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.ANNUAL CONFERENCE NEWS
Support your EM education — register for the IAEM Reimagined Annual Conference on-demand content
IAEM
More than 1,500 emergency managers from around the world participated in the IAEM Reimagined Virtual Conference, and now on-demand access is available. Don’t miss the opportunity to explore almost 50 hours of educational sessions at the bargain price of just $199 for individuals (member and non-member) and $99 for student members. Content will be available until Feb. 16, 2021, and you will be able to claim contact hours for credit towards IAEM’s Certified Emergency Manager Program. Included on-demand are all breakout sessions, plenary speakers, and EMvision Talks. Also included are video overviews of the latest EM products and services in the EMEX Virtual Hall, 26 poster presentations representing significant insight from peers, and the 2020 Yearbook of Honors. Check out the conference program here, and register for on-demand access here.
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.IAEM-CANADA COUNCIL NEWS
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Artificial intelligence can process billions of pieces of publicly available data to alert first responders to an emergency. First Alert, Dataminr’s product for the public sector, uses AI to deliver relevant, breaking news alerts as events are happening. Learn how AI is transforming emergency management in this critical webinar.
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.IAEM-OCEANIA COUNCIL NEWS
Bushfires in a wet year have Australia's scientists looking to climate change*
Reuters
In a summer that was supposed to be unusually cool and wet, Australian builder Rob Lye did not expect to be trapped by a bushfire on sub-tropical Fraser Island and battling with his neighbours to protect their homes.
With climate change overriding some of Australia's more moderating weather forces, scientists say wildfires like the one that tore through half of the island's forest in recent weeks are increasingly likely.
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After fires, Australia gets ready for floods*
Reuters
Just days after bushfires threatened an Australian World Heritage site, thousands were bracing for floods on the subtropical east coast on Sunday, with beaches closed and the authorities urging people to sandbag their homes.
With as much as 475 millimetres (18.7 inches) of rain in the previous 24 hours, the Bureau of Meteorology issued a "severe weather warning" for the border area between New South Wales and Queensland states, a heavily populated area that includes the Queensland state capital Brisbane.
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.IAEM-USA COUNCIL NEWS
One of these 5 officials could be Biden's FEMA chief
E&E News
The names of five prominent emergency management officials are circulating as possible candidates to run the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the incoming Biden administration, which is facing pressure to fill the slot quickly.
Sources close to FEMA tell E&E News that the five officials include Deanne Criswell, commissioner of the New York City Emergency Management Department, and James Featherstone, a longtime emergency management leader in Los Angeles.
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Emergency experts contemplate what FEMA should do next
Claims Journal
Perhaps no single federal agency has been tested as much by 2020 as the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
It has been a year of disaster. In addition to COVID-19, it was the busiest Atlantic hurricane season on record, and wildfires in California have consumed 4.1 million acres (another record) and are still blazing in December.
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Columbia International University’s online Master of Arts in Disaster Relief and Emergency Management provides students the knowledge and skills necessary to respond to natural disasters and crises while demonstrating Christian compassion, service, and witness. Earn your degree in Disaster Relief & Emergency management entirely online in as little as 12 months.
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FEMA announces $40 million for Flood Mitigation Assistance Program grants
IAEM
FEMA announced an additional $40 million in funding is available for the Flood Mitigation Assistance grant program. This increases the funding amount for Fiscal Year 2020 from $160 million to $200 million. The increase in funding is a result of recovered funds – available funds for projects from previous grant cycles that were completed under budget or were not implemented. This competitive grant program assists state, tribal and territorial governments as applicants in building a culture of preparedness by strengthening our nation’s ability to reduce disaster losses and protect life and property from future disaster damage. The Notice of Funding Opportunity is updated with the new grant amount. Additional details such as eligibility, funding guidelines and evaluation criteria have not changed and are available on FEMA.gov. The application period opened Sept. 30. Eligible applicants must apply for funding using the new FEMA Grants Outcome (FEMA GO). All applications must be submitted in the FEMA Go Portal no later than 3:00 p.m. EST on Jan. 29, 2021.
