinar Series: Frameworks for Governing: 2021 and Beyond, Part 2 webinar to be held Apr. 14 IAEM The Center for Homeland Defense and Security, along with co-sponsors, IAEM, ASTHO, NEMA, and the Naval Post-Graduate School, is hosting the webinar, “Blurred Lines: Civil Protest, Uncivil Unrest, and Government Response,” at 2:00 p.m. EDT, Apr. 14, 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, 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. Register online to participate. Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP) to hold Apr. 20 webinar on 'Facilities Standard Review' IAEM EMAP has scheduled this webinar on Apr. 20, 2021, 11:30 a.m.-1:00 EST. Have you struggled to understand how to approach and navigate through the Facilities Standard Area? Are you struggling to understand the procedural and testing requirements? Do you know what EMAP is looking for in a tour of your primary and alternate EOCs? These are all questions that the webinar will strive to address. Register online. IAEM-USA Region 5 invites participation in May 14 virtual conference IAEM The IAEM-USA Region 5 Virtual Conference, scheduled for May 14, 2021, will provide a virtual forum to highlight IAEM 2021 Annual Conference updates, integrated preparedness planning, lessons learned from the Nashville, Tennessee vehicle IED incident, and a FEMA Region 5 update. Some speakers are: Judd Freed, IAEM-USA president; Peri Rogowski, MS, state planning director, Indiana Department of Homeland Security; Patrick Sheehan, CEM, TN-CEMP, director, Tennessee Emergency Management Agency; and Acting FEMA Region V Administrator Kevin Sligh, MBA, CEM. Participation is open to members and non-members. Participants do not have to reside in Region 5. Register online by May 7 for a small fee of $20. Questions may be directed to IAEM-USA Region 5 Secretary Ryan McEwan, CEM. .IAEM-ASIA NEWS For Southeast Asia's sinking cities, climate change is a design problem ASEAN Today As Southeast Asia’s megacities continue to grow, some of the region’s biggest population centers are facing a growing design problem that most governments have only just begun to confront. By some estimates, Jakarta is the fastest sinking city in the world, with some areas seeing 1 centimeter per year and others seeing as much as 20 centimeters. Forty percent of the city is already below sea level. READ MORE .IAEM-EUROPA NEWS U.K. launches the U.K. health security agency Homeland Security News Wire On Thursday, 1 April, the U.K. launched the U.K. Health Security Agency, tasked with protecting the U.K. from future health threats and ensure the U.K. can respond to pandemics quickly and at greater scale. The primary focus for UKHSA in its initial phase of operation will be the continued fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, but the longer term goal is to work with global partners in an effort to create “a more robust international health architecture that will protect future generations.” READ MORE .AROUND THE WORLD More than 150 people dead in Indonesia and East Timor in wake of Tropical Cyclone Seroja VOA Search and rescue efforts are underway for at least 72 people missing on several remote islands across eastern Indonesia in the wake of a tropical cyclone that struck the region last week. The torrential rains produced by Tropical Cyclone Seroja triggered flash floods and landslides that washed out bridges, downed trees and left roads thick with mud, which has complicated efforts by rescue crews to reach remote villages. READ MORE Florida is trying to stop a 'catastrophic flood' right now. Here's what we know Deseret News Florida is trying to stop a potentially “catastrophic flood” from happening. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said over the weekend that crews are trying to stop a large wastewater pond from collapsing in Tampa Bay, The Associated Press reports. Manatee County officials said such a collapse would have “the potential to gush out 340 million gallons of water in a matter of minutes, risking a 20-foot-high (about 6.1-meter-high) wall of water,” according to The Associated Press. READ MORE Nepal hit by worst wildfires in almost a decade Phys.org Nepal is experiencing its worst fire season in almost a decade, officials said Tuesday, as huge blazes rage across the country's forests, engulfing the Himalayan nation in a shroud of brownish haze. Air quality in the capital Kathmandu was ranked on Tuesday as the worst in the world, according to monitoring site IQAir, with some international flights delayed as thick smoke blanketed the 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. 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