This message was sent to ##Email## To advertise in this publication please click here July 22, 2021 .IAEM CONFERENCE NEWS IAEM adds new optional event to Annual Conference IAEM Attendees to the IAEM Annual Conference & EMEX, Oct. 15-21, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, may now select a new optional event: “IAP vs. IPA, Managing Incidents in Beer City, USA.” What’s the difference between an IAP and an IPA? One means disaster, and the other is a means to make it through a disaster. Craft beer and incident management have more in common than you think, and since the conference is in Beer City, USA, it is time to talk about it. Join local beer Cicerone (and beer podcaster) Pat McBride and local healthcare emergency manager, Mark VanDyke, in a fun light-hearted evening of discussion and beer tasting. The night will include a short presentation, beer tastings, laughter, and a chance to visit the heart of Beer City, USA — Founders Brewing. What beer is best to have in your cellar for your next at home tornado drill? Attendees will find out on Sunday, Oct. 17. There is a fee of $35 for this optional event which includes a flight of beer and light refreshments. Current registrants have received an email with instructions for adding this event. If you want to attend this event and have not registered for the conference, register now. This event is limited to 100 individuals. .IAEM-CANADA COUNCIL NEWS Warnings, lessons about B.C. wildfires were all in 2018 report, authors say CBC The authors of a B.C. government review of 2017's record-setting wildfire season are urging the province to take their report off the shelf. As more communities in B.C. brace for evacuations this wildfire season, one which already saw the town of Lytton destroyed, George Abbott and Chief Maureen Chapman say they warned the province about many of the very problems B.C. has faced this year. READ MORE .IAEM-USA COUNCIL NEWS Meet the candidates for IAEM-USA national office IAEM Join IAEM-USA Region 1 to hear from the candidates for the IAEM-USA second vice president and treasurer, as well as candidates for IAEM-USA Region 1 vice president and secretary/treasurer. This webinar will allow the candidates to speak about their qualifications to prospective voters. The online voting period for the 2021 election will be open from Aug. 2-31, 2021. Don’t miss your chance to ask your questions of the candidates. The “Meet the Candidates” webinar will be from 6:00-7:00 p.m. EDT, July 28. No registration is necessary. Anyone may join for free via Zoom. FEMA watchdog: Agency fails to require resilience in disaster rebuilds Engineering News-Record The Federal Energy Management Agency has failed to develop a program under mandate from a 21-year-old disaster response law that funds efforts to prevent recurring damage to roads and bridges and other infrastructure from extreme weather, the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security’s Inspector General says in a new report. The watchdog says the agency claims its priorities have been responding to numerous major disasters in that time frame. FEMA failed to publish regulations and policies as required by the 2000 Disaster Mitigation Act that would provide incentives to protect structures from future repetitive damage and control costs of federal disaster assistance. READ MORE  SPONSORED CONTENT Promoted by Veoci Budget Season: Tips for an Emergency Management Program Planning for All Hazards: How Texas SB1614 May Reframe Resilience for Long Term Care Atlas Air's Virtual Method of Collaboration and Response How NYU Maintains a Common Operating Picture During COVID-19 What does a virtual EM and daily ops tool look like? View our On-Demand webinars to find out NEMA seeks nominations for the Lacy E. Suiter Distinguished Service Award IAEM The nominations period for the Lacy E. Suiter Distinguished Service Award has opened and will close on Aug. 27. This award is presented to an individual that has made cumulative outstanding contributions directly to emergency management preparedness, mitigation, response or recovery at a local, state, regional or national level. These career accomplishments in emergency management should be of unusual merit. The award may be presented in conjunction with the NEMA Annual Forum on Oct. 14 in Cleveland, Ohio. The NEMA Board of Directors, past presidents and previous recipients are responsible for reviewing nominations and making award determinations. The group is interested in specific activities and accomplishments of the nominee rather than general background. Self-nominations will not be accepted. Nominations should include a one-page summary of those accomplishments or activities you believe merit consideration for an award. Nominations must include the nominations form and should be submitted to tsheets@csg.org. .IAEM NEWS IAEM seeks articles for IAEM Bulletin special focus on