Region II

December 23, 2019 Volume 4, Issue 24

Preparedness and Resilience Bulletin: Empowering People and Communities

Warmest wishes to everyone for the holidays! But not so warm that it puts your family at risk. Did you know that 60% of house fires are due to combustible objects being left too close to candles? This holiday season try electric candles. While they don’t smell nice or cast a comforting flicker, they greatly reduce the risk of fire.

If you feel the need to use non-electric candles, please observe the fire safety tips below during your celebrations:

• Allow candles a 3ft berth from all flammable objects.• Set candles out of reach of children and pets.• See that there are no curtains or drapes hanging above open flames.• If candles need to be lit all night, set in a contained glass or sink.• Plan and practice home fire drills.

Always remember to check that your fire extinguisher is up-to-date and ensure your smoke detector has fresh batteries!

With the holiday cheer comes a lot of holiday cooking. From gingerbread cookies to smoked hams, here are some tips on cooking safety:

• Stand by the pan and turn the burner off if you are leaving the room.• Keep an eye on the food, watch for boiling grease or smoke.• Pot and pan handles should be towards the side or back of the oven to prevent being knocked over.• If an oven fire occurs, turn oven off and shut the door. The fire should put itself out.• Remove all flammable objects from around oven including curtains, dish towels, plastic utensils, etc.• Once finished in the kitchen, double check that the oven, burners, fryer, etc., are shut off.

Holiday Safety and Preparedness

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If you are travelling this year, remember to practice general safety rules: • Be aware of icy roads. Black ice is not always visible.• If driving in rough terrain, tire chains are always a good idea.• Keep an emergency kit in your car with items like blankets, flash lights, batteries, water, and granola

bars. These come in handy if you are stuck and waiting for a tow truck.• See something, say something. Stay vigilant to other holiday travelers. If you notice someone needs help

and it poses no danger to yourself, help them.

Extra holiday safety: • Do not overload extension cords.• Keep your natural Christmas tree watered, as dried Christmas trees are more flammable.• Have a family communication plan to prepare for any holiday danger.

By using these tips, you can ensure that you and your loved ones will have a happy and safe holiday season!

The new year is right around the corner, bringing with it a new decade. While it is an exciting time for resolutions, it is also important to update your preparedness plans and toolkits. Taking these steps will help you to make 2020 the best start to the new decade.

Make a catalog of preparedness skills you think you might be lacking. Do you want to be CPR certified? How about updating your Emergency Kit? Taking a moment for introspection will help to guide you in this process. A few key areas of preparedness include financial preparedness, physical safety preparedness, and family and pet preparedness, to start.

Individual Preparedness Tips for 2020: • Update your emergency plan. Has your emergency contact moved away or changed their phone

number? Make sure your information is consistently up-to-date. Continue familiarizing yourself withyour neighborhood and plan for backup evacuation routes in case of an emergency.

• Take a recent photograph of yourself, your loved ones and your pet in case any of you should becomeseparated during a disaster.

• Store your important documents (i.e. Social Security card, birth certificate) in a safe, secured,waterproof place such as a locked safe with the documents sealed in waterproof bags.

• Take courses in basic first aid and CPR. You never know when someone might need your help.• If you haven’t started an emergency fund, start one immediately. It is extremely important to have spare

cash on hand in case you find yourself displaced.• Spend within your means – establish a budgeting worksheet that helps you plan for the holidays and the

future.• Check your insurance plan to see if it covers all disasters – if not, consider another plan or enrolling in

dual coverage. Make sure you have recent pictures of your home and property in case you must file aclaim.

Resolve to be Ready 2020

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• Sign up for alerts and warnings through the FEMA app.• Ensure that you are familiar with your neighbors and construct a plan to assist each other in case of an

emergency or disaster.• Prioritize what you would want to take with you if you had to suddenly evacuate your home. Make a go-

kit.• Make sure your pet is included in your plans – find pet-friendly shelters, have your contact information

listed on your pet’s collar, and update your pet’s microchip information if necessary, so that you canfind your pet should you be separated.

While it is important to take preparedness steps for yourself and your loved ones, it is equally valuable to create and update your Preparedness Plan if you are a small business owner. Take a look at the following tips to help you brainstorm some ideas!

