17 October 2014 Higher Education Program News
Download 213.27 Kb.
|
| FEMA’s Higher Education Program Bits and Pieces
National Emergency Training Center, Emmitsburg, MD 17 October 2014 Higher Education Program News:
Mark your calendars for the 17th Annual Emergency Management Higher Education Symposium scheduled for June 1- 4, 2015 at the Emergency Management Institute, Emmitsburg, MD. Information will be posted to the website in the next few months. College and University Update:
Red Rocks Community College, part of the Colorado Community College System, is offering an Associate of Applied Science Degree or Certificate, in Emergency Management and Planning. The Associate Degree is designed for new entrants into the Emergency Management field while the Certificate is geared toward current practitioners interested in upgrading their skills. The program serves as the focal point for the delivery of emergency management training, including the enhancement of planning skills and operational capabilities required for an effective response to and recovery from disasters.
Detailed course descriptions are available at http://www.rrcc.edu/catalogs/14-15/emergency-management-and-planning-aas-degree.htm. Completed courses from other colleges or accredited institutions, which correspond to our EMP course requirements, can be transferred to Red Rocks, at no cost. When requesting credit for courses from non-accredited institutions such as FEMA, a student needs to go through what we call our "Credit for Prior Learning Program" and incur a minimal fee. For more information: Contact: Ivo Roospold, Program Coordinator Red Rocks Community College 13300 West Sixth Avenue Lakewood, CO 80228-1255 Phone: (303) 914-6404 Fax: (303) 914-6803 Email: ivo.roospold@rrcc.edu
The Fall semester is in full swing, and students with the Department of Homeland Security Coastal Hazards Center of Excellence are engaged in activities that reflect the gamut of CHC’s primary focus areas -- coastal hazards modeling, engineering, planning, social science, and education. In this “back to school” edition of the CHC e-newsletter, we invite you to read the compelling stories of some of our students, and how they are making important contributions to the CHC mission of increasing the Nation’s resilience to coastal hazards. In addition, we have made great strides in our ongoing partnerships with students and faculty from Minority Serving Institutions, several of whom are featured in this newsletter. Be sure to visit the student section of our website, where you can read about all our past students in their own words!
You can read more about Seracino's MSI research team here. You can read more about Horne's experiences here Dr. Muhammad K. Akbar of Tennessee State University is a participant in the DHS Office of University Programs' Faculty Enrichment Program for Minority Serving Institutions. Dr. Akbar is currently working to implement an implicit solver in the ADCIRC storm surge model framework. Dr. Akbar has been working closely with CHC Director Dr. Rick Luettich as well as Dr. Jason Fleming of Seahorse Coastal Consulting. You can read more about Dr. Akbar's experience and research here. Former CHC Intern Engineers His Path Forward - Originally from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Yulian Kebede joined CHC as an intern from Jackson State University. Kebede then continued his studies at North Carolina State University, CHC's partner institution. In August 2014, Kebede received his Masters of Science degree in engineering after completing his thesis titled “The Impact and Characterization of Fluidization Zone Geometry during the Application of Impinging Jets.” Since then, Kebede has begun working at Terracon Consultants Inc. as a Staff Geotechnical Engineer in Charleston, SC. Kebede states, "I plan to continue my career here at Terracon and sharpen my technical skills through experience and by taking some graduate level courses. In the future, I wish to transition to the management side of civil engineering in order to get a 360 degree view of the profession." Kebede presented his research this past spring at the UNC-Coastal Studies Institute. A video of this presentation can be watched here.
