This message was sent to ##Email## To advertise in this publication please click here August 12, 2021 .IAEM CONFERENCE NEWS Register now to have your choice of pre- and post-conference training at the IAEM Annual Conference & EMEX IAEM The IAEM Annual Conference & EMEX, Oct. 15-21, has special pre- and post-conference training to meet everyone’s needs. Also, all registrants at the full or student rate may receive pre- and post-conference FEMA/DHS training at no additional cost. These courses are taught by EMI, NDPTC, TEEX, and more, and are available on first-reserved basis. Other pre-conference courses and events are available for a nominal fee. Participants of these training courses, with the exception of the Certification offerings, can apply their attendance certificate received by the course provider towards the IAEM Certification Program under the Training section. Don't miss this opportunity. If your program funds are not available yet, use our “Register Now, Pay Later" option and secure your spot in highly sought-after training courses both pre- and post-conference. Register today. IAEM is launching the Embark Career and Emerging Professionals Day for students, new, and emerging EM professionals IAEM If you are a student or new emergency manager you don't want to miss the EMbark Career and Emerging Professionals’ Day at the IAEM Annual Conference on Sun., Oct. 17. EMbark will share information on navigating academics and practice to successfully transition to the workplace, including networking, identifying mentors, and more. Learn more. .IAEM-CANADA COUNCIL NEWS Nominations for IAEM-Canada British Columbia treasurer close tomorrow, Aug. 13 IAEM The newly created IAEM-Canada British Columbia Region is still accepting submissions for Treasurer until tomorrow, Friday, Aug. 13, at 5:00 p.m. All submissions or inquiries can be directed to the IAEM Elections Liaison Rebecca Campbell. In order to submit your candidacy, submit a letter stating candidacy, a brief resume, a candidate statement in Word or text format, a photo provided as an image attachment (.jpg or .png) to the candidate’s nomination email. Don’t miss this chance to be a part of the leadership in this brand new region! .IAEM-OCEANIA COUNCIL NEWS Emergency minister defends bushfire grants 7 News Australia's federal government says 85 percent of its promised support from the devastating bushfires of 2019/20 has been delivered. The black summer bushfires burned 24 million hectares of land, destroyed 3000 homes and wiped out three billion animals. Emergency Management Minister Bridget McKenzie told parliament on Monday some $2.8 billion in federal support has been made available for recovery and 85 percent had been delivered. READ MORE  SPONSORED CONTENT Promoted by Veoci Upcoming Webinar: Reframing Resilience for Long Term Care Facilities The Town of Guilford Drives Cost Savings and Efficiencies Through Automation and Innovation Digitally Managing FEMA Reimbursements and Streamlining Recovery The Benefits of Cloud-Based Emergency Management Budget Season: Tips for an Emergency Management Program .IAEM-USA COUNCIL NEWS Don't miss your chance to vote in the IAEM-USA council and regional elections IAEM Voting is open in the IAEM-USA Council and IAEM-USA Regions 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 9 elections. All Individual, Affiliate, and Lifetime members received a unique, individual voting link on Aug. 2, and a reminder on Aug. 9. Use this link to cast your vote. If you can’t find your voting link, contact IAEM Elections Liaison Rebecca Campbell. Watch your inbox for the campaign articles from the national candidates. Each national candidate is able to have one campaign email sent to the members. Don’t forget to also read the candidate statements on the election page. Regional candidate statements are connected to each region’s webpage. FEMA makes nearly $5 billion available to at-risk areas for disaster preparation, recovery UPI President Joe Biden's administration is earmarking close to $5 billion to help U.S. communities become better prepared for natural disasters and extreme weather events, like hurricanes and tornadoes, the White House said Monday. Officials said more than $4.6 billion will be available in resilience grants intended to motivate communities to build infrastructure that can better withstand emergencies and mitigate related damage. READ MORE  PRODUCT SHOWCASE Innovative Strategies for Resilient, Prepared Communities For over 36 years, IEM’s team of nationally recognized emergency management, disaster recovery, and crisis response leaders have applied their expertise, experience, and innovative solutions helping communities prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate against disasters, public health emergencies, and other hazards. No matter the crisis, #TeamIEM is prepared to take on the challenge. How can we help you create a more resilient future? LEARN MORE .IAEM NEWS Only one day remains to submit nominations to the IAEM COVID Conversations Program IAEM COVID Conversations IAEM Do you know someone who went above and beyond to promote messaging during COVID? Maybe a church or business that has done clever messaging in your town, or a tribal partner that has messaged about masks being the sign of a warrior, or a small nonprofit that produced valentine cards encouraging social distancing? We want to share these great ideas so that we can be a partner in helping to create a healthier population in our world going forward. Nominations may be submitted online on the IAEM website. .EM NEWS Wildfire risk is growing everywhere, even as more Americans move into harm's way NPR via Boise State Public Radio There's a forgotten history that should serve as a warning — wildfire isn't unique to the West. Now the warming climate is increasing the risk of major wildfires across America. And more people are moving to fire-prone areas without realizing the danger. 