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July 16, 2020

IAEM NEWS

IAEM/Harvard NPLI Think Tank on July 20 will focus on EM leadership in COVID-19 IAEM The IAEM/Harvard NPLI Think Tank is back with a webinar on “Emergency Management Leadership in COVID-19,” scheduled for July 20, 1:00-2:00 p.m. EDT. Panelists are: Pete Gaynor, FEMA administrator; Deanne Criswell, commissioner, New York City Emergency Management, and Lenny Marcus, co-principal investigator and co-director, Harvard National Preparedness Leadership Initiative (NPLI). This discussion on emergency management leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic will be moderated by Richard Serino, senior fellow, Harvard NPLI. Register online.

Deadline for articles on 'Black Swan Events: Crumbling Infrastructure' has been extended to July 31 for the upcoming special focus issue of the IAEM Bulletin IAEM In August, the IAEM Editorial Committee will publish the third 2020 IAEM Bulletin special focus issue on the topic of “Black Swan Events: Crumbling Infrastructure.” For those who could not meet the scheduled deadline, the committee will continue to consider articles for this issue if received by July 31, 2020. Many of us are facing the challenges of crumbling infrastructure, including power grid failure, weakened dams and bridges, and general aging of the infrastructure as a whole. How do emergency managers prepare their communities when a potential disaster has not yet occurred? Share your experiences in an article for this issue. What did you and your community learn from an event that occurred due to crumbling infrastructure? Details are posted online. Direct any questions to IAEM Bulletin Editor Karen Thompson.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE UPDATE

IAEM Annual Conference – risk-free registration IAEM IAEM has you covered during the continued uncertainty of the pandemic. You can register now for the IAEM 68th Annual Conference & EMEX, with the assurance that your registration fees are refundable if you are unable to attend. Visit our conference website for more information about the conference, and register today.

IAEM SCHOLARSHIP

Don’t miss your chance to become a member of the IAEM Scholarship Commission – deadline to apply for open positions is July 31 IAEM The IAEM Scholarship Commission seeks applicants to fill several commission openings for the Class of 2022. The details on qualifications and openings are included in the Call for Commissioners. Applications must be submitted by July 31, 2020. Questions may be directed to IAEM Scholarship Program Director Dawn Shiley at (703) 538-3542.

IAEM-CANADA COUNCIL NEWS

Canada’s National Emergency Stockpile System: time for a new long-term strategy CMAJ Recent media reports identified that millions of personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies in Canada’s National Emergency Stockpile System (NESS) have expired and gone to waste. Government officials and health care organizations are also trying urgently to secure new stock to address widespread shortages. READ MORE

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IAEM-USA COUNCIL NEWS

NOAA watchdog chides agency for how it handled Hurricane Dorian’s ‘Sharpiegate’ Science The scandal that has become known as "Sharpiegate" damaged NOAA's credibility and may have undercut public trust in the agency's apolitical weather forecasting, Commerce Department Inspector General Peggy Gustafson said in a long-awaited report released recently. READ MORE

FEMA opens public comment period for the Individual Assistance Program and Policy Guide IAEM The Individual Assistance Program and Policy Guide (IAPPG) has been updated and is now available for public comment. Version 1.1 includes several changes that incorporate assistance authorized in the Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018. This new version is an interim version planned for release while the agency conducts a more thorough review and update of the IAPPG. It will supersede the March 2019 version and will be applicable to all Individual Assistance declarations on or after the date of publication. FEMA will accept public comments submitted between July 8 and Aug. 24. All comments should be submitted using the comments matrix. Any comments received before the close of the public comment period will be reviewed and considered for the final version of the guide to be released by the end of 2020. The draft Individual Assistance Program and Policy Guide and accompanying comments matrix are available on the FEMA website.

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT

EM NEWS

Digital contact tracing’s mixed record abroad spells trouble for U.S. efforts to rein in COVID-19 Government Executive Two public health measures – testing, to identify those infected, and contact tracing, to identify those who may have encountered an infected person – have become essential as countries around the world reopen their economies and fresh surges of COVID-19 infections appear. READ MORE

WHO launches independent panel to evaluate world’s COVID-19 response Homeland Preparedness News The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has derailed economics, killed more than 569,000 people, and left entire nations on lockdown, and recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced the formation of an independent panel to investigate the world’s handling of the disease. READ MORE