Read about their experiences in their own words here. CHC Welcomes Career Development Grant Recipient - This year, the Coastal Hazards Center announced that Lea Sabbag would receive the Career Development Grant for 2014--16. Sabbag, a Masters student in the Department of City & Regional Planning at UNC Chapel Hill, will be working with CHC Executive Director Dr. Gavin Smith to research the role of the State in disaster recovery. Read Sabbag's full bio here. Former CHC Student Now DHS Climate Change Intern - This Fall, former CHC student Sierra Woodruff will be in Washington, DC as the DHS Climate Change Graduate Student Intern. The internship provides students the experience of participating in projects carried out in support of federal climate preparedness efforts. Last year, Woodruff wrote a comprehensive handbook to help local governments in North Carolina adapt to climate change. You can access the full handbook here. CHC Students Participate in Research Poster Sessions - PhD student Ayse Karanci describes her research findings to US Congressman David Price during a poster session at North Carolina State University. Karanci has focused on the effect of landcover on dune erosion and overwash on the NC barrier islands while working with CHC PI Dr. Margery Overton on the project, Evolving and Engineered Landforms. Read more about Overton's research here. Source: NC State University Bulletin, January 2, 2014. The National Building Museum, located in Washington DC, has recently opened its newest exhibit titled Designing for Disaster. Dr. Gavin Smith served on an advisory committee that assisted the museum in identifying topical areas and provided expert feedback during the design of the exhibit. This multimedia exhibition is a call-to-action for citizen preparedness. The exhibition is aimed to educate all levels of interested parties, from design professionals to young students. Components include case studies focused on public planning schemes, policies and technologies, interviews with industry leaders, and a partially deconstructed FEMA-specified "safe room." Museum curator Chrysanthe Broikos states, "The exhibition asks fundamental questions about where and how we build as a society...[we] demonstrate the truly vast range of design and building solutions being developed in the field of disaster mitigation. We want to show how these can vary depending on hazard type." Check out the exhibition's online site here
*Selections from over 100 e-sources* *Follow NLM_DIMRC on Twitter: http://twitter.com/NLM_DIMRC*
Information Science and Use, Volume 34:1-2; pp. 149-170. This paper, written by staff at the National Library of Medicine (NLM) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, describes the 2010–2013 goals and activities of NLM Disaster Information Management Research Center and its future plans. http://iospress.metapress.com/content/q735p186352727l1/?p=68905de123494b1a803c704f83d6a3c6&pi=16 ***Evolution of a Search: The Use of Dynamic Twitter Searches During Superstorm Sandy*** PLOS: Currents: Disasters, September 26, 2014 This research article, co-authored by National Institutes of Health librarian Alicia Livinski, is an example of collaboration between a library and public health agency developing search strategies to organize and monitor the vast array of information sent out via Twitter during a disaster. http://currents.plos.org/disasters/article/evolution-of-a-search-the-use-of-dynamic-twitter-searches-during-superstorm-sandy/ ***Libraries Promoting Disaster Preparedness in Northwest Louisiana*** This blog post on the National Network of Libraries of Medicine South Central Region’s “Blogadillo” provides a summary of an outreach project the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Library conducted in partnership with two public library systems in their region. http://nnlm.gov/scr/blog/2014/09/11/project-spotlight-r-you-prepared-promoting-disaster-preparedness-in-northwest-la/
National Library of Medicine Disaster Information Management Research Center September 11, 2014 Representatives from the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Preparedness and Response, the Emergency Medical Services for Children National Resource Center, and the U.S. National Library of Medicine shared information about the unique needs of children in disasters and emergencies and about their collaboration to develop a comprehensive online guide that will serve as a central source for pediatric-related disaster and emergency health information. View the recorded webinar and Power Point slides: http://disasterinfo.nlm.nih.gov/dimrc/dismeetings.html#previous14 Health Resources on Children in Disasters and Emergencies Topic page: http://disasterinfo.nlm.nih.gov/dimrc/children.html ***Register for N/LM Emergency Preparedness & Response Summit*** Registration is now open for the November 4th NN/LM Emergency Preparedness & Response Summit for Pennsylvania Libraries at Penn State in State College, Pennsylvania. Speakers from libraries, emergency management, public health and the Red Cross will be discussing responsibilities and roles in disaster preparedness, response and recovery, as well as opportunities for library involvement to support their efforts. http://nnlm.gov/ep/2014/09/15/nnlm-emergency-preparedness-response-summit-for-pennsylvania-libraries/
