April 22, 2009

Online resources help with flood insurance awareness
Hurricane season begins June 1, and now is the time for Virginians to consider protecting their property with flood insurance – it takes 30 days for a new flood insurance policy to take effect. The National Flood Insurance Program has created materials that can help emergency managers with their outreach efforts.

• Countdown Clock: Residents cannot wait until a flood strikes to get protected. The “hurricane season countdown clock” is a widget you can include on your agency’s home page to remind your residents just how much time they have to get ready: http://www.fema.gov/help/widgets/countdown_index.shtm.
  
• Hurricane Flooding Fact Sheet: Storm surge, heavy rains and inland flooding can cause significant flooding in areas not commonly considered to be at risk for hurricane damage. This fact sheet provides the reality of risks for hurricane season flooding: http://www.hostingimagesemail.com/fema/2009/may/hurricane_season_floodseason.pdf.
  
• 30-Day Wait Fact Sheet: These tips and messages help residents understand why they need to think ahead about flood preparations: http://www.hostingimagesemail.com/fema/2009/may/30_days_fact_sheet.pdf.
  
• Video Testimonial: Sometimes the best way to learn is by example. Frank Billingsley of Houston will share his hurricane story and talk about the close call that convinced him to get covered by flood insurance: http://www.fema.gov/medialibrary/media_records/365.

CERT volunteer wins governor’s award
Citizen Corps Council and Community Emergency Response Team member John A. Wilson of Williamsburg is a recipient of a 2009 Governor's Volunteerism and Community Service Award. Wilson received this year’s Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Recovery Award for his work with CERT and for his time as an emergency services volunteer serving in the Fire Auxiliary, Colonial Virginia Chapter of the American Red Cross and the James City County Office of Emergency Management. The awards are presented to groups, individuals and families whose efforts exemplify extraordinary volunteer service and highlight the work of outstanding Virginians who seek to enhance the lives of others in their communities.

Virginia’s Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday
The Ready Virginia Web site now offers information about the annual sales tax holiday established by the General Assembly to ease the cost of creating an emergency supply kit. From May 25 through May 31, the purchase of certain items is exempt from the Commonwealth’s sales and use taxes. Customers may use manufacturer’s coupons to lower the price of an item so that it will qualify for the $60 or $1,000 price cap.

Items include bottled water, flashlights, battery-powered radios, batteries and first aid kits. Frequently asked questions, media kit and links to the Virginia Department of Taxation’s complete list of tax-exempt items are available at http://www.readyvirginia.gov/stayinformed/sales_tax_holiday.cfm.

New guide helps local governments with emergency plans
FEMA has released the final Comprehensive Preparedness Guide 101: “Developing and Maintaining State, Territorial, Tribal, and Local Government Emergency Plans.” The guide serves as the emergency plan foundation for both public and private sector planning in the United States. Planners in all disciplines and organizations may find portions of the guide useful in the development of their emergency response plans. CPG 101 is the first in a series of publications developed through the FEMA National Preparedness Directorate's CPG Initiative. Future CPGs will discuss planning considerations for a variety of emergency functions, hazards and special preparedness programs including special needs planning, household pets and service animals, fusion center / emergency operations center interface, and hazard-specific guidance.

The guide is available at www.fema.gov/about/divisions/cpg.shtm. For more information on other FEMA initiatives, visit http://www.fema.gov.

Seminars on food facility emergency planning
This year’s Community-Based Emergency Response Seminar, “Food Facility Emergency Planning,” will provide emergency response tools and media training to food facility operators to help them deal with natural and human-caused emergencies. Topics include:

• Determining threats and assessing risk
• Developing emergency plans
• Continuity of operations in an emergency
• Training staff to respond to a crisis
• Media relations in a crisis: Getting your message out

Seven seminars are scheduled from April 27 to May 19. Online registration and agenda are available at https://va.train.org.

Ready campaign supplies classroom materials
FEMA, the Ad Council and Discovery Education have created Ready Classroom, an online educational program that provides elementary and middle school teachers with resources to integrate natural disaster preparedness information into their curriculum.

The activities, lesson plans and multimedia tools will teach students about natural disasters and how to create their own emergency preparedness plans with their families. The site features grade-specific lesson plans (K-8), videos, games, puzzles and bulletin board recommendations: www.discoveryeducation.com/readyclassroom.

The Ready Campaign engages Americans in taking three simple steps to be prepared for emergencies: get an emergency supply kit, make a family emergency plan, and be informed about the types of emergencies that can happen and what to do.

Preparedness information for institutions of higher learning
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools has released "The Action Guide for Emergency Management at Institutions of Higher Education” to help higher education institutions develop all-hazard policies regarding campus safety. The guide is intended for community colleges, four-year colleges and universities, graduate schools, and research institutions associated with higher education entities, both public and private. The guide and more emergency planning resources are available at: http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/safety/emergencyplan/index.html.

EM Update is the best way to communicate best practices and to get a heads up on issues that might affect you. Articles include case studies, cost/resource-saving local programs, examples of partnerships and regional cooperation and recognition of emergency managers who receive awards and honors in the field.

Please don't hesitate to contact the editor whenever you have a project that might benefit localities or want to highlight an important issue concerning Virginia's emergency response community. Contact Jolie Shank at (804) 897-6510 or by e-mail at pio@vdem.virginia.gov.

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