Small Business Preparedness Tips for 2020: • Identify your risks. If your business is in a flood-prone area,

it would be sensible to begin creating and refining yourFlood Preparedness Plan before anything else. If you live inan area that could possibly experience various types ofextreme weather, ensure that you treat all PreparednessPlans with equal care.

• Check your insurance plan(s) for any updates or changes incoverage.

• Establish a strategy for relocating undamaged stock orsupplies.

• Make sure your Uninterrupted Power Source is in place toprotect electrical equipment from a power surge.

• Use resources such as the FEMA app and the National Weather Service to stay up-to-date regardingemergency closures and storm tracking.

• Ensure that your employees have updated contact information in your communication chains (i.e. groupemail updates, automated phone calls).

• If you do not have an established communications plan, begin creating one and briefing your employeeson expectations.

For additional tips, make sure to check out the U.S. Small Business Association’s Emergency Preparedness Checklist. Whether there is sunshine or snow, it is always best to be prepared.

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Emergency Preparedness Tips

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December/January Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

12/23

12/24

12/25

Christmas Day

12/26

12/27

12/30

12/31 New Year’s Eve

1/1 New Year’s Day

1/2

1/3

1/6

1/7 CPG 101 Listening Session Prepare to Recover

1/8 CERT Basic Curriculum Webinar CPG 101 Listening Session NEP Webinar

1/9 1/10

1/13

1/14

1/15 1/16

1/17 NEP Webinar

1/20

1/21 1/22

1/23 1/24

• FEMA is preparing to update “Comprehensive Preparedness Guide 101: Developing and Maintaining Emergency Operations Plans.” A series of 60-minute virtual listening sessions are scheduled to provide a brief background on CPG 101 and gather thoughts and recommendations on how to improve the document.

• FEMA Region II is hosting the Prepare to Recover! pilot course in early January 2020. This course is open to local and county OEMS, CERT, MRC, and other voluntary agencies in New Jersey, This course will provide volunteers with a flexible curriculum to train communities regarding emergency preparedness.

• As a follow-up to the first CERT Basic Curriculum Webinar on December 10, a second webinar will be held on January 8 at 4:00pm, covering the same content. If you missed the December 10 webinar, the recording can be found here.

• The National Exercise Program is a two-year cycle of exercises conducted across the nation to examine and validate capabilities in all preparedness mission areas. If you want to learn about NEP, FEMA is hosting 60-minute webinars on January 8 and January 17, 2020.

Coming Soon to Region II

Click on Event links to Register!

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Episode 58: Helping Children Cope with Disasters On this episode of the FEMA podcast, listen to a discussion with FEMA's National Advisor on Children and Disasters Lauralee Koziol. Learn more about how you and your children can prepare for, and be ready to recover from, natural disasters.

FEMA Hosts National Exercise Program Webinars The National Exercise Program is a two-year cycle of exercises conducted across the nation to examine and validate capabilities in all preparedness mission areas. It is the primary exercise mechanism for measuring preparedness, evaluating national readiness, and providing support to exercises. To learn about available exercise design assistance and benefits of participating in the National Exercise Program, FEMA is hosting 60-minute webinars on January 8 and January 17, 2020. To participate via Adobe Connect, click here.

FEMA Releases National Incident Management Documents Today, FEMA released the “National Incident Management System Guide for Coaches and Evaluators,” providing processes, procedures, and tools to assist with developing and maintaining coaching and evaluating programs as part of the qualification process. Additionally, FEMA released drafts of six Job Titles/Position Qualifications and Resource Typing Definitions documents related to Post-Building Safety that enhance interoperability and the effectiveness of mutual aid for public feedback. The “National Incident Management System Guide for Coaches and Evaluators” is available on the FEMA website. NAC Reports on Emergency Management Issues Last week, members of FEMA's National Advisory Council presented a report to Acting Administrator Pete Gaynor outlining actions the agency can take to address key issues facing the field of emergency management. In December 2018, former Administrator Brock Long charged the council with reviewing four issues: financial preparedness, closing the insurance gap, increasing codes and standards use, and the Building Resilient Infrastructure in Communities grant program. The council also took on additional issues facing marginalized, tribal, rural and small communities, as well as more immediate issues for FEMA to address.

