This message was sent to ##Email## To advertise in this publication please click here April 15, 2021 .IAEM CONFERENCE NEWS Registration for IAEM Reimagined Encore will open soon IAEM IAEM members have spoken, and the IAEM-USA Board of Directors and Conference Committee heard the praises for the 2020 virtual annual conference and the requests for more digital content. IAEM will present a new virtual mid-year event, the IAEM Encore, June 7-8, 2021. IAEM Reimagined Encore will include two days of presentations and training courses. On Day one 15 speakers from the 2020 IAEM Reimagined will return for encore presentations providing fresh materials or new presentations. On Day two, popular training courses will be offered at no additional cost. The Encore platform is dynamic and will provide opportunities for participants to connect, while providing content on-demand following the event. Attendees will receive attendance credit that may be used for contact hours towards IAEM’s Certified Emergency Manager Program. Mark your calendars for this first-ever Encore virtual event. Get more information on the conference website. Submittal period for IAEM's Poster Showcase closes next week IAEM IAEM seeks students, academics, and practitioners to submit abstracts for either the competitive or non-competitive divisions of the IAEM Poster Showcase. Participants have an opportunity to share the significance of their research project, practice, or general findings 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 recommends watching the recording of the "Tips for Poster Showcase Success" webinar for an overview of the process. IAEM EMvision Talks applications are due May 7 IAEM The IAEM EMvision Talks call for speakers is 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 EM 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. .IAEM SCHOLARSHIP Spring auction to benefit Scholarship Program closes Monday — get gifts for moms, family vacations, or challenge coins IAEM The IAEM Scholarship Program’s 2021 Spring Online Auction closes, Monday 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. Scholarship applications are due on May 17 IAEM The IAEM Scholarship Program now is accepting applications from full-time undergraduate and full- and part-time graduate students for the 2021 scholarship awards. Students must be working toward a degree in emergency management, disaster management, or a closely related field of study. Undergraduate and graduate applications with complete instructions are available on the IAEM website. The application deadline is 11:59:59 p.m. EDT, May 17, 2021. Questions may be directed to Scholarship Program Director Dawn Shiley.  SPONSORED CONTENT Promoted by Esri Download the Case Study: Key Lessons Learned in 2020 — Prepare for the Next Crisis, Now American Red Cross and Partners Work from One Map Keeping the Public Information About COVID-19: Local Governments Rely on ArcGIS Hub Building Resilience for the Next Crisis with Geospatial Technology — View the Session Butte County’s GIS Response to the Camp Fire .IAEM-OCEANIA COUNCIL NEWS How to reduce the effects of natural disasters rather than just clean up after them Domain In the past three years alone, more than $7 billion has been paid out in natural disaster insurance claims in Australia, and the final cost of the latest NSW floods hasn’t been calculated yet. We’ve become extraordinarily good at mopping up after floods, bushfires, cyclones, storm surges and being smashed by hailstones. But, the bad news is that we’ve paid little attention to mitigating devastation. READ MORE .IAEM-USA COUNCIL NEWS FEMA accepting applications for COVID funeral costs Emergency Management So far, more than 560,000 Americans have died from COVID-19, including nearly 25,400 in Pennsylvania. The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced last month it will provide financial assistance for COVID-19-related funeral expenses incurred after Jan. 20 of last year, through coronavirus relief legislation. READ MORE  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 New Tribal-ISAC formed to improve security posture for all tribes Homeland Security Today Tribal organizations are coming together in effort to work towards the goal of improving security preparedness, response and resilience for ALL Native American tribes and their enterprises. READ MORE Floods are increasing in supposedly low-risk areas Scientific American The federal flood insurance program paid $1.2 billion in claims in 2020, breaking the $1 billion threshold for a record sixth consecutive year, according to an E&E News analysis of federal records. Eight counties in Alabama, Florida and Louisiana accounted for half of the claims payments, which arose from a series of storms that caused major but not catastrophic damage during last year’s record-breaking Atlantic hurricane season. 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 FEMA releases NIMS National Qualification System Implementation Objectives Fact Sheet and seeks public feedback IAEM FEMA is seeking public feedback by 5:00 p.m. EDT, May 13, on the National Qualification System Implementation Objectives Fact Sheet. The objectives fact sheet reflects the concepts and principles to promote consistency in the National Qualification System implementation nationwide. It clarifies the National Qualification System requirements in the 2021 Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) funding notice. Beginning in October 2021, FEMA intends to leverage the EMPG program to make the implementation of the National Qualification System a requirement of eligibility for program funding. Jurisdictions will need to achieve or work toward achieving each of the objectives. The objectives aim to develop organizational qualification procedures, certification program, and credentialing standards in alignment with the National Incident Management System Guideline for the National Qualification System. These indicators serve as actionable activities that jurisdictions can use to demonstrate National Qualification System implementation. The indicators are a tool to assist jurisdictions and organizations in meeting the new implementation objectives. FEMA will host two, 30-minute webinars to discuss the draft implementation objectives and answer related questions. All webinars are open to the whole community and advance registration is required and on a first-come, first-served