Girl Scouts Preparedness Day at FEMA Last week, almost 100 Daisies, Brownies, Juniors, Cadets and Seniors visited the National Response Coordination Center at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Headquarters as part of FEMA’s ongoing effort to engage and educate young people about disaster preparedness. While there, the girls earned their Emergency Preparedness Patch, which is designed to engage Girl Scouts and their families in personal preparedness. http://www.fema.gov/blog/2014-10-10/girl-scouts-today-future-leaders-tomorrow
The annual American Public Health Association “Get Ready” calendar is available to download and print. This year’s calendar features “Tips from Tots”, with humorous images of toddlers prepared for the worst! http://getreadyforflu.org/totscontestgallery1.htm
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are taking steps to assist hospitals prepare for Ebola. This October 15, 2014 press release outlines the steps they are taking in response to health care workers in Dallas who have contracted Ebola. http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2014/fs1014-ebola-investigation-fact-sheet.html
National Library of Medicine Disaster Information Management Research Center October 9, 2014 Speaker: Cindy Love, National Library of Medicine The recording of the October 9th webinar on managing health information resources for Ebola is now available online, along with the PowerPoint slides. In this webinar, Cindy Love, specialist in public health information management with the National Library of Medicine, discussed the nature of information flow during an infectious disease outbreak, with a special focus on Ebola-related resources from the National Library of Medicine. http://disasterinfo.nlm.nih.gov/dimrc/dismeetings.html#previous14
***Disaster Lit Updates*** We continue to update documents, guidance tools, webinars, and more to the Disaster Lit Resource Guide for Disaster Medicine and Public Health. Several people were unable to attend recent webinars such as the CDC call on preparing for Ebola and the Johns Hopkins symposium webcast. The links to these and other recordings are available in Disaster Lit as they become available. http://disasterlit.nlm.nih.gov/search/?searchTerms=ebola+OR+hemorrhagic&search.x=45&search.y=11&search=Search ***Ebola Guidelines Included in Disaster Lit*** A recent document from the American Hospital Association suggests “all hospitals and clinics to post … Ebola screening criteria prominently in locations where hospital staff – including intake, triage and clinical staff – can see it” (http://www.aha.org/advocacy-issues/tools-resources/advisory/2014/141002-readiness-adv.pdf). Be proactive at your institution and provide guidelines in print and electronic form to those working with or preparing to work with Ebola patients. You can find these guidelines gathered in Disaster Lit using the search link below. You can refine by guideline source, year, or author. http://disasterlit.nlm.nih.gov/search/?search=Search&PubTypeID[]=13&searchTerms=%28ebola%20OR%20hemorrhagic%29 Here are example of searches of Disaster Lit for guidelines by source: *Includes 42 guidelines/tools and checklists from CDC (http://go.usa.gov/fcwz) *Includes 32 guidelines from World Health Organization (http://go.usa.gov/fcG3) *Includes 11 guidelines from European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (http://go.usa.gov/fcG9) *Includes 2 from Infectious Diseases Society of American (http://go.usa.gov/fcGA)
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Date Published: 10/01/2014 This one-page document is a checklist for patients being evaluated for Ebola virus disease (EVD) in the United States. Topics include arrival to clinical setting/triage, conducting a risk assessment for high-risk or low-risk exposures, use of personal protective equipment, and patient placement and care considerations. URL: http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/pdf/checklist-patients-evaluated-us-evd.pdf Type: Guideline/Assessment Tool ID:9212
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) Date Published:09/29/2014 Format: Video or Multimedia This one-hour webinar discusses a Detailed Hospital Checklist for Ebola Preparedness to highlight activities that all hospitals can take to prepare for the possibility of a patient exposed to Ebola arriving for medical care. The webinar is especially for hospital emergency managers, infection control officers, hospital leadership, and clinical staff. The checklist provides practical and specific suggestions to ensure hospitals are able to detect possible Ebola cases, protect employees, and respond appropriately. The webinar was co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. URL:http://www.phe.gov/Preparedness/responders/Pages/ebola-healthcare-webinar.aspx ID:9210