Mitigation Saves Federal Mitigation grants save $6 for every $1 spent, however, mitigation grants are not the only way to protect a structure. Building above model building codes can be a substantial investment as well, for every $1 spent on exceeding minimum standards $4 in benefits were realized. This indicates the importance of going beyond the minimum standards, as there is a clear payoff.

FEMA News

Mitigation Matters

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The 2015 International Building Code is the standard for much of our country. These codes help set minimum standards for structure design and has been adopted for most of the country including New York and New Jersey. While these codes alone do a lot for hazard reduction, they are still only considered minimums. Building to minimum code may save you money now but costing more in the long run as they miss out on returns created through more resilient designs. This can be done in many ways, such as by encouraging communities to go above and beyond with their own ordinances, implementing higher State standards, and homeowners or developers deciding to opt for more protective measures on their own. For example, many coastal communities have even higher elevation standards than what is required at both the federal and state levels. This alone helps create massive savings in flood damages and saves residents in flood insurance premiums. Much of the region is still rebuilding from Hurricane Sandy. Other areas are experiencing some of their first development in relatively new spaces, and there is always reconstruction occurring. These all represent opportunities for an investment with a very large payoff, allowing our region to become more safe, resilient, and sustainable.

THIRA Stakeholder Preparedness Review – Call for Input The 2019 Threat Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA) and Stakeholder Preparedness Review (SPR) submission deadline of 12/31 is approaching for Region II jurisdictions. By the end of February, NPD staff will have completed quality assurance checks and provided feedback to each state and territory. Following the reviews, NPD staff will begin analyzing the data and developing the 2020 Region II Regional Preparedness Assessment (RPA) with a goal to be complete by June 1st, 2020.

Should you have specific analytic needs, or if you’d like to see a particular issue covered within the 2020 RPA, please contact Sean Card, THIRA/SPR Program, at sean.card@fema.dhs.gov no later than February 1st, 2020. The Substance Abuse and HIV Prevention Navigator Program for Racial/Ethnic Minorities Ages 13-24 SAMHSA is accepting applications for the Substance Abuse and HIV Prevention Navigator Program for Racial/Ethnic Minorities (Prevention Navigator). The purpose of this program is to provide services to those at highest risk for HIV and substance use disorders (SUDs). SAMHSA plans to issue 82 grants of up to $200,000 per year for up to 5 years. Application Due Date: Friday, December 27, 2019. Apply here!

Important Deadlines

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Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grants Application Period Now Open On September 30, FEMA opened the Hazard Mitigation Assistance competitive grant programs application period. This funding assists state, local, tribal, and territorial governments to reduce disaster losses and protect life and property from future disaster damages. For 2019, $410 million in funding is available through two programs:

• Flood Mitigation Assistance: The agency’s funding priorities include flood mitigation planning and efforts for reducing repetitive as well as severe repetitive loss properties. In this application cycle, $160 million is available in grant funds.

• Pre-Disaster Mitigation: The program is designed to implement a sustained pre-disaster natural hazard mitigation program with the goal of reducing overall risk to the population and structures from future hazard events. In this application cycle, $250 million is available, with $20 million set aside for federally-recognized tribes. Eligible applicants must apply for funding through the FEMA eGrants system on the FEMA Grants Portal.

All applications must be submitted no later than 3 p.m. ET on Jan. 31, 2020.

CDC Investigating Outbreak of Multidrug-Resistant Campylobacter As of December 18, there have been 30 confirmed cases of infection with the outbreak strain of Campylobacter jejuni reported in 13 states. These outbreaks are tied to contact with puppies at pet stores. 4 hospitalizations have been reported. No deaths have been reported. Click here for more info! CDC Investigating Outbreak of Listeria Infections The U.S. FDA and state public health officials are investigating an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections tied to hard-boiled eggs that have infected 7 people in 5 different states. 4 people have been hospitalized and one death has been reported. Click here for more info! Many Pregnant Women Prescribed HIV Treatment That Does Not Meet Federal Guidelines More than 20% of pregnant women beginning anti-HIV treatment are being prescribed an antiretroviral treatment that does not meet federal guidelines for use during pregnancy, according to an analysis funded by the National Institutes of Health. The study was led by Kathleen M. Powis, M.D., of Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston. It appears in JAMA Network Open. The researchers analyzed data on women enrolled from 2008-2017 in the Surveillance Monitoring for ART Toxicities in HIV Uninfected Children Born to HIV Infected Women (SMARTT) study. Click here to learn more.