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 .UNIVERSITY/COLLEGE/SCHOOL EM ISSUES CISA launches 2021 Back to School campaign IAEM The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is kicking off a 2021 Back to School campaign to help students, parents, teachers, and administrators remain safe from cybersecurity threats as they return to school. Developed in response to the rise in malicious cyber activity against K-12 and higher education institutions and the increase in remote learning, the campaign emphasizes the importance of cybersecurity and build awareness of cyber risks in the school setting. Throughout the month of August, CISA is highlighting ways students, parents, teachers, and school administrators can stay safe online, avoid becoming victims of a cyberattack, and learn best practices to improve cyber hygiene. CISA encourages everyone - students, parents, teachers, administrators, and chief information security officers of school districts to review the recently released stopransomware.gov – a new website designed to help individuals and organizations prevent attacks that can severely impact business processes and leave organizations without the data they need to operate and deliver mission-critical services. The website contains special resources for K-12 to assist institutions with their unique cybersecurity needs and has a number of resources for schools to explore and reference to learn how to stay safe online. There also is a special blog from Executive Assistant Director for Cybersecurity Eric Goldstein which highlights why cyber hygiene for educational institutions is so vital. Survey finds campuses having mixed success with access control, lockdowns Campus Safety Demand for access control, locks, visitor management and other solutions is on the rise, but the ability to lockdown is still a challenge. READ MORE .HEALTHCARE EM UPDATE Now Available: new ASPR Health Care Readiness Programs portfolio resources IAEM The ASPR National Healthcare Preparedness Programs (NHPP) Branch is excited to announce the posting of several new resources to the Health Care Readiness Programs website. There now are new web pages for every recipient state, territory, and major metropolitan area which highlight funding levels, program activities, and more. The 2020 Health Care Readiness Annual Report is available on the Performance Measures, Guidance, and Reports webpage. This inaugural annual report outlines the various core programs and activities within the Health Care Readiness Portfolio and how they have strengthened the preparedness and response capabilities of the U.S. health care system in 2020. The 2020 HPP Recipient Fact Sheets feature key information on each of the 62 HPP Annual Cooperative Agreement recipients, including trends in HPP funding, spotlights on preparedness and/or response, and highlights from their COVID-19 response activities. .CLIMATE/WATER/WEATHER UPDATES Britain to invest 5 million pounds in climate resilience research* Thomson Reuters Foundation Britain has launched a 5 million pound ($7 million) research programme to help better prepare for risks posed by climate change such as heatwaves and floods, the government said on Friday. The move comes a week after scientists warned Britain's weather is already being hit by climate change and following catastrophic floods across northwest Europe last month and wildfires in several Mediterranean countries this month. READ MORE  FEATURED ARTICLE   Taking Responsibility For Ourselves And Our Community Promoted by Optimum Seismic Inc. “We educate our neighbors so not only are we taking responsibility for our property, but realizing what we do on our property impacts our neighbor’s property, which impacts the neighborhood, which impacts the whole community…” Mountain Rim Fire Safe Council President Laura Dyberg recently told the Orange County Register. LEARN MORE   'Code red': UN scientists warn of worsening global warming* The Associated Press Earth is getting so hot that temperatures in about a decade will probably blow past a level of warming that world leaders have sought to prevent, according to a report released Monday that the United Nations called a “code red for humanity.” READ MORE .CYBERSECURITY NEWS CISA launches Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative Homeland Preparedness News The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) recently partnered with a group of stakeholders to initiate the Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative (JCDC). The endeavor to develop and implement cyber defense operations plans with federal interagency, private sector, and state, local, tribal, territorial (SLTT) government stakeholders would minimize risk before an incident and unify defensive actions in the event of an occurrence. 