basis. Register for Webinar 1: 1:00 p.m. EDT, Apr. 20. Register for Webinar 2: 3:00 p.m. EDT, Apr. 22. DHS S&T seeks feedback on radiological recovery logistics tool IAEM DHS Science and Technology Directorate’s (DHS S&T) National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL) is developing a tool that matches equipment with response and recovery objectives for radiological and nuclear incidents. Research was conducted to understand how to leverage existing municipal and public works equipment for critical response objectives such as surveying and monitoring contaminated areas, decontaminating critical infrastructure, and conducting waste management. NUSTL is seeking feedback on the Radiological Recovery Logistics Tool, which organizes the data from this research, to improve the tool’s applicability and operational use. Specific feedback is sought from SLTT emergency managers and first responders with knowledge and expertise in the resource management process within their jurisdictions. If you are a planning section chief, a logistics section chief, or someone that engages in the emergency logistics process, please reach out to Orly Amir to help with this project.  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 .IAEM NEWS IAEM opens 2021 Awards Program — nominations due May 31 IAEM The 2021 IAEM Awards Nomination Period opened Apr. 9, and will run through 11:59 p.m. EDT, May 31. This is an opportunity to recognize the best emergency management programs and individuals for 2020 accomplishments. This year, IAEM launched the first ever online submission portal for the Awards Program, making this process even easier. The awards have a variety of categories spanning global and U.S. emergency managers, students, uniformed services, and volunteer organizations. Learn more about the program on IAEM website. Do you want to nominate a worthy colleague, student, or program but not sure how to start the process? IAEM is hosting a webinar on Apr. 20 to review the program, application process, and answer questions. The past year was a difficult one, but emergency managers put in the long hours to ensure that communities stayed safe and protected throughout the pandemic and natural disasters. Give them the honor and recognition they deserve by nominating them for an IAEM Award. IAEM's EM job analysis survey needs your input by Apr. 26 IAEM IAEM is conducting an updated job analysis for the Emergency Manager role. IAEM needs input from 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. .EM NEWS Coast Guard announces Emergency Management Credential program Homeland Security Today The Coast Guard Office of Emergency Management and Disaster Response (CG-OEM) is pleased to announce the creation of the CGEMC as announced in the recent promulgation of REF (A). This credential is for Coast Guard members who have achieved a superior standard of knowledge, skills and abilities in the field of Emergency Management (EM). READ MORE .HEALTHCARE EM UPDATE Vaccine-to-business program helps reach most vulnerable Emergency Management Experts say that to reach herd immunity, 70 percent to 75 percent of the population needs to be vaccinated. For that to happen, it’s imperative to reach the vulnerable, at-risk populations who may not make it to a vaccination site on their own. There are many community efforts throughout the country to facilitate this critical need, and one in Vernon, Conn., that targets businesses and their employees is being noticed nationally. 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   .CLIMATE/WATER/WEATHER UPDATES Major NOAA upgrades mean longer-range storm forecasting Emergency Management The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) last week announced major upgrades to the Global Forecast System (GFS) weather model that will allow for more accurate forecasting and within a time frame of up to 16 days. The upgrades will improve hurricane forecasting and modeling for snowfall location, as well as lead to better heavy rainfall forecasts and an overall improved model performance. READ MORE .CYBERSECURITY NEWS Cybersecurity tech for emergency communications centers Homeland Security News Wire DHS S&T is expanding pilot testing of a technology to improve the cybersecurity defenses of the nation’s emergency communications infrastructure. Odenton, Md.-based SecuLore Solutions in the research and development (R&D) of a cybersecurity defense solution based on predictive analytics and cyber data that helps detect and mitigate cybersecurity attacks against legacy emergency communications systems and new Next Generation 911 (NG911) and Internet Protocol-based technologies. READ MORE CISA launches CISA Securing Public Gatherings website IAEM This week, CISA launched the CISA Securing Public Gatherings website, www.cisa.gov/securing-public-gatherings. The website features security resources related to public gatherings and crowded places for all stakeholders. The new website is a key resource for connecting organizations of all types and sizes to CISA products to mitigate risk and promote resilience. This format offers a flexible, user-friendly experience and enables more frequent updates to the website, providing stakeholders with the most up-to-date content, products, and information CISA has to offer. This website provides security resources that address a variety of threat vectors impacting public gatherings and crowded places. All CISA products posted on the website are categorized by audience and topic area with clickable icons to help users easily navigate to the most relevant information. .DISASTER TECHNOLOGY NEWS Low-Cost NIST demo links public safety radios to broadband wireless network Homeland Security Today Engineers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have built a low-cost computer system that connects older public safety radios with the latest wireless communications networks, showing how first responders might easily take advantage of broadband technology offering voice, text, instant messages, video and data capabilities. NIST’s prototype system could help overcome a major barrier to upgrading public safety communications. 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. Our upcoming online program Leadership in Crises (Online) features live sessions with Harvard faculty and will prepare you to successfully manage, survive, and recover from the unexpected. Learn more today.   