FEMA’s Higher Education Program Bits and Pieces
National Emergency Training Center, Emmitsburg, MD
2 July 2015
Higher Education Program News:
v EM Hi Ed Webinar Series:
The Higher Education Program is continuing with the webinar series started in 2013. The webinars will be used to increase the flow of information and knowledge to the emergency management higher education community. Knowing what is important and essential to your programs is important. To that end, we request that you provide us topics that are of particular interest and necessary to your academic programs or your institution. Ideas for webinar topics may be sent to Lillian Virgil at .
v Symposium Folders, 2015
We have a number of symposium folders left over. If you would like to have one or more folders please provide me () with a mailing address where you would like them sent.
v 18th Annual Emergency Management Higher Education Symposium is scheduled for June 6-9, 2016 at the National Emergency Training Center, Emmitsburg, MD. Mark your calendars now. Information for the 2016 symposium will be posted to the Hi Ed website in the coming months.
Emergency Management and Homeland Security Higher Education:
v CEMHS Calls for Service
Good afternoon Colleagues, hope your summer is going great!
Thank you very much for all the kind e-mails and offers of support on my recent e-mailing discussing the wonderful news of work on an Associate Transfer Degree Program in Emergency Management (EM) and Homeland Security (HS) throughout California. This of course not only includes the model curriculum and anchor academic standards but also significant professional development components (i.e. hands on/applied learning) that is so critical in these types of undergraduate academic programs. This is particularly good news given this is really the last remaining gap in a California state-wide career pathway/vertical track in EM-HS that would then stretch from 9th grade (high school) through Masters Degree Programs (found at San Diego State and California State University, Long Beach). If you are interested in helping out here in the finalization of EM-HS Associate-Bachelors degree program development/implementation, please contact me about assisting with the CEMHS Associates-Bachelors Taskforce within the next week or so. Thanks for your consideration and your willingness to support our efforts here!
Also, if there are any high school career technical education educators who are interested in collaborating on the development of a 12th grade Survey to Public Services Course-- please let me know about your interest there. This course will serve as an introduction to all the public services career clusters including emergency management, emergency medical, homeland security, cyber-security, legal professions, etc. that our students may be interested in pursuing upon graduation and entrance into the workforce.
Finally, I have been made aware of a substantial grant to support development/delivery of cyber-security training programs that address national preparedness goals. If you are interested in participating in this proposal and project, please e-mail me asap so we can get started. Note that we are not only looking for cyber-sec content area specialists, but also those who are familiar with training program design and delivery. A CEMHS grants group teleconference will be held on Thursday, July 9th from 3:00-4:00 (Pacific Time) to discuss the specifics and details.
Thanks a bunch for your time and hope you are having a wonderful week!
Best regards, Keith
Keith Clement, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Criminology
California State University, Fresno
Chair, University Undergraduate Curriculum Committee
Chair, College of Social Sciences Election Committee
Planning Director, CSU Council for Emergency
Management and Homeland Security (CEMHS)
www.calstate.edu/cemhs
http://cemhs.blogspot.com/
v Red Rocks Community College
Associate of Applied Science Degree in Emergency Management and Planning
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.
The Associate of Applied Science Degree or Certificate in Emergency Management and Planning will prepare a prospective student for career advancement in the field or for employment. It will prepare students to transfer to a four-year school if they have an interest in a Bachelor's degree in Emergency Management or Public Administration. The program may be completed totally over the INTERNET, depending on which electives classes are selected. Our 2015 fall semester starts on August 24th and we will be offering EMP 101, EMP 106, EMP 109, EMP 240, EMP 242, and EMP 250. We also offer an EMP Certificate which just requires the completion of our core EMP courses.
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, Phone: (303) 914-6404, Email:
Emergency Management/Homeland Security News:
v Disaster Information Outreach by Librarians,
Webinar: July 9 at 1:30 pm ET - "Where Can I Find...?"
WHAT: Disaster Information Specialists Program monthly conference call/webinar
WHEN: Thursday, July 9, 2015 at 1:30 PM ET
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE: The Disaster Information Specialist monthly meeting is open to everyone – please spread the word and invite others in your organizations, send to your email lists, and post to your social media accounts.