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 An escalating threat: How smart buildings can fall victim to a cyber attack Homeland Security Today It is well known that violent physical attacks against tall buildings are on the rise, but an even more concerning threat will take the form of cyberattacks, with the potential to be catastrophically as destructive. In response, security departments securing their tall buildings will now require more than protecting the physical area and surrounding perimeter from physical access by threat actors who might attack a building. READ MORE Yikes! Ransomware attacks up 151% so far this year Campus Safety Ransomware and other cyberattacks have been front and center in news cycles of late, but is the issue just getting more attention, thus the renewed emphasis on stopping it? That answer is an emphatic “no,” according to SonicWall, which says in a new report that ransomware attacks skyrocketed in the first half of 2021, surpassing the entire volume for 2020 in just six months. READ MORE .EM RESOURCES FEMA's Ready Campaign kicks off 2021 National Preparedness Month IAEM September is National Preparedness Month. Managed by FEMA’s Ready Campaign, in association with the Ad Council, the month is observed to encourage everyone to take steps to prepare for disasters. This year’s theme, “Prepare to Protect,” highlights how preparing for disasters is protecting everyone you love. For the first time ever, National Preparedness Month will include a series of Hispanic public service advertisements (PSAs), which will be released (in English and Spanish) mid-month, near the start of Hispanic Heritage Month. The PSAs will air during the peak of the hurricane and wildfire seasons. Throughout the month, Ready.gov/September will feature weekly themes that highlight basic preparedness activities that everyone can do. FEMA encourages all partners to participate. The event website contains free, easy to use social media content, additional resources, and more information to help NGOs and EM agencies spread the message. PRODUCT SHOWCASE Reach Your Prospects Every Week Thousands of industry professionals subscribe to association news briefs, which allows your company to push messaging directly to their inboxes and take advantage of the association's brand affinity. Connect with Highly Defined Buyers and Maximize Your Brand Exposure   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   FEMA releases CERT position documents IAEM FEMA has released National Qualification System Job Titles/Position Qualifications and Position Task Books for three National Qualification System Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) positions. The three positions are CERT chief, CERT team leader, and CERT volunteer. These resource typing documents will facilitate the sharing of deployable CERT positions at all jurisdictional levels. .NEW INSIGHTS Building codes support disaster preparedness & resilience IAEM Building codes and standards have long been a silent partner in the health, safety, and welfare of communities and are becoming increasingly more important in society. Today’s emergency managers and community leaders face a multitude of risks including extreme weather events such as hurricanes, tornados, straight-line winds, flooding, drought, and wildfires, as well as global risks from communicable disease outbreaks and environmental change. READ MORE 3 wildfire lessons for forest towns as Dixie Fire destroys historic Greenville, California* The Conversation Fear of what the future holds in a changing climate lends uncertainty to people’s daily lives. They want to know how to protect their homes, their families, their communities. But they also want to protect core values they cherish – good places to raise their children, freedom to choose their lifestyle, a sense of place in nature and belonging. READ MORE Why cities haven't prevented building disasters Route Fifty Some local governments are beginning to take steps to prevent the kind of tragedy that took the lives of nearly 100 people in a Surfside, Florida, condominium collapse in June. READ MORE .DISASTER TECHNOLOGY NEWS Thunderstorm warning will trigger mobile phone alert Government Technology The National Weather Service this month launched new thunderstorm warnings designed to better inform the public of their severity. The warnings include one that will trigger alerts on smartphones within the warning area. Thunderstorms, which can be life-threatening, are not all the same, and varying hazardous conditions include tornadoes, flash flooding and large hail, the weather service said. READ MORE RI first in the nation to deploy new disaster response tech* WPRI-TV When disaster strikes, communication is crucial. That’s why the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency and Gov. Dan McKee announced Tuesday that first responders will soon start using some groundbreaking technology. These so-called “Compact Rapid Deployables” are mobile units that use satellite connectivity to make sure first responders have access to cellular and wi-fi coverage wherever they are. READ MORE Robot dog helps infrastructure maintenance researchers Homeland Security News Wire A mobile robotic dog named “Spot,” able to climb stairs, navigate rough terrain, and respond to commands, offers researchers an autonomous technology for innovations in infrastructure maintenance and repair. READ MORE Satellites support disaster response to storm-driven landslides Eos Extreme precipitation can trigger deadly landslides. Satellite-based tools provide regional perspectives on landslide hazards, help assess