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Cal OES says vulnerable people in California now more wildfire resilient and disaster ready
Sierra Sun Times
As California grapples with the unprecedented twin challenges of wildfires and a global pandemic, Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) are pleased to announce that Listos California, the transformative disaster preparedness campaign anchored at Cal OES, has surpassed the goal set by Governor Newsom and state lawmakers to engage at least one million socially vulnerable Californians with accessible, in-language and culturally competent disaster readiness information.
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.EM NEWS
Journal of Emergency Management issues call for articles for special issue on Mental Health in Emergency Management
IAEM
The Journal of Emergency Management (JEM) is preparing a special issue addressing the mental health issues surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. JEM seeks manuscript submissions focused on the impact of COVID-19 on individuals, organizations, and first responders, with a special emphasis on mental health and trauma during the global pandemic. Additionally, they seek papers that address the confounding nature of COVID-19 as it relates to other disasters faced during the pandemic and the short and long-term mental health effects on the emergency management profession, the related disciplines and laypersons in the community. Articles will be accepted until Mar. 31, 2021. The special issue will be available through open access. See the full call for articles.
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FEMA partnership gives IPAWS emergency alerts big visibility*
Homeland Security Today
Rapidly alerting the public to what is about to occur is a key mitigation and readiness strategy of FEMA. It is one of the methods the agency has used since its inception through various radio systems since the days the nation advanced its Civil Defense posture during the Cold War.
Most recently, the Emergency Alert System (1997), which replaced the Emergency Broadcast System (1963), has been replaced with FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert & Warning System (IPAWS).
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ReadyWise – Leader in Emergency Food Storage specializes in the production and distribution of high quality freeze-dried food designed to meet a range of disaster relief and emergency food support needs. We have extensive experience providing tailored solutions to a variety of government, healthcare, military and other institutional customers throughout the world.CALL US TODAY 800-393-2570 or email dmarsiglia@ReadyWise.com
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The mind-boggling logistics of transporting one of the most important vaccines in history
CNN
Two coronavirus vaccines are in line to be authorized for emergency use in the United States, and a massive transportation network is standing at the ready once they receive government clearance.
The delicate, mind-boggling logistics of distributing the vaccines will be crucial. The challenges of moving millions of doses — over thousands of miles and under strict temperature specifications — are enormous.
Here's what we know about how vaccines will be physically transported from drug manufacturers to medical facilities around the world.
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COVID-19 documents accessed in cyberattack on European Medicines Agency*
Homeland Security Today
The European Medicines Agency (EMA), which authorizes medicines for use across the European Union, has been hit by a cyberattack and documents relating to a COVID-19 vaccine have been accessed.
In a statement, EMA said it had launched a full investigation, in close cooperation with law enforcement and other relevant entities, which demonstrated that data has been breached. “An initial review revealed that a limited number of documents belonging to third parties were unlawfully accessed. The concerned companies are being informed. The Agency remains fully functional and its timelines related to the evaluation and approval of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments are not affected.”
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Fire official urges governors to be proactive on hardening homes against wildfire
Route Fifty
States and localities need to be taking a hard look at the building standards for houses located in wildfire-prone areas, a leading fire official told governors from western states this week.
Kim Zagaris, wildfire policy and technology advisor for the Western Fire Chiefs Association, emphasized the importance of both updating building codes to make newly built homes more resilient to fire and also upgrading existing structures so they’re less likely to burn.
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.UNIVERSITY/COLLEGE/SCHOOL EM ISSUES
FBI, CISA, state leaders warn schools about ransomware threats
Nextgov
Federal agencies joined the Multi-state Information Sharing and Analysis Center in issuing an advisory to the education sector that suggests institutions pay closer attention to their cybersecurity as demand for remote learning environments continues.
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The University of Washington's online Master of Infrastructure Planning & Management program prepares you to lead development of the next generation of critical infrastructure systems — resilient, secure and accessible. Earn your degree completely online in two years of part-time study. Apply now to start in fall 2021.
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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.
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.HEALTHCARE EM UPDATE
COVID vaccine could end pandemic but millions will skip it*
TNS via Emergency Management
Although the numbers appear to have improved since drugmakers Pfizer and Moderna reported their impressive trial results last month, about 40 percent of Americans tell poll takers they don't plan to get a COVID vaccine.