TOPIC: Where Can I Find Evidence-based Disaster Health Information?
Representatives from the Disaster Information Management Research Center at the U.S. National Library of Medicine will present on how to use U.S. National Library of Medicine resources to access evidence-based disaster health information.
LOGIN: To join the meeting at 1:30 pm ET, Thursday, July 9, click on https://webmeeting.nih.gov/disinfo
Enter your name in the guest box and click "Enter Room".
A box should pop up asking for your phone number.
Enter your phone number and the system will call you.
For those who cannot use this call-back feature, the dial-in information is:
Dial-In: 1-888-757-2790
Pass-Code: 745907
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If you have never attended an Adobe Connect Pro meeting before:
Test your connection: https://webmeeting.nih.gov/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm
Get a quick overview: http://www.adobe.com/go/connectpro_overview
Adobe, the Adobe logo, Acrobat and Acrobat Connect are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries.
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Or, if you are in the area you can attend the meeting in person at our offices at 6707 Democracy Blvd, Bethesda, MD, Suite 440. Park in the visitor's parking lot (we will validate your parking), walk to the middle building (Democracy Two) and take the elevator to the 4th floor. Suite 440 is around the corner behind the elevators.
MORE INFORMATION: For more information on this and past meetings, see http://disasterinfo.nlm.nih.gov/dimrc/dismeetings.html
v FEMA Announces Notice of Funding Opportunity for Fiscal Year 2015 Homeland Security National Training Program/Continuing Training Grants Program
WASHINGTON — Today, Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Craig Fugate announced the release of the Notice of Funding Opportunity, or NOFO, for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 Homeland Security National Training Program (HSNTP) Continuing Training Grants (CTG) program with a total $11,521,000 available for awards in four focus areas.
The HSNTP/CTG program develops and delivers innovative training programs that are national in scope and play an important role in the implementation of the National Preparedness System by supporting the building, sustainment, and delivery of core capabilities essential to achieving the National Preparedness Goal (NPG) of a secure and resilient nation. The FY 2015 HSNTP/CTG program focuses on the following four training areas: Cybersecurity; Hazardous Materials; Countering Violent Extremism; and Rural Preparedness.
This highly competitive program attracts on average 80 applicants from state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, along with eligible non-profit organizations to include colleges and universities. In 2014, 88 eligible organizations competed and six HSNTP/CTG awards were made. Information on the 2014 awards can be found here: www.fema.gov/news-release/2014/09/26/fema-awards-11-million-increase-preparedness-through-continuing-training.
For more information on this opportunity, and to download an application package, go to www.grants.gov. On Grants.gov, you can find this opportunity by selecting Browse Agencies, and then select Department of Homeland Security. In the Basic Search Criteria, in the CFDA box, enter 97.005; from there, select the Continuing Training Grants (CTG) Program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
FY 2015 HSNTP/CTG applications are due no later than August 10, 2015. Submissions must be made through Grants.gov.
v IAEM Dispatch, July 2, 2015
IAEM-ASIA NEWS
Volcano evacuations bill enacted in wake of Mount Ontake disaster
The Japan Times
The Diet enacted a bill that will oblige municipalities and businesses near volcanoes to compile evacuation plans in the event that a volcano erupts. The change will affect local governments and institutions adjacent to 50 volcanoes. The bill to revise the law on special measures concerning active volcanoes was approved at a plenary meeting of the Upper House following its passage through the Lower House.
IAEM-OCEANIA NEWS
New Zealand announces Cyclone Pam tourism recovery package*
PreventionWeb
Foreign Minister Murray McCully has announced a $26 million package, aimed at helping the tourism sector in Vanuatu recover following Cyclone Pam. "Tourism accounts for 20 per cent of the Vanuatu economy and employs 26 percent of the labor force. Getting the tourism sector back up a running is vital to Vanuatu's long-term recovery from Cyclone Pam," McCully says.