partnership, collaborations and smart practices IAEM IAEM has extended the deadline to July 26 for the August IAEM Bulletin. This special focus issue will take a deep look at partnerships, collaborations, and smart practices in emergency management. The importance of partnerships, collaboration, and best (SMART) practices cannot be overstated. With shrinking resources, more global interconnections, and greater challenges, we must put words into action. Smart practices directly accomplish useful work in a cost-effective manner. While it is difficult to define or document a claim to a BEST practice, and even a claim of GOOD practice may be too grand, what are the examples of SMART practices in your EM life? Review the IAEM Bulletin Author Guidelines for tips on writing. Submit your article to IAEM Bulletin Editor John Osborne at john@iaem.com by Monday, July 26.  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 .UNIVERSITY/COLLEGE/SCHOOL EM ISSUES State responses to new CDC guidance on masks in schools run the gamut Campus Safety Guidelines issued recently by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) may suggest fewer restrictions when it comes to mask-wearing nationwide for K-12 schools, but some states are in flux about whether to follow the CDC’s recommendations. READ MORE 11 factors to consider when selecting security technology for your campus Campus Safety Writes Lt. John Weinstein: "In 2019, I wrote about a methodology that could be used to evaluate and select various safety and security technologies. The process entailed identifying an organization’s overarching goals (which should drive every acquisition decision) and then all the resources on hand or needed to meet these goals. While this methodology is useful for conducting a meta-analysis of organization capabilities and needs, it is less useful for evaluating the particular appropriateness of a single technology." 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 .HEALTHCARE EM UPDATE Security and health analysts highlight path towards a global pathogen early warning system Homeland Security Today As part of a major effort to address growing biothreats, the Council on Strategic Risks (CSR) released a report on July 20 that both assesses the current state of biosurveillance in the world, and offers strong recommendations for how to build a “global pathogen early warning system” – one designed to catch the full range of biological threats before they become devastating pandemics. The report was authored by a team with deep experience in both the national security and health fields. READ MORE .CLIMATE/WATER/WEATHER UPDATES Climate change studies reveal deadly effects of the Pacific Northwest heatwave Homeland Security Today The World Weather Attribution (WWA) initiative, a collaboration team of diverse climate scientists in researching extreme weather events around the globe, released a report on the impacts of the recent deadly heatwave in Pacific Northwest America. Since the end of June 2021, the Pacific Northwest areas of the U.S. and Canada were hit with extremely high temperatures that broke records in many cities. WWA’s analysis reveals that the heatwaves are likely the result of a “human-induced climate change” and aims to address the meteorological drivers and warnings to better prepare for the effects of climate change. READ MORE .CYBERSECURITY NEWS DHS, DOJ launch first one-stop ransomware resource at Stopransomware.gov Homeland Security Today As part of the ongoing response, agencies across the U.S. government announced new resources and initiatives to protect American businesses and communities from ransomware attacks. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), together with federal partners, have launched a new website to combat the threat of ransomware. StopRansomware.gov establishes a one-stop hub for ransomware resources for individuals, businesses, and other organizations. The new StopRansomware.gov is a collaborative effort across the federal government and the first joint website created to help private and public organizations mitigate their ransomware risk. READ MORE DHS announces new cybersecurity requirements for critical pipeline owners and operators Homeland Security Today In response to the ongoing cybersecurity threat to pipeline systems, DHS’s Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has announced the issuance of a second Security Directive that requires owners and operators of TSA-designated critical pipelines that transport hazardous liquids and natural gas to implement a number of urgently needed protections against cyber intrusions. READ MORE  FEATURED ARTICLE   Will Your Building Survive The Next Big Earthquake? Promoted by Optimum Seismic Inc. It’s been a difficult year for owners of rental income properties, with up to 20% of Southern California tenants behind on rent and many owing balances in the tens of thousands of