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.CLIMATE/WATER/WEATHER UPDATES
2020: When a pandemic and extreme weather collided
The Weather Channel
The coronavirus pandemic took hold in the United States in March, just as the annual severe weather season was kicking off.
At the same time states were issuing lockdowns, closing schools and telling everyone to stay home, forecasters were warning of tornadoes and flooding and, as the year went on, hurricanes, heat waves and wildfires.
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Pew-led network helps states plan for rising costs and impacts of flooding
Pew
Long after the COVID-19 pandemic ends, state governments will continue to face monumental challenges, including what promises to be a sustained future with increased climate-related disaster risks. This grim reality, long forecast by climate scientists, has been made clear yet again in 2020, a record year for wildfires and hurricanes. And this problem is growing at a time when states are already grappling with budget shortfalls that are unlikely to ease soon.
To help, The Pew Charitable Trusts launched the State Resilience Planning Group (SRPG), a forum for officials from numerous states to collaborate on innovative practices and lessons learned as they develop and implement comprehensive resilience plans.
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.EM RESOURCES
FEMA releases NIMS nonprofit organizations fact sheet
IAEM
The “NIMS Implementation Fact Sheet for Nonprofit Organizations” identifies specific critical activities for nonprofit organizations implementing the National Incident Management System (NIMS) into their organizational incident response plans. The fact sheet identifies the specific activities that are involved in NIMS implementation for state, local, tribal and territorial nonprofit organizations. Nonprofit organizations are valuable partners to FEMA and play an important role in preparedness, response and recovery efforts. FEMA National Integration Center updated the fact sheet with current NIMS implementation information to help guide and promote the incorporation of the National Incident Management System into nonprofit organizational incident response plans. The fact sheet revisions are part of a collaborative effort comprised of a dozen nonprofit subject matter experts and stakeholders from various government levels. The document and further NIMS-related information and resources are available on the FEMA website.
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CISA releases the Mitigating Attacks on Houses of Worship Security Guide
Homeland Security Today
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released the Mitigating Attacks on Houses of Worship Security Guide and Fact Sheet to help houses of worship understand and mitigate potential threats. Houses of worship face a breadth of threats on a daily basis, and the security guide makes a number of recommendations based on an analysis often years of data on targeted attacks on houses of worship. Threats range from physical attacks such as active shooter incidents, arsons, or bombings to less visible cyberattacks.
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.NEW INSIGHTS
Crisis leadership: Leading through turmoil
Domestic Preparedness
The year 2020 has certainly had an abundance of turmoil and uncertainty: a global pandemic, a roller coaster economy, a national awakening to racial injustice, and a contested presidential election. All leaders have the required skills to manage in times of calmness. However, in times of turmoil and uncertainty, the leader that can act decisively and communicate a vision forward will be the best performer in successfully leading their team through a crisis, a transition, and uncertainty.
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Warnings unheeded, again: What the intelligence lessons of 9/11 tell us about the coronavirus today
Homeland Security Today
Erik Dahl, an associate professor of National Security Affairs at the Naval Postgraduate School, argues that the coronavirus pandemic represents a global intelligence failure on the part of the traditional intelligence community as well as the national and international medical intelligence and surveillance systems designed to detect and prevent outbreaks just such as this one.
Comparing these failures with intelligence failures of the past such as the 9/11 attacks can help us understand how we got to where we are today—and even more important, how we might prevent future disasters by avoiding these failures next time.
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Pandemic backlash jeopardizes public health powers, leaders*
The Associated Press
Tisha Coleman has lived in close-knit Linn County, Kansas, for 42 years and never felt so alone.
As the public health administrator, she’s struggled every day of the coronavirus pandemic to keep her rural county along the Missouri border safe. In this community with no hospital, she’s failed to persuade her neighbors to wear masks and take precautions against COVID-19, even as cases rise. In return, she’s been harassed, sued, vilified and called a Democrat, an insult in her circles.
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Disaster Preparedness | Lessons learned: How the county's emergency services personnel are planning through multiple disasters
Santa Cruz Sentinel
Six months after the CZU August Lightning Complex fire swept through more than 86,000 acres and destroyed upward of 900 homes in northern Santa Cruz County, skies are bluer for Emergency Services Manager Rosemary Anderson.