Other News

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CERT Corner

Aberdeen-Matawan CERT team at Aberdeen Tree Lighting on December 4.

Bergen County CERT Training for Disaster Fire Suppression led by Bergen County Fire Instructors.

Hoboken CERT’s Class of 2019 was joined by members of Hoboken Volunteer Ambulance Corps for hands-on Disaster Medical Response training.

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Wanted: CERT Pictures The National CERT Program Office is looking for new photos for use in upcoming CERT products. If you have high-resolution, engaging photos and are interested in appearing in these training and web documents, you can submit the photos to FEMA-Prepare@fema.dhs.gov. Please note that photos selected will require a signed photo release for all people in the photo (to be provided upon receipt). CERT Train the Trainer and Program Manager Course Openings There is still space available in upcoming CERT Train the Trainer and Program Manager courses at the Emergency Management Institute (EMI). These courses will run March 2-6 and June 8-12, 2020. To apply, visit training.fema.gov, contact the EMI admissions office at NETC-admissions@fema.dhs.gov, or contact your state training officer today!

National Emergency Management Executive Academy (NEMEA) Overview/FY20 Application Process

The National Emergency Management Executive Academy (NEMA) is a component of the Emergency Management Professional Program (EMPP). The Emergency Management Institute (EMI) created the NEMA to provide a comprehensive and cutting-edge curriculum as the setting for senior emergency management executives to come together to explore contemporary emergency management challenges. The program hones strategic leadership and critical thinking for senior executives involved with multi-jurisdictional, national, and international emergency management policy development and decision-making responsibilities. The program is a competency-based executive education experience that requires working collaboratively on projects and participating in activities with a capstone team to address some of the wicked problems in the emergency management field. Suggestions for a specific emergency management challenge to be addressed by an executive cohort as an Executive Academy capstone project may be submitted to: https://training.fema.gov/empp/executive.aspx. For more information, visit our Emergency Management Professional Program (EMPP) website (https://training.fema.gov/empp/executive.aspx).

Educational/Training Opportunities

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program educates volunteers about disaster preparedness for the hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. CERT offers a consistent, nationwide approach to volunteer training and organization that professional responders can rely on during disaster situations, which allows them to focus on more complex tasks. Through CERT, the capabilities to prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters is built and enhanced.

If you have events you would like to share, please email deborah.costa@fema.dhs.gov

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L0146 Exercise Design Course Monday, January 21-24, 2020 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., 26 Federal Plaza 6th floor, Room TBD The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region II will be conducting training for emergency exercise design and evaluation (a combination of FEMA Courses I-120 and L-146). The course is a 4-day program which focuses on the design phase of the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP). Emergency managers, emergency services personnel, and other individuals who are part of the emergency preparedness and response or continuity of operations need to be able to use the fundamentals of exercise simulation and design as an integrated system of resources and capabilities. Skills learned during this program will enable jurisdictions to conduct NIMS required exercises. The target audience is any official having direct responsibility for developing and conducting emergency response or continuity exercises. Pre-registration is required, and seating is limited. To register, visit https://region2-hseep-2020.eventbrite.com. E0389 Master Public Information Officer Program – Part Three (MPIOP) January 27-31, 2020, April 27-May 1, 2020, August 3-7, 2020 This is a three-course series that prepares public information officers for an expanded role in delivering public information and warning using a strategic whole community approach. Read more at Training Opportunity 1487. Emmitsburg, MD. L0840 Basic Interagency Logistics Seminar February 3-7, 2020, June 8-12, 2020, August 24-28 2020 This Basic Interagency Logistics (IL) Seminar familiarizes participants with logistics planning considerations for all hazards response activities for Federal, State, Local, Territorial, Tribal, Non-Governmental Organizations, and other partners which provide Logistics support in accordance with the ‘Whole Community’ concept set for in Presidential Policy Directive (PPD) 8, dated March 2011. The seminar also provides and overview of IL Partner disaster response organizations. It identifies and discusses parameters for logistics support coordination and creates a “Whole Community” forum for the exchange of best logistics practices. Read more at Training Opportunity 1549R. Multiple Dates, 2019-2020, Frederick, MD. In Case of Emergencies: Continuity of Operations Planning Course This course defines and describes continuity of operations (COOP) planning and why it is important for libraries to have a continuity plan in case of emergencies. This course also provides a one-page continuity plan template with instructions that librarians or information specialists can use to develop their own plan. View the course here. Cultural and Religious Literacy & Competency in Crisis Settings These 45-minute workshops to 8-hour trainings are framed by the National Disaster Interfaith Network (NDIN)’s filed-guide set and tip sheets for U.S. religious leaders. They provide an overview of why and how to engage faith communities and people of faith during disasters and public health emergencies. The training focuses on best practices in working with faith communities or religious individuals in crisis settings, religious competency, and literacy. For more advanced practitioners, we offer a module in how to asset map and/or databank faith communities and their assets. View the Training Brochure and Overview here. Please contact info@n-din.org for dates and rates.