risks in near-real time, and guide emergency responses. READ MORE Smart city technology drives efficient disaster response and recovery American City & County From heatwave-induced wildfires in the West to unrelenting hurricanes in the Southeast, natural disasters are increasing in frequency and severity due to climate change. As evidenced in 2020’s historic year of extreme cases, totaling 22 separate billion-dollar weather and climate disasters, we can expect this trend to continue. Today, wildfire season is longer and more severe than any other time in our nation’s history, in addition to hurricanes generating more destructive power. As storm severity grows over time, how city and state governments prepare, respond and recover is critical for building communities back to better than they were before the disaster struck. READ MORE .GRANT ANNOUNCEMENTS FEMA announces funding opportunities for BRIC and FMA Grant Programs IAEM FEMA posted funding notices for two hazard mitigation grant programs for $1.16 billion. The Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) and the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) provides funds to states, local communities, tribes, and territories for eligible mitigation activities to strengthen our nation’s ability to build a culture of preparedness. These programs fund projects that invest in a more resilient nation, reduce disaster suffering, and avoid future disaster costs. The application period opens on Sept. 30 and the funding notices are available on Grants.gov. This year’s BRIC grant amount is $1 billion. BRIC’s guiding principles have been revised to reduce future losses and promote equity, including prioritizing assistance that benefits disadvantaged communities as referenced in the Justice40 Initiative. Scoring criteria for the competitive grant program has been adjusted to incentivize mitigation actions that consider climate change and future conditions, populations impacted and economically disadvantaged rural communities. FMA’s grant amount this year is $160 million. FMA will use the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Social Vulnerability Index as a selection factor fin its competitive scoring process. This means underserved populations will receive more points for projects that benefit area their communities. Eligible applicants must apply for funding using FEMA Grants Outcomes, the agency’s grants management system. Submit applications in FEMA Grants Outcome Portal no later than 3:00 p.m. EST, Jan. 28, 2022. Homeland Security National Training Grant application period closing Aug. 16 IAEM Stakeholders seeking some of the $6 million in funding available as part of the fiscal year 2021 Homeland Security National Training Program Continuing Training Grants  must submit their applications no later than 11:59 p.m. EDT, Monday, Aug. 16. The funding notice, posted on grants.gov, makes funding available through a competitive process to help improve the nation’s ability to respond to and recover from all-hazards events. Applicants may contact the FEMA Grant Programs Directorate Call Center at (866) 927-5646 or via e-mail at ASK-GMD@dhs.gov for questions. FY 2021 Preventing School Violence: Deadlines extended for BJA's STOP School Violence Grant Program IAEM The U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) has extended the application deadlines for its FY 2021 STOP School Violence Program  solicitation. This solicitation seeks applications for funding under BJA’s Student, Teachers, and Officers Preventing (STOP) School Violence Grant Program, which is designed to improve K-12 school security. The program provides training for students, teachers, law enforcement, and school personnel to identify and prevent school violence. Applicants must first submit the SF-424 and the SF-LLL in Grants.gov  followed by the full application, including attachments, in JustGrants. The Grants.gov deadline has been extended to Aug. 13, 2021. The JustGrants deadline has been extended to Aug. 18, 2021. .EM CALENDAR IAEM-USA officer candidates will participate in a webinar tonight hosted by IAEM-USA Regions 2 and 3 IAEM Join IAEM-USA Regions 2 and 3 to hear from the candidates for the IAEM-USA second vice-President and treasurer. Also participating will be candidates for IAEM-USA Region 2 vice president and treasurer, and IAEM-USA Region 3 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 is open and will close on Aug. 31, so don’t miss this opportunity to hear their positions and answer your questions. The Meet the Candidates webinar will be held from 7:00-8:00 p.m. EDT, tonight. Aug. 12, and is open to all IAEM members. Register in advance. IAEM-USA President Judd Freed is a featured expert in upcoming Aug. 31 event on 'The Pandemic: A State and Local Perspective' IAEM In cooperation with the National Association of Counties and the International Association of Emergency Managers, DomPrep is hosting and producing 90 audio conversation that will discuss the pandemic and other concurrent incidents. Presenters are IAEM-USA President Judson M. Freed, CEM, director of emergency management and homeland security, Ramsey County, Minnesota; Nim Kidd, chief, Texas Division of Emergency Management; and Carol Moehrle, district director for public health, Idaho North Central District. The presentation will take place 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Aug. 31, 2021. Learn more and register on the event website. IAEM-USA