That’s not strictly because residents are experiencing clean air and record high temperatures in December instead of lung-filling ash and burnt orange flames to high heaven, but also because the county and its community partners have learned the value of fortifying and funding the jurisdiction’s disaster preparedness operations.
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.DISASTER TECHNOLOGY NEWS
Can volcano forecasting make visiting Whakaari safe again?
Eos
One year ago, the volcano on Whakaari/White Island erupted in New Zealand, killing nearly two dozen tourists and critically injuring many others. Survivors and family members of the victims have criticized companies for holding tours during heightened volcanic activity.
Now, scientists at the University of Auckland have invented a new way to forecast volcanic eruptions like the one on Whakaari/White Island. Repurposing a machine learning algorithm used in industrial manufacturing, authorities would have hours to days of warning before an eruption.
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New tool projects high-tide flooding in US coastal locations
University of Hawaii
A new tool to help decision makers and others assess how sea-level rise and other factors will affect the frequency of high-tide flooding in U.S. coastal locations in the next 50–100 years has been developed by University of Hawaii Sea Level Center Director Phil Thompson with funding from NASA’s Earth Science Division.
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.CEM® UPDATE
Recertification applications are due by Dec. 31, 2020
IAEM
Certification candidates due to recertify in 2020 should submit their applications by 11:59 p.m. EST, Dec. 31, 2020. Keep in mind that the recertification fee must be applied to the candidate’s account before submitting the application. Payments made online are processed the next business day, so plan accordingly.
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.SURVEY REQUESTS
Researchers seek your input via their survey on the impact of COVID-19 on frontline workers
IAEM
The COVID First Responders Research Team, representing multiple universities, is conducting a project that seeks to understand the impact of COVID-19 on first responders, both by identifying the ways in which public health emergencies impact the nature of their work and responsibilities and by determining how to mitigate negative psychosocial impacts. Their survey should be valuable for understanding how first response agencies can help their employees better cope with the short and long-term negative impacts of public health emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more about the project here. Complete the survey online here.
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.EM CALENDAR
PSBTA to hold webinar today at 12:00-1:00 p.m. EST on 'Critical Public Safety Spectrum Preservation'
IAEM
The Public Safety Broadband Technology Association (PSBTA) has scheduled a webinar on “Critical Public Safety Spectrum Preservation,” that will include a panel discussion on the future of public safety wireless spectrum use and access. Broadband use for public safety is growing rapidly. The current and emerging technologies will be critical as service demands grow for first responders. Without ample and diverse spectrum availability exclusively assigned to first responders, the reliability of life-saving hardware and software could be compromised. The following public safety professionals will discuss case scenarios that demonstrate expanding needs and the importance of preserving all broadband spectrum allocated for the sole use of first responders: Karl Wilmes, chief of police (retired), Federal Heights, Colorado; Chief Jeff Johnson (retired); Robert Horton, CEO/fire chief; Christopher Lombard, battalion chief, Seattle Fire Department; and Charles Laird, North Carolina Department of Information and Technology. The moderator will be Martha Ellis, division chief, PSBTA executive director. Register online.
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.IAEM-EUROPA NEWS
COVID-19: Germany introduces new restrictions amid rise in cases*
BBC
Germany has entered a hard lockdown, closing schools and non-essential businesses in an attempt to stop a sharp rise in COVID-19 infections.
The measures will be in place until 10 January. Christmas will see a slight easing, with one household allowed to host up to four close family members.
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.AROUND THE WORLD
Even disaster veterans are stunned by what's happening in Honduras
NPR
Even disaster experts are stunned by the devastation this fall in Honduras. Two Category 4 hurricanes – Eta and Iota — made landfall in Central America on Nov. 3 and Nov. 17, respectively. Even today, the region continues to dig out from mudslides. Aid agencies say nearly 7 million people in a zone stretching from Colombia to Mexico are in need of assistance.
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NSW and Queensland weather expected to worsen: 'Similar to a category one cyclone'
The Guardian
Wild storms battering the Queensland and New South Wales coastline are expected to worsen later on Monday, and authorities have warned the heavy rain and strong winds could be “similar to a category one cyclone”.
Emergency services in both states have received thousands of calls for help since Saturday, as the conditions cause flash flooding and dangerous waves that have washed away large sections of beachfront.
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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
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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/
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