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ADA National Network Learning Session: FEMA’s Section 504 Disability Access Plan FEMA is engaged in implementing its Section 504 Disability Access Plan to enhance access for people with disabilities and strengthen compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. FEMA's Office of Equal Rights is leading this effort and will provide an overview of the 504 Plan and the five focus areas: Public Information, training and exercises, publishing the rights of people with disabilities, disaster recovery programs, and facilities. FEMA's Office of Equal Rights seeks to build disability-related capacity within FEMA through the 504 Plan. This webinar will provide an overview of FEMA's 504 Disability Access Plan and strategies the Agency is employing to address the need for enhanced access for people with disabilities in the five focus areas.

• Register now • Make sure to test your Adobe Connect before the meeting.

Webinars begin at ET 2:30pm, CT 1:30pm, MT 12:30pm, PT 11:30am, Hawaii 9:30am on January 9, 2020.

Human Trafficking: The Hidden Crime Join FEMA Region II on Tuesday January 21, 2020 from 12pm to 1pm. for our monthly preparedness webinar featuring a subject matter expert from the Homeland Security Investigations directorate, tasked with investigating and dismantling human tracking efforts throughout the country. Human trafficking is a hidden crime, and it can happen in any community; victims can be any age, race, gender, or nationality. The first step to combating it is to identify victims so they can be rescued and help bring their perpetrators to justice. Education and awareness is the route to a safer community.

• Register now • Test your Adobe Connect before the meeting. • This event will include captioning. • Contact FEMA-Prepare@fema.dhs.gov to learn more.

Webinars

Training Calendars FEMA: https://training.fema.gov/emicourses/schedules.aspx NJOEM: http://ready.nj.gov/training/schedule.shtml NJOHSP: https://www.njhomelandsecurity.gov/calendar NYDSES: http://www.dhses.ny.gov/training/calendar/ DHSOBP: https://cdp.dhs.gov/obp

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CDC: Childhood Trauma is a Public Health Issue Childhood trauma causes serious health repercussions throughout life and is a public health issue that calls for concerted prevention efforts. That's the takeaway of a report published Tuesday from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Click here to learn more.

Most Parents Struggle to Recognize Teen Depression The C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health asked a national sample of parents with children in middle, junior high, or high school about their views on the role of parents and schools in recognizing youth depression. Even though the majority of parents were confident they would recognize depression in their preteen or teenager, two-thirds of parents still said they faced challenges spotting specific signs and symptoms of this mental health disorder. Click here to learn more. Disaster Response for Homeless Individuals and Families People experiencing homelessness typically have limited resources and likely have past exposure to traumatic events. Therefore, they may be at higher risk of adverse physical and psychological reactions following a public health emergency or disaster. Trauma-informed approaches can help disaster responders effectively serve homeless individuals and families. A trauma-informed approach to disaster response acknowledges past trauma and the current impact it may have on the lives of anyone receiving services or support. Sensitivity to trauma can improve communication between responders and the homeless and facilitate compliance with public health directives. Click here to learn more.

Global Health and Security: Threats and Opportunities The spread of infectious disease can be deadlier than world wars — the Spanish flu, for instance, killed millions more people than World War I, one of the deadliest conflicts in human history. Yet present threats to public health, though less overt, could be considered more insidious than a deadly pandemic. In this Perspective, the authors review the current scope and operation of global health security, identify emerging threats, and assess how adequately current visions of global health security account for these threats. Click here to learn more.

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