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Date Published: 09/26/2014 This four-page document is a checklist intended to enhance collective preparedness and response to the Ebola virus disease by highlighting key areas for U.S. healthcare coalitions to review in preparation for a person under investigation (PUI) for Ebola at a coalition member's facility. The checklist provides practical and specific suggestions to ensure healthcare coalition members are able to detect possible Ebola cases, protect employees, and respond appropriately. URL:http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/pdf/coalition-checklist-ebola-preparedness.pdf ID:9152
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Date Published: 09/26/2014 This six-page document is a checklist intended to enhance collective preparedness and response to possible Ebola and other infectious disease cases by highlighting key areas for emergency medical services (EMS) personnel to review in preparation for encountering and providing medical care to a person with Ebola. The checklist provides practical and specific suggestions to ensure the agency is able to help its personnel detect possible Ebola cases, protect those personnel, and respond appropriately. URL:http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/pdf/ems-checklist-ebola-preparedness.pdf ID:9153
Source: Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) Date Published: 09/24/2014 This 13-page template is designed to assist laboratories in the development of their risk assessment for Ebola virus disease (EVD). It may not be an all-encompassing plan as each facility will have its own laboratory specific risk assessment procedures. It also includes checklists for chemical safety, emergency preparedness, documentation and training, waste management, engineering controls, and at-risk employees; and a laboratory specimens handling log. URL:http://www.aphl.org/aphlprograms/preparedness-and-response/Documents/APHL-Template.pdf Type: Guideline/Assessment Tool ID:9238
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Date Published: 09/12/2014 This two-page document is a checklist that highlights some key areas for health care facilities to review in preparation for a person with Ebola virus disease (EVD) arriving for medical care. In this checklist, health care personnel refers to all persons, paid and unpaid, working in health care settings who have the potential for exposure to patients and/or to infectious materials, including body substances, contaminated medical supplies and equipment, contaminated environmental surfaces, or contaminated air. URL:http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/pdf/healthcare-facility-checklist-for-ebola.pdf?s_cid=cs_3923 ID:9053
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Date Published: 09/12/2014 This two-page document is a checklist that highlights some key areas for health care providers to review in preparation for a person with Ebola virus disease (EVD) arriving for medical care. In this checklist, health care personnel refers to all persons, paid and unpaid, working in health care settings who have the potential for exposure to patients and/or to infectious materials, including blood and body fluids, contaminated medical supplies and equipment, and contaminated environmental surfaces. URL:http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/pdf/healthcare-provider-checklist-for-ebola.pdf?s_cid=cs_3923 Type: Guideline/Assessment Tool ID:9052
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Date Published: 09/05/2014 This six-page checklist, developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, highlights key areas for hospital staff - especially hospital emergency management officers, infection control practitioners, and clinical practitioners - to review in preparation for a person with Ebola virus diseases arriving at a hospital for medical care. The checklist provides practical and specific suggestions to ensure a hospital is able to detect possible Ebola cases, protect employees, and respond appropriately. URL:http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/pdf/hospital-checklisk-ebola-preparedness.pdf ID:8977
The National Prepared Goal identified 31 core capabilities which are considered critical elements. As stated on the FEMA website these capabilities are referenced in many national preparedness efforts. All 31 core capabilities and their respective descriptions can be found at http://www.fema.gov/core-capabilities. Users can also click on the capabilities crosswalk link to view the legacy Target Capabilities List and how it compares to the new capabilities. The Target Capabilities List is also located at http://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/20130726-1854-25045-1651/crosswalk_1_.pdf.