Regions 2 and 3 to host 'Meet the Candidates' webinar tonight, Thursday, Aug. 12, at 7:00 p.m. EDT IAEM Join IAEM-USA Regions 2 and 3 to hear from the candidates for the IAEM-USA second vice president and treasurer. Also participating will be candidates for IAEM-USA Region 2 vice president and treasurer and IAEM-USA Region 3 president and secretary/treasurer. This webinar allows the candidates to speak about their qualifications to prospective voters. The online voting period for the 2021 election is open and will close on Aug. 31, so don’t miss this opportunity to learn more and have your questions answered. The Meet the Candidates webinar will be from 7:00-8:00 p.m. EDT, Thurs. Aug. 12, and is open to all IAEM members. Register in advance. Registration is now required for the ongoing 2021 Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) and Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) programs' webinar series IAEM The 2021 Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) and Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Webinar Series kicked off on Jul. 28, 2021, and will run through Oct. 13, 2021. Registration is Now Required. Given the popularity of these webinars, participants are now being asked to individually register for every event they would like to attend. Registration for each event is limited. Upcoming August webinars are BRIC and FMA FY 2020 Data and Trends, 2:00 p.m. EDT, Aug. 16; Where Equity Fits into the BRIC/FMA Programs, 2:00 p.m. EDT, Aug. 18; Severe Repetitive Loss/Repetitive Loss Mitigation Priorities, 2:00 p.m. EDT, Aug. 24; and Notice of Funding Opportunity for 2021 Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) Grants – Webinar #2, 2:00 p.m. EDT, Aug. 26. All webinars may be accessed from the webinar series page. .IAEM-EUROPA NEWS Lessons to be drawn from Turkey's worst-ever wildfires Hurriyet Daily News Although still cautious, Turkey can breathe a sigh of relief for now as almost all forest fires in Antalya and Muğla provinces have been put out. Rain brought relief to Antalya over the weekend while authorities are doing everything to extinguish the remaining fires in the province of Muğla’s Milas district and the province of Aydın’s Çine district. READ MORE Four explanations for why Europe is burning Homeland Security News Wire Barely halfway through summer, the area burned by wildfires raging through the Balkans, Italy, and the southeastern Mediterranean has already eclipsed yearly averages. READ MORE .IAEM-INTERNATIONAL NEWS NEMA, FEMA collaborate to improve Disaster Management in the FCT* Modern Ghana The risk which disaster pose to a nation, and its management cannot be overemphasized and it is in connection to this that the Director General of National Emergency Management Agency NEMA Mustapha Habib Ahmed on Friday 6th August 2021 received the Director General of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Alhaji Idris Abbas who led the management of his agency on official visit to the Headquarters of NEMA in Abuja. READ MORE .AROUND THE WORLD Wildfires in Algeria leave 42 dead, including 25 soldiers* The Associated Press At least 25 soldiers died saving residents from wildfires ravaging mountain forests and villages east of Algeria’s capital, the president announced Tuesday night as the civilian toll rose to at least 17. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune tweeted that the soldiers were “martyrs” who saved 100 people from the fires in two areas of Kabyle, the region that is home to the North African nation’s Berber population. READ MORE Greece faces 'disaster of unprecedented proportions' as wildfires ravage the country CNN Greece is facing a “natural disaster of unprecedented proportions,” as 586 wildfires burn in “all corners” of the country, according to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The Mediterranean nation is broiling under one of its worst heat waves in decades and firefighters continue to battle blazes across the country. Sixty-three organized evacuations have taken place in the past few days, Mitsotakis said in a televised address on Monday. READ MORE Death toll rises in Sudan floods Dabanga The official death toll from floods and torrential rains this year has risen to 24 across the states of Sudan. Many of the victims died from electrocution, or when buildings and houses collapsed. READ MORE Dixie Fire now second-largest wildfire in California state history. Here's what we know The Sacramento Bee The Dixie Fire, burning in Butte and Plumas counties, expanded an additional 16,000 acres heading into Monday after becoming the second-largest wildfire in state history over the weekend. The blaze has charred 489,287 acres (764 square miles) as of Monday morning. It surpassed the Mendocino Complex, which burned 459,123 acres in 2018 in Mendocino County and surrounding areas. READ MORE Indonesia's most volatile volcano Mount Merapi erupts Forbes Indonesia's most volatile volcano - Mount Merapi on the island of Java - erupted this morning. Java is Indonesia's most densely populated island and hosts fifteen active volcanoes. Mount Merapi is the most active of more than 120 active volcanoes in Indonesia. The 2.968-meter (9,737-foot) high stratovolcano has seen increased volcanic activity in recent weeks, releasing plumes of ash high into the air and with a dome of solidified lava growing rapidly on its summit. 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