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   Robotic lizards may play role in future of disaster surveillance The Washington Post via The Seattle Times Researchers have created a robotic lizard that can scale vertical walls just like the actual animal. Smaller, lighter-weight and simpler to build than machine versions of many other animals, lizards have perfected how to crawl vertically, making them an ideal base for future surveillance machines, said Christofer Clemente, the university’s team supervisor who has been developing robotic reptiles since 2017. READ MORE .IAEM MEMBER NEWS Former FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor to lead LiRo Emergency Management Consulting Homeland Security Today Global Infrastructure Solutions Inc. (GISI) and Rocco Trotta, founder of The LiRo Group (LiRo), announced that Peter T. Gaynor CEM, former Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) and Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, has joined LiRo Engineers, Inc. to lead LiRo’s new consulting practice for National Resilience, Response and Recovery Programs. READ MORE .GRANT ANNOUNCEMENTS FEMA releases Audit-Related Guidance for Entities Receiving FEMA Public Assistance Funds Fact Sheet IAEM FEMA has published the Audit-Related Guidance for Entities Receiving FEMA Public Assistance Funds Fact Sheet. Every year, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General reports on issues with federal funds allocated for disaster assistance and recovery efforts. This Fact Sheet provides recipients and subrecipients of COVID-19 Public Assistance (PA) funds with audit-related guidance on documenting and accounting for disaster costs, minimizing the loss of FEMA funding, maximizing financial recovery, and preventing and reporting the fraud, waste, and abuse of disaster funds. The guidance also includes information on safeguarding personally identifiable information and tips for procurement and contracting during emergency and exigent circumstances. .SURVEY REQUESTS Researcher seeks input from emergency managers on study that will improve understanding of heat wave events Researchers from Michigan State University and the University of Alabama are conducting research into heat waves spatial patterns. The study is titled “Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Heat Waves Across the United States” and it is funded by the National Science Foundation. The goal of the project is to get a better understanding of these deadly events and help improve the ability to predict and model their impacts. Part of the research includes a short survey to gather more in-depth information on how heat waves are defined by state climatologists, forecasters, and emergency managers. The information provided on heat wave definitions will remain confidential and names will not be associated with responses. Emergency managers may help by taking the survey now.  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   .EM CALENDAR IAEM Awards Program explained in Apr. 20 webinar IAEM Please join the IAEM Awards Committee in a webinar on “2021 Awards and Recognition Information” at 2:00 p.m. EDT, Apr. 20. The webinar will cover a brief overview of the award categories, entry submission timeline, and suggestions for submitting an award-worthy entry. Register online. IAEM-USA Region 9 invites participation in 'Women in EM' webinar on Apr. 21 Region Talk is a quarterly webinar series hosted by IAEM-USA Region 9 devoted to addressing relevant topics suggested by the audience. Join us for our premiere webinar of the series as we discuss “Women in EM.” Listen in and ask questions of 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. Stay after the presentations for the networking component to talk with all the attendees and speakers. The event is being held Apr. 21, 2021, 6:00-8:00 p.m. EDT. Register now. CISA hurricane preparedness webinar will be held May 12 IAEM The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security (CISA) will hold a webinar, “2021 Hurricane Season Preparedness,” on May 12, 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. EDT. This webinar will focus on providing awareness of CISA’s role and resources in hurricane preparedness and response activities associated with systems that make landfall on the continental United States or U.S. territories, while in a COVID-19 environment. It also will feature presentations from the NOAA Liaison to the National Operations Center and FEMA’s National Business Emergency Operations Center. Register now. .IAEM-ASIA NEWS Why India and Nepal's forest fires are worrying scientists BBC News The lush-green mountains in the background usually make the famous Nainital lake in Uttarakhand state of northern India more picturesque. But for several weeks now haze from forest fires has hidden the mountains, and the lake's beauty has visibly shrunk. READ MORE .AROUND THE WORLD Nepal hit by wildfires AFP via Khmer Times 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 Explosive eruption rocks La Soufriere volcano on Caribbean's St. Vincent KING-TV An explosive eruption rocked La Soufriere volcano on the eastern Caribbean island of St. Vincent on Friday after the government ordered thousands to evacuate their homes nearby. Experts said the ash column rose more than 20,000 feet (6 kilometers) high and that the majority of the ash was headed northeast into the Atlantic Ocean. READ MORE Cyclone destroys homes, cuts power to 31,500 on Australia's west coast Reuters A tropical cyclone on Australia’s west coast destroyed several homes and cut electricity to tens of thousands of people overnight before weakening on Monday morning. Officials said around 70% of the structures in the coastal town of Kalbarri, about 500 kilometres (310 miles) north of state capital Perth, had sustained damage when the category three storm made landfall late on Sunday. READ MORE 6.1-magnitude earthquake kills 8, injures 39 in Indonesia Business Standard At least eight people were killed and 39 others injured when an earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale jolted Indonesia's East Java province, the National Disaster Management Agency said. The agency's spokesman Raditya Jati said on Sunday 1,189 houses were destroyed in several districts including Lumajang, Malang, Blitar, Jember, Trenggalek and Blitar. 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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