ANNUAL CONFERENCE UPDATE Book your hotel for the IAEM Annual Conference before the Oct. 22 hotel deadline IAEM Book your hotel reservation today for the IAEM Annual Conference & EMEX, Nov. 14-19, 2014, in San Antonio, Texas. The hotel reservation deadline is Oct. 22, 2014, or until the hotel block is sold out. The conference headquarters hotel is the Grand Hyatt San Antonio with a rate of $169 single/double. A per diem rate is available with government ID using code GOVIAEM2014. Call (888) 421-1442 or go here for reservations and reference "IAEM Annual Conference" to secure the IAEM rate. To book at the per diem rate, select "I have an access code" from the dropdown box on the Passkey Home Page when you are asked for your guest type. Download the IAEM Annual Conference mobile app today! IAEM "IAEM to GO" is the official mobile app for the IAEM-USA 2014 Annual Conference & EMEX. It contains the complete conference program with information on session times, locations, descriptions and speakers. With the app, you will be able to navigate EMEX 2014 with exhibitor details and locations. "IAEM to GO" is the best way to stay updated on event information, including any last minute changes. Once downloaded, the information stays within the app even when your cellular data or Wi-Fi connection abandons you. Get the app today by searching "IAEM" in the Apple App Store or Google Play or visit https://guidebook.com/app/IAEMtoGO on your mobile device. If you do not have a mobile device, you may use the app online in your web browser. EM NEWS Ebola halts college program in Ghana, shines light on UO-based disaster resilience network University of Oregon Ebola in Africa prompted the University of Oregon to cancel an AHA Study Abroad program on global health and development only weeks before its fall debut. And growing concern about the deadly disease also is raising the profile of the UO-hosted Disaster Resilient Universities network that is devoted to emergency management. Tritium up tenfold in Fukushima groundwater after Typhoon Pantone The Japan Times The radioactive water woes at the stricken Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant got worse recently after the tritium concentration in a groundwater sample surged more than tenfold. A spokesman for Tokyo Electric Power Co. said that heavy rain caused by Typhoon Phanfone probably affected the groundwater after the storm whipped through Japan. Pentagon: Climate change threatens national security The Washington Post Drastic weather, rising seas and changing storm patterns could become "threat multipliers" for the United States, vastly complicating security challenges faced by American forces, the Pentagon said in a new report on the impact of climate change released Monday. The report, described as a "climate change adaptation roadmap," included a foreword from Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel in which he urged the nation's military's planners to grapple now with the implications of a warming planet, even as scientists are "converging toward consensus on future climate projections." Survey: DHS morale sinks further despite new leadership at the top The Washington Post As Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson grapples with the Secret Service scandal and evolving terrorist threats, he is also facing widespread and growing job dissatisfaction within his own department, according to unpublicized employee survey results. The government's 2014 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey portrays a Department of Homeland Security still facing debilitating morale problems that have plagued it for years but worsened during the Obama administration — and which have grown more serious since Johnson took over in December. Study: Locked faults could pop big earthquake in Bay Area NBCNEWS Several faults underlying urban areas in the San Francisco Bay Area may be primed for a major rupture that could lead to a magnitude 6.7 or larger earthquake, new data suggest. Sections of the Hayward, Rodgers Creek and Green Valley faults are nearing or past their average earthquake recurrence intervals, according to the study published in the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America. Bio-disaster hospital preparedness program has been cut 50 percent since 2003 The Huffington Post Amid panic over the Ebola epidemic in West Africa and a second diagnosis in the United States, lawmakers are renewing efforts to bolster biomedical research funding and disaster preparedness. Recently, Sen. Bob Casey, D-Penn., joined the chorus, urging for more money to be spent on a federal program designed to improve hospital care in the case of a pandemic. In a letter to the chair and ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Casey called for reinforcing the Hospital Preparedness Program, a state-federal cooperative administered by the Department of Health and Human Services. WCDM 2015 Call for Papers open through Nov. 30, 2014 IAEM The Call for Papers for the 2015 World Conference on Disaster Management (WCDM) is open until Nov. 30, 2014. The program theme will be "Managing Complex Disasters: Preparing for the Worst," and the conference will be held in Toronto, June 8-11, 2015. WCDM provides a global perspective on current and emerging issues, and the 2015 program will