dollars, according to various reports. LEARN MORE   .EM RESOURCES FEMA releases Building Private-Public Partnerships guide IAEM FEMA has released the “Building Private-Public Partnerships guide.” The guide provides recommendations and best practices for jurisdictions to establish and maintain a private-public partnership to help coordinate mitigation, response and recovery planning and preparedness. The guide is an effort to build on the recent National Response Framework update. The update focuses on non-governmental capabilities to stabilize community lifelines and the continued need for aligning government efforts with the private sector. Private-public structures exist to reflect the interconnected and complex environment that emergency managers operate, especially within the context of more frequent and severe incidents even before the COVID-19 pandemic. FEMA will host two 60-minute engagement webinars to discuss the guide and answer stakeholders’ questions. The webinars will be open to the whole community and advance registration is required. Webinar 1 will be held at 1:00 p.m. EDT, July 26; Webinar 2 will be held at 3:00 p.m. EDT, July 29. FEMA updates public works Resource Typing documents for efficient mutual aid response Homeland Security Today The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reached out to the American Public Works Association (APWA) to aid in updating public works resource typing documents that are part of the online Resource Typing Library Tool (RTLT). The RTLT documents, as they relates to positions (as compared to equipment), help to establish the minimum qualifications for someone filling this role. READ MORE  PRODUCT SHOWCASE Disaster Recovery. Simplified Deloitte’s Close as You Go (CAYG) is a secure cloud-based software platform built to help agencies manage recovery documentation for procurement and contracting, model policies and procedures, and plan for disaster. Developed alongside specialists in preparedness and response, CAYG helps you prepare, so you can focus on recovery. LEARN MORE .NEW INSIGHTS Can the destructive bootleg fire teach us to prevent wildfires before they start? Homeland Security News Wire More and more, people are moving to less populous, woodland regions of the country, a phenomenon that puts more people in the path of potential wildfires and requires critical utilities such as power and water to be transported long distances from their origins. This creates a system of infrastructure that’s vulnerable to major disruptions—which is exactly what happened in the Bootleg fire. READ MORE Climate change hits poorer communities harder. For some, FEMA's grants are out of reach. NBC News Sharon Louis worries that her Chicago neighborhood on the city’s South Side is on borrowed time. Waves from Lake Michigan batter apartments along the coastline. Sinkholes from erosion pockmark the predominantly Black and working-class community’s streets. One crater, Louis recalled, opened up next to a streetlight. To better protect the residents, Chicago applied to a new Federal Emergency Management Agency program designed to help communities prepare before natural disasters hit. The city hoped to receive $851,250 to build a stone barrier along South Shore Drive. But residents and environmental advocates were disappointed to learn this month that FEMA had not chosen their project, leaving the construction of the barrier in limbo. READ MORE .DISASTER TECHNOLOGY NEWS Telecommunication overload — the 2021 edition Domestic Preparedness “Telecommunication overload” is a commonly used term that is a regular feature of various emergency scenarios. However, one fact needs to be remembered. Although some copper carrier network pieces are still in place in the United States, nearly all new investment is going into fiber backbones and updated wireless services. Fiber networks are designed to handle extra capacity easily and wireless technology is advancing rapidly. READ MORE FEMA trailers: Is there a better housing solution? Government Technology The two houses next to each other in north Lake Charles , with their spacious porches framed by wood railings, don't stand out much. They appear well-kept and inviting. The average person might never know they were built in a factory. The three-bedroom modular structures were put in place in the years after Hurricane Rita struck Louisiana in 2005 as part of a program for post-disaster housing. READ MORE Researchers create drone swarms that can detect gas leaks, other threats Nextgov A new research paper documents the creation of the first autonomous small drone swarm that detect gas leaks as well as other possible chemical threats and can map rooms without the aid of GPS. The research may be particularly relevant to the military, which is increasingly interested in small drones that perform well together with little human control and in tight places where GPS can’t reach—like underground—as