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HEALTHCARE EM UPDATES

The U.S. is repeating its deadliest pandemic mistake Route Fifty More than 40 percent of all coronavirus deaths in America have been in nursing homes. Here’s how it got so bad, and why there might still be more to come as cases surge in the Sun Belt. READ MORE

CLIMATE/WATER/WEATHER UPDATES

Coastal flooding to steadily increase, says new federal report The Orange County Register The high-tide flooding that inundated the streets of Newport Beach’s Balboa Peninsula over the Fourth of July weekend will grow ever-more common throughout the state — and nation — thanks to rising seas, according to a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s report released Tuesday, July 14. READ MORE

NEW INSIGHTS

From hurricanes to pandemics: Benefiting from crisis lessons learned Route Fifty The key to successfully navigating crisis is recognizing the six distinct phases of emotional reaction that come before, during and after a disaster. READ MORE

Cybersecurity needs its place in emergency management now CPO Magazine As fears spread about the coronavirus (COVID-19), another issue lurks beneath the surface. The virus has provided an opportunity for nefarious individuals to send phishing emails and malware under the guise of pandemic response information from the World Health Organization. READ MORE

Why we’re so bad at preparing for disasters National Review The COVID-19 pandemic is expected to cost the U.S. government trillions of dollars in spending and lost tax revenue in the absence of any second peak. While the government response to the crisis has been less than optimal, it’s interesting to note that in 2016, the World Health Organization described the America’s ability to handle a pandemic as “outstanding.” READ MORE

FEATURED ARTICLE Seismic Retrofits Make Good Business Sense. Here's Why Promoted by Optimum Seismic Saving lives is the ultimate concern when preparing for an earthquake, but building retrofits bring so many cost benefits that they make good business sense as well. Retrofits enhance a building’s value by extending its longevity and making it safer for the people who occupy it. But there are many other positive cost benefits as well. READ MORE

Partnerships prove vital during community coronavirus response TNS via Emergency Management In 2002, the local health district established the first group of Medical Reserve Corps in the state, and more than 400 local volunteers have answered the call to help, either with clinical duties or completing paperwork. READ MORE

A new way of looking at earthquake plans Domestic Preparedness With the inevitability of earthquakes in California, disaster preparedness and evacuation focused on the safety of lives is of utmost importance. The health, welfare, and safety of children are of paramount importance, as children are left in the protection of school district officials. READ MORE

DISASTER TECHNOLOGY NEWS

Report: Agencies should turn to AI before disaster strikes Nextgov The Defense Innovation Unit and Carnegie Mellon University’s Software Engineering Institute are collectively crafting datasets to teach AI tools to assess buildings and structures after natural crises occur, and ultimately augment and increase the accuracy of damage estimates. READ MORE

How does advanced technology save lives in China's flood-prone areas? CGTN From early warning systems to rescue missions, various forms of sophisticated technology have been used to save lives and property in China's fight against floods. READ MORE

How peer-to-peer texting could play a role in disaster and pandemic response Nextgov As America fights a global pandemic and braces for what could be an alarmingly active hurricane season, public safety agencies looking to modernize response efforts have a new option to participate in personal, two-way conversations directly with each other and with those they serve—via text message. READ MORE

Social media analytics to help in emergency IHLS The vast majority of tweets associated with an emergency with a hashtag are wishes of support and discussion about the event. However, on a much smaller scale, people in the emergency itself use Twitter to request aid, share resources, offer services, and provide first-hand reports of the situation. READ MORE

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CEM® UPDATE

Featured mentors are available to assist IAEM certification candidates IAEM IAEM has compiled a list of Featured Mentors who are available to help candidates navigate the IAEM certification process. A complete list of mentors is available on the IAEM website.

IAEM MEMBER NEWS

Curtis Brown to lead Virginia Department of Emergency Management Homeland Security Today Curtis Brown has been promoted to the position of State Coordinator of Emergency Management at the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM). He most recently served as the Chief Deputy State Coordinator. READ MORE

SURVEY REQUESTS

Scientists and researchers studying wildfires seek input Emergency Management A team of scientists and researchers is embarking on a five-year study program to develop actionable strategies for dealing with wildfires — both pre-ignition and post-ignition — and is looking for first responders, land managers and others with knowledge and experience of wildfires to join in the discussion. READ MORE

EM CALENDAR

EMAP Emergency Management Standard virtual training schedule for August 2020 announced IAEM The Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP) will be holding four sessions of its EMAP Emergency Management Standard Virtual Cohort Training from August through November 2020. The schedule for the month of August is Aug. 5, Aug. 12, Aug. 19, and Aug. 26, with all sessions at 12:00-5:00 p.m. EST. The goal is to train accreditation managers, assessors, and program staff on the 2019 Emergency Management Standard in a safe environment during COVID-19. Each training session will be four weeks in length, requiring the participation of attendees for one afternoon session and small group work weekly. At the completion of the training, participants may be certified as an accreditation manager and/or assessor. The registration fee is $250. Those interested in participating should complete the online survey. Direct questions to emap@emap.org. For dates of the September, October, and November training sessions, see the IAEM Calendar.