include an outstanding roster of speakers, providing an excellent opportunity for training and networking. Presentations will cover practice, research, and innovation in emergency management, business continuity, crisis communications, and risk management. Presentations should provide clear benefits for practitioners. These may include case studies, peer-validated research, emerging tools and best practices. Some priority issues include: building disaster resilient organizations and communities; integrating disaster management with climate change; the transition from response preparedness to loss mitigation; mainstreaming disaster management through risk management; delivering results with declining resources; and creating an enabling environment to achieve resilience. The call for papers, selection criteria, and review process are available here. Enter the NAGC 2015 Blue Pencil & Gold Screen Awards Competition IAEM Are you an employee or contractor who has produced a communication product for a federal, tribal, military, state, regional, county, municipal, or other government entity? Then this is the competition for you! Enter your product in the NAGC 2015 Blue Pencil & Gold Screen Awards Competition. This annual international awards program, sponsored by the National Association of Government Communicators, recognizes superior government communication products and those who produce them. There are more than 40 categories to choose from, and you can enter as many categories as you choose. Entry deadlines are: early submission deadline (Dec. 16, 2014) and final submission deadline (Jan. 16, 2015), with discounted entry fees for early submissions. Download the call for entries brochure here. IAEM-USA NEWS FEMA seeks comments on Effective Coordination of Recovery Resources for State, Tribal, Territorial and Local Incidents IAEM FEMA is currently seeking comments on the Effective Coordination of Recovery Resources for State, Tribal, Territorial and Local Incidents document until Oct. 22, 2014. Comments from any organization or interested party are welcome and will help to inform the final document prior to its publication. For a copy of the document, email FEMA-IGA@fema.dhs.gov. FEMA seeks comments on State Multi-Hazard Mitigation Planning Guidance Key Concepts IAEM FEMA continues to work to update the "State Multi-Hazard Mitigation Planning Guidance," last published in January 2008. This document is the guidance to help officials ensure that state mitigation plans, which are inclusive to the District of Columbia and the five U.S. territories, meet the requirements at Title 44 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 201. As part of the update process, "State Mitigation Plan Review Guide — Highlights of Key Concepts" is available online at the FEMA Library. The key concepts under consideration result from incorporating lessons learned from stakeholders involved in state mitigation planning as well as principles from relevant changes in federal policy. Engaging agencies and stakeholders with data and authority early in the planning process facilitates both successful plan development and implementation. Written comments may be submitted electronically to FEMA by sending an e-mail to FEMA-Mitigation- Planning@fema.dhs.gov no later than 5:00 p.m. EDT on Oct. 17, 2014. DISASTER TECHNOLOGY NEWS Why colleges want drones U.S. News & World Report Universities across America really like the idea of using drones. New data released by the Federal Aviation Administration shows that colleges and universities accounted for 25 percent of more than 900 requests seeking approval to fly drones, also known as unmanned aircraft systems, in the U.S. The schools use the devices for everything from academics to disaster response, environmental research and agricultural monitoring. Some have even used them to film football practices and games. CEM® UPDATE Revised requirements for recertification begin Jan. 1, 2015 IAEM There will be revised requirements for recertification beginning Jan. 1, 2015, that reward CEM®s and AEM℠s who maintain their certification. These changes were designed to streamline the recertification process as well as make the recertification process more relevant to a certified professional's progress in the emergency management field. As individuals maintain the certification, the training requirements decrease while the professional contribution requirements increase. To see a breakdown of the new requirements by recertification year, visit the recertification page of the IAEM website. NEW INSIGHTS Experts urge earthquake preparedness, even for the experienced Los Angeles An array of earthquake researchers and emergency management officials joined forces recently to urge preparedness and awareness in Washington recently, saying that a lack of preparation could have dangerous consequences in a natural disaster. IAEM NEWS IAEM Members invited to participate in BC Management's Event Impact Management Study IAEM IAEM members have been invited to participate in BC Management's 5th Annual Impact Management Study, which will be live through Nov. 2, 2014. This survey will be used to assess how specific events have impacted organizations by highlighting what was activated in times of an event, the impact to the business, the impact to personnel, downtime, and