well as drones that can be used in situations where chemical weapons or other hazards pose a threat to humans. READ MORE Drones to uncover causes of Florida building collapse iHLS A team of Florida State University (FSU) drone experts has been working at the site of the collapsed building in Surfside for already three weeks using drone technology, first to assist in the possible location of units and survivors, and now taking images that track the post-demolition process. The team has been playing a critical role by capturing more than 35,000 images it hopes will help incident commanders and NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) determine the causes of the collapse. READ MORE .GRANT ANNOUNCEMENTS FEMA releases grants for Homeland Security National Training Program IAEM FEMA has released the funding notice for $6 million in competitive funding available as part of the fiscal year 2021 Homeland Security National Training Program Continuing Training Grants. The funding notice, posted on grants.gov, will be available to applicants through a competitive process to help improve the nation’s ability to respond to and recover from all-hazards events. Applicants must submit applications for no later than 11:59 p.m. EDT, Aug. 16, 2021. Fiscal year 2021 program priority areas consist of select emerging threats and gaps that align with strategic priorities that recipients are expected to incorporate into products and activities funded through the continuing training grants program to build capability across the nation. Focus areas for fiscal year 2021 are: public health emergencies, including pandemic preparedness and response; mass care—such as community sheltering and relocation assistance; and tribal and rural preparedness. DHS announces funding allocations for FY 2021 preparedness grants Homeland Security Today Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas announced the final allocations for $475 million for seven Fiscal Year 2021 competitive preparedness grant programs. These allocations, together with the almost $1.5 billion in non-competitive grant funding announced earlier this year, total nearly $2 billion in FY 2021 to help prepare our Nation against man-made threats and natural disasters. The grant programs provide funding to state, local, tribal and territorial governments, nonprofit agencies, and the private sector in building and sustaining capabilities to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism and other disasters. READ MORE .EM CALENDAR FEMA co-hosts Building Resilience Through Private-Public Partnerships Conference IAEM FEMA, in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Northern Command and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, is hosting the 10th Annual Building Resilience Through Private-Public Partnerships Conference July 27-28. The COVID-19 pandemic impacted every community, but recovery has not been the same. The pandemic exposed deep-rooted vulnerabilities and highlighted a need to work together to increase resilience and elevate the equity of every individual. Conference discussions will address collaboration required among private, public and nonprofit sectors to help mitigate the effects of all disasters. The conference will focus on building resilience against all hazards while looking ahead to future emergencies and how we can be better prepared through greater collaboration across sectors. Register today. 2021 Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) and Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) webinar series announced IAEM Mark your calendars for the 2021 Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) and Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Program Webinar Series. The 2021 BRIC and FMA Programs’ Webinar Series will bring FEMA subject-matter experts and partners together to provide technical information, best practices, tools and resources regarding these grant programs. There will also be a review of the fiscal year 2021 Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) for BRIC and FMA. The webinars are designed for leaders in states, local communities, tribes and territories, as well as private sector entities, private non-profit organizations, and individuals interested in learning more about the BRIC and FMA grant programs and strategies for how to apply for them. The full list of webinars is on the webinar series website. The first webinar is on July 28, 2:00-3:30 p.m. EDT and will cover “Climate Change, Future Conditions, and Nature-Based Solutions.” For all webinars, connect online or join by phone at 886-448-3399. All sessions will be recorded and posted to FEMA’s YouTube channel. .IAEM-EUROPA NEWS Report from Europe's flood zone: Researcher calls out early warning system gridlock amid shocking loss of life Homeland Security News Wire Writes Jeff Da Costa: "In my Ph.D. research, I study how we can