IAEM-USA NEWS
FEMA publishes new Public Assistance Policy on Insurance
IAEM
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on June 29 published the new Public Assistance Policy on Insurance in the Federal Register. This new policy makes several changes, including: clarifying key terms; the scope of insurance needed; and the difference between flood and non-flood events. The policy also provides options to self-insure or modify the insurance requirement with FEMA, and sets standards for a state insurance commissioner certification. Growing out of FEMA’s re-evaluation of aspects of PA policy and guidance, which began last year, as well as consultations with stakeholders and subject matter experts, the new policy takes effect immediately for disasters declared on or after June 29, 2015. FEMA is developing electronic calculation and tracking worksheets to support consistent and accurate implementation of insurance requirements and reductions. FEMA webinars will be announced soon for state and tribal partners to review the new policy and provide information on its implementation in the field.
Entry deadline is Aug. 1 in 2015 IAEM-USA Student Academic Research Presentation Competition
IAEM
The IAEM-USA Student Region is still accepting entries in its 2015 Student Academic Research Presentation Competition through Aug. 1, 2015, 5:00 p.m. Eastern time. This competition offers an opportunity for IAEM-USA Student members to showcase their research, and have it judged by experts in the field of emergency management. Presentations will be judged in either the undergraduate or graduate category, and prizes will be awarded for first, second, and third place. Judging and awards will take place at the IAEM Annual Conference in Clark County, Nevada, and you must be present to compete. Award guidelines and entry instructions are available here.
Flood insurance policyholders have until Sept. 15 to request a review of their Hurricane Sandy claims
IAEM
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has set Sept. 15 as the deadline for National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policyholders to request a claim of their Hurricane Sandy claims if they feel they were underpaid. Where warranted, additional payments will be made to those policyholders. The Sandy claims review process is intended to be simple, navigable by the policyholder and does not require paid legal assistance. Additionally, there are several nonprofit service providers ready to offer free advice and answer questions policyholders may have. A list of these advocacy groups can be found on the claims review website. To be eligible for the review, policyholders must have experienced flood damage between Oct. 27, 2012 and Nov. 6, 2012, as a result of Hurricane Sandy. Policyholders can call the NFIP's Hurricane Sandy claims center at 1-866-337-4262 or go online to download a form requesting a review.
Airbnb to work with FEMA on disaster response housing
Skift
Airbnb is teaming up with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to strengthen its program that lets victims of hurricanes, earthquakes and other disasters stay at host homes for free. The online home rental service will send 100,000 hosts in Florida, Louisiana and other states tips from FEMA's Ready campaign on how to prepare for hurricane season. During a disaster, FEMA will also provide Airbnb with real-time information so that the company can better figure out where its help is needed. For example, Airbnb can email hosts in specific neighborhoods to let them know shelter is needed in that area. Hosts can then go to the Airbnb's site or app and volunteer to take in victims or rescue workers for free.
Emergency communications bill goes to Obama for signature*
Homeland Security Today
Following Homeland Security Today's report that the House passed the final version of the Department of Homeland Security Interoperable Communications Act (HR 615) earlier passed by the Senate, author Rep. Donald Payne Jr., D-N.J., the ranking member of the House Committee on Homeland Security's Emergency Preparedness, Response and Communications Subcommittee, said he's elated to see the amended version of his legislation go to the President for his signature. The legislation is the first bill of 2015 to pass out of the Committee on Homeland Security and sent to President Barack Obama for his signature.
IAEM NEWS
IAEM Bulletin articles on 'Marketing Your EM Program' sought by IAEM-Global Editorial Work Group
IAEM
The IAEM-Global Editorial Work Group seeks articles for the third IAEM Bulletin special focus issue of 2015, on the theme of "Marketing Your Emergency Management Program." Examples of articles could include, but are not limited to: how to reach out to businesses, schools and other groups who don't normally get involved in EM ideas and concepts; lessons learned: what marketing techniques worked for your program and what didn't work; how and with whom you coordinated your marketing program; and methods for integrating or collaborating with stakeholders. Please read the IAEM Bulletin Author's Guidelines prior to emailing your article of 750 to 1,500 words to Karen Thompson, editor, no later than July 10, 2015.