the estimated financial loss by event. Study participants will receive a complimentary BCM Event Impact Management Report. Complete details and access to the survey are available here. EM CALENDAR Multihazard Mitigation Center Webinar: 'Substantiating Mitigation — Florida's Loss-Avoidance Assessment Strategy' IAEM Register by Oct. 27, 2014 to participate in the fourth in a series of webinars held by the Multihazard Mitigation Center, National Institute of Building Sciences. It will be held Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2014, 1:00-2:00 p.m. EDT. The presenter will be Carly Forster, Long-Term Recovery and Hazard Mitigation Team Lead for the Risk and Resiliency Group at ARCADIS. She will discuss Florida's assessment strategy for its mitigation efforts. The state of Florida commissioned the development of simple loss-avoidance calculators for flood and wind mitigation projects in order to facilitate the loss avoidance process, and thus encourage greater investment in mitigation by demonstrating its actual benefits. These calculators help cut some of the long corners in traditional loss avoidance assessments to make the process more accessible for local entities and other states. During the webinar, Forster will discuss how the calculators were developed, demonstrate how to prepare a loss avoidance assessment, show how to use the calculators and emphasize the importance of data gathering pre- and post-disaster, as well as throughout project management. 6th Annual Regional Healthcare Preparedness Coalition (RHPC) Symposium to be held Nov. 5-7, 2014, in Galveston, Texas IAEM The symposium, held by Southeast Texas Regional Advisory Council (SETRAC) and the Texas Department of State Health Services, is an opportunity for a national collaboration to discuss new innovations, sharing best practices in emergency preparedness, response and recovery. Participants will have a unique opportunity to learn about disaster response from experts involved in some of the most recent large-scale emergencies. This year's symposium brings together world-renowned doctors, security experts and first responders to share their experiences and lessons learned from the West Africa Ebola crisis, the London Subway bombings and the Washington state landslide. Keynote speaker Dr. William A. Fischer from Doctors Without Borders will discuss the current Ebola outbreak and his work in West Africa. Learn more and register. AROUND THE WORLD 2nd health care worker tests positive for Ebola at Dallas hospital CNN A second health care worker who cared for an Ebola patient at a Dallas hospital has contracted the virus herself. The worker, a woman who lives alone, was quickly moved into isolation at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, authorities said. The news cast further doubt on the hospital's ability to handle Ebola and protect employees. Typhoon Vongfong leaves 2 dead, nearly 100 injured in Japan Reuters via Newsweek A powerful storm that battered Japan with high winds and torrential rain, and killed two people, headed off out over the Pacific and was downgraded to a tropical depression. Typhoon Vongfong, at one point the strongest storm to hit Japan this year, was off the coast of the Tohoku region devastated by a 2011 earthquake and tsunami, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. Death toll rises from cyclone in India The New York Times The death toll from the powerful cyclone that ripped through the eastern coast of India rose to 25, with most of the deaths caused by falling trees and collapsing buildings, according to a government official in Andhra Pradesh. The devastation was particularly acute in the port city of Visakhapatnam, where the eye of the cyclone passed, and where 15 people died. Tropical Storm Ana close to hurricane strength, headed toward Hawaii The Washington Post A hurricane watch may be issued for Hawaii in the near future as Tropical Storm Ana gains strength in the Pacific. Ana is expected to become a hurricane by Thursday morning. On Wednesday morning, Tropical Storm Ana was just under hurricane strength, with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph. The storm is currently moving west, but a curve to the northwest is forecast over the next couple of days as the storm closes in on Hawaii. Earthquake strikes off coast of El Salvador and Nicaragua The Guardian A magnitude-7.3 earthquake struck off the coast of El Salvador and Nicaragua and was felt across Central America, killing at least one person. There were no immediate reports of major damage. El Salvador's emergency services said a dozen homes in the department of Usulutan had been slightly damaged but that coastal areas appeared calm and the country's international airport was unaffected. Hurricane Gonzalo gains strength as it heads toward Bermuda The Associated Press via CTV News Hurricane Gonzalo grew into a major Category 3 storm and is expected to strengthen further as it heads toward Bermuda after killing a man in the Dutch Caribbean territory of St. Maarten, authorities said. The storm had top sustained winds of nearly 185 kph and was centered about 1,240 kilometres south of Bermuda on Tuesday afternoon, said the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami. It was moving northwest at 20 kph. Subscribe here -- it's free!