effectively adapt to the consequences of increasing severe weather events under climate change and what can be done to prepare for them and mitigate their impact. One area I’m interested in is early warning systems, or the lack thereof, during extreme weather events, such as the recent floods in western Europe. While the climate is certainly a complex system that is difficult to predict with any certainty, the unfolding catastrophe is a sad reminder of just how inadequate early warning systems can be." READ MORE Germany's water management caught between flood and drought Homeland Security News Wire For a long while now, there has been talk of a drought in Germany; now, many regions have been deluged with water. How do authorities prepare for these two extremes? Water is a vital resource for life, but it can become a deadly danger. The flood disaster in western Germany has highlighted both these opposing aspects at the same time. READ MORE Germany questions warning system after deadly floods AFP via France 24 As Germany mourns more than 150 people who died in floods and begins a mammoth clean-up task, questions are mounting about whether the country's weather warning system failed to keep citizens safe. Although meteorological services had forecast torrential rain and flash floods for western Germany last week, many residents said they were caught off-guard by rapidly rising waters that destroyed roads, bridges and homes. READ MORE Deadly floods inundated parts of Europe, but the Netherlands avoided fatalities. Here's why CNN As communities devastated by the catastrophic flooding in parts of western Europe start picking up the pieces, they are wondering how it all went so wrong, so fast. After all, Europe has a world-leading warning system that issued regular alerts for days before floods engulfed entire villages. But at least 195 people still died in Germany and Belgium, in floods that came quickly and forcefully. The Copernicus Emergency Management Service said it sent more than 25 warnings for specific regions of the Rhine and Maas river basins in the days leading up to the flooding, through its European Flood Awareness System (EFAS), well before heavy rains triggered the flash flooding. READ MORE Floods lay bare Europe's 'gigantic task' in averting future climate damage Reuters The catastrophic floods that swept northwest Europe last week were a stark warning that stronger dams, dykes and drainage systems are as urgent as long-term climate change prevention, as once-rare weather events become more common. READ MORE .AROUND THE WORLD Landslides, wall collapse, electrocution: 33 killed, 6 injured in 5 rain-related disasters across Mumbai The Free Press Journal A total of 32 people were killed and six others were left injured in five separate rain-related incidents that occurred due to the virtually non-stop, heavy downpour through late Saturday and early Sunday in Mumbia. There were two landslides, one house wall collapse and two incidents of electrocution reported in the city. READ MORE Death toll in Europe floods rises to at least 150 as water begins to recede Gruntstuff The dying toll from disastrous flooding in western Europe rose above 150 on Saturday as rescue employees toiled to clear up the devastation and forestall additional harm. Police mentioned that greater than 90 folks are actually identified to have died in western Germany’s Ahrweiler county, one of many worst-hit areas, and extra casualties are feared. On Friday, authorities gave a dying toll of 63 for Rhineland-Palatinate state, the place Ahrweiler is situated. READ MORE Belgium: Flood death toll rises to 31 WION The number of Belgian residents who have been confirmed dead has risen to 31. The devastating floods continue to affect several European countries. Authorities said they were calling an end to rescue operations. READ MORE China floods: 12 dead in Zhengzhou train and thousands evacuated in Henan BBC Twelve people have died after record-breaking rainfall flooded underground railway tunnels in China, leaving passengers trapped in rising waters. Video shared on social media shows evening commuters just managing to keep their heads above water. Water is seen rushing onto platforms. More than 500 people were eventually rescued from the tunnels in Henan province, officials said. READ MORE Wildfire smoke from the West's massive blazes stretches all the way to the East Coast CNN The massive Bootleg Fire in Oregon has scorched an area larger than Los Angeles, and it’s only 30% contained. The fire is so large and is burning so hot that it’s creating its own weather. It’s just one of the many blazes raging in the West; the National Interagency Fire Center is watching 80 large fires across 13 states this week – a testament to just how destructive the US wildfire season has become. 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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