IAEM-ASIA NEWS

Monsoon-induced disasters occur every year but authorities ill-prepared to handle them The Kathmandu Post Every year during monsoon, many districts in Sudurpaschim Province get inundated by floods and wrecked by landslides.Though water-induced disasters claim lives and properties in the province year after year, the authorities are caught ill-prepared to mitigate the damage caused by the disasters. READ MORE

China increases emergency response for floods to Level II The Weather Channel China recently raised the emergency response for flood control to Level II, the second-highest in the response system, as heavy rains continued to lash vast stretches of the country. READ MORE

India kept improvising during coronavirus. Age of Pandemics needs a new public health law The Print The world has faced numerous epidemics and pandemics since the turn of the century. In 2006, Dr Larry Brilliant, an American epidemiologist who was part of the World Health Organization team that worked to eradicate smallpox in India, warned that the next pandemic could kill 165 million people. READ MORE

Harvard study: Bangladesh struggling in disaster preparedness, recovery Dhaka Tribune Bangladesh is inadequately prepared for disasters and recovering from their impacts, according to a study conducted by the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative (HHI). READ MORE

IAEM-EUROPA NEWS

Venice ambitious anti-flood system passes first trial Homeland Security News WIre Venice conducted the first test of a controversial dam system made up of 78 inflatable barriers, aiming to protect the city from severe flooding. The ambitious and costly dam system, launched in 2003, has been plagued by corruption and is nearly a decade behind schedule. READ MORE

Natural solutions boosted to help prevent floods BBC A new approach to combating floods in England, backing natural solutions with government cash, has been unveiled.It includes funding for schemes such as creating sustainable drainage systems - and building hollows in the ground to catch flood water in heavy rain, before storing it to tackle summer droughts. READ MORE

IAEM-MIDDLE EAST NEWS

Qatar- Senator seeks approval to create permanent evacuation centres MENAFN Senator Christopher Lawrence 'Bong Go has called anew for the early passage of Senate Bill (SB) 205, which seeks to create the Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR), and another measure mandating the establishment of mandatory evacuation centres nationwide. READ MORE

AROUND THE WORLD

More bodies recovered from various landslides in Myagdi; death toll reaches 27 The Kathmandu Post The death toll in Myagdi landslides has reached 27 as of Saturday evening.According to the Gandaki Province Police, twenty seven bodies were recovered until 8 pm on Saturday. The bodies have been identified with the help of locals. READ MORE

Japan battered by more heavy rain as floods death toll nears 60 Independent Torrential rain that caused deadly floods in southern Japan was moving north-east on Wednesday, battering large areas of Japan’s main island, swelling more rivers, triggering mudslides and destroying houses and roads. READ MORE

Over 700,000 marooned as flash floods wreak havoc in Bangladesh Outlook Flash floods triggered by incessant rainfall have left over 700,000 people marooned in Bangladesh, while inundating hundreds of villages and pushing the water levels of 14 rivers above the danger level, according to the media reports. READ MORE

77 dead in floods and mudslides in India’s Assam state Express & Star Six more people have died in floods and mudslides in north-eastern India’s Assam state, officials said.It takes the death toll to 77 from more than two weeks of heavy rains that caused one of Asia’s largest rivers to overflow. READ MORE

IAEM Dispatch   Connect with IAEM Dennis Hall, Director of Publishing, 469-420-2656 | Download media kit Bob Kowalski, Executive Editor, 469-420-2650 | Contribute news Elizabeth B. Armstrong, IAEM CEO, IAEM-USA Executive Director Dawn M. Shiley, IAEM Dispatch POC, IAEM Communications & Marketing Manager *Article contributed by the Emergency Manager's Weekly Report. International Association of Emergency Managers 201 Park Washington Court | Falls Church, VA 22046-4527 | 703-538-1795 | Contact Us 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