“Making History: Vision, Diversity, Inclusion, Leadership, and Legacy” November 15, 2014 The International Network of Women in Emergency Management (inWEM) will induct eight amazing women into the 2014 International Women in Homeland Security and Emergency Management Hall of Fame at its 4th annual Gala Reception and Induction Ceremony during the IAEM-USA 62nd Annual Conference & EMEX Exhibit - Grand Hyatt & Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas. Each year, inWEM honors the contributions made for the advancement of women in emergency management and a culture of preparedness for safer, resilient, and sustainable diverse communities. The Hall of Fame is one of inWEM’s major initiatives, honoring women who are pioneers and leaders in the field of homeland security and emergency management in local, State, tribal, and Federal governments. The guest speaker will be Madhu Beriwal, a 2012 Hall of Fame Inductee - one of the first female president and chief executive officer. Beriwal is the Founder, President and CEO of IEM (Innovative Emergency Management), a global security consulting firm with more than 29 years of experience in homeland security, emergency management and defense. inWEM’s Founder and President Dr. Jacqueline McBride commend the 2014 inductees, who she said are “the best of the best.” The 2014 International Women in Homeland Security and Emergency Management Hall of Fame inductees are: 1908 Ms. Lola Baldwin: First female police officer in the United States; Portland, Oregon (USA) (Posthumous) 1950 The National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's Clubs, Inc. (NANBPWC, Inc. - Member of the first Women’s Network in Civil Defense): Participated in the first national “Women and Civil Defense” conference in Washington, DC. (Current President & CEO Marie E. Castillo will be inducted, representing the NANBPWC, Inc.) (USA) 1950 Ms. Mary Church Terrell (NACWC): Successfully promoted the inclusion of African American Women’s clubs in the first Women’s Network in Civil Defense; to include the National Council of Negro Women, Inc. (NCNW); the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs, Inc. (NACWC); and the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc. (NANBPWC) (President Evelyn Rising, will be inducted, representing the Ms. Terrell and NACWC) (USA) 1998 Ms. Ellen Gordon: First female president of the National Emergency Management Association and Iowa’s first female, state emergency management director (USA) 2000 Professor Smita Kadam: Founder and Executive Director of the Saritsa Foundation: First organization in India to initiate a campaign to empower persons with disabilities in the process of disaster risk reduction (India) 2009 Ms. Elizabeth A. Zimmerman: First female Deputy Associate Administrator for DHS/FEMA’s Office of Response & Recovery (ORR); and led the development of the National Disaster Recovery Framework (USA) 2011 Ms. Bonnie Butlin: Co-Founder of the Canadian Security Partners’ Forum (CSPF): First internationally recognized agile network for resilience and security (Canada) 2013 Ms. Linda Langston: First, female President of the National Association of Counties (NACo), to lead and implement an resiliency initiative, “Ready and Resilient Counties”, in the United States (USA) These innovators demonstrate keen abilities to build partnerships by incorporating and working with partners while overseeing prevention and protection of life and property, public health, safety critical infrastructure and facilities. For more information about inWEM Hall of Fame, please visit www.inwem.org.
|