Updated National Planning Frameworks Released – Webinar in July

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and its partners have released the updated National Planning Frameworks for each essential mission area:

• Prevention
• Protection
• Mitigation
• Response
• Recovery

The updated National Planning Frameworks, which are part of the National Preparedness System, present a paradigm shift in the way we as a nation approach preparedness through a risk-driven, capabilities-based approach. Historically, preparedness was considered a separate, distinct mission area; but now the Frameworks address national preparedness as a whole through the core capabilities that compose the five mission areas.

FEMA has been hosting a series of engagement webinars to highlight key changes to the Frameworks and to answer questions participants may have.  There is one webinar left with space available (July 6).  To register for this event, please click here.

To view the udated Frameworks document and a summary of the changes, go to http://www.fema.gov/national-planning-frameworks.

 

For more information on national preparedness efforts, visit http://www.fema.gov/national-preparedness.

EPA WSD Invites You to Celebrate National PrepareAthon Day

April 30 is National PrepareAthon Day.  This is a national opportunity for individuals, organizations, and communities to prepare for specific hazards through group discussions, drills, and exercises.  The campaign’s goal is to increase the number of individuals who:

• Understand which disasters could happen in their community
• Know what to do to be safe and mitigate damage
• Take action to increase their preparedness
• Participate in community resilience planning

Disasters and emergencies can happen at any time, often without warning.  Please join EPA and other Federal partners to participate in the Count Down to National PrepareAthon Day of Action by taking simple actions each day to improve resilience.  To participate in the count down and receive daily reminders register here.  Additional information about the PrepareAthon is available on this flyer EA_3049a-16 EPA Preparathon Infographic_v13

House Committee Takes Up Cyber Consequence Management

Yesterday (April 14, 2016), representatives from FEMA, DOE, DHS, and other interested stakeholders testified before the House Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.  The hearing was titled Blackout! Are We Prepared to Manage the Aftermath of a Cyber-Attack or other Failure of the Electrical Grid?

While most of the testimony spoke to needs, threats, and redundancies in the electric sector, some of the discussion should serve as food for thought for the water community.  For example, should there be a major incident (intentional or natural disaster) which Federal Agency would be in charge?  FEMA, DHS, and DOE all have critical response and recovery roles but how would they coordinate and collaborate?  How would conflicting priorities and directives be resolved?  From a different perspective, what would a local community’s response look like during a cyber-based power loss?  Recommendations were made that electric grid operators revise plans to consider longer outage periods that could be combined with a physical attack.  Other suggestions noted that initial response actions wouldn’t be that different from any other disaster response but that decisionmakers need to think beyond immediate actions and have a plan in place to meet customer and community demand beyond the first 72 hours and possibly as long as two or more weeks.  These cautions apply equally well to the water community.

You can view the hearing here http://transportation.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=400038.  This link also includes individual witness testimony and an opening statement by Subcommittee Chair Lou Barletta (R-PA).

NIMS Update Input Request

FEMA is seeking input into the National Incident Management System (NIMS) refresh. As you know, NIMS provides a consistent nationwide approach and vocabulary to enable the whole community to work together seamlessly and manage all threats and hazards.  NIMS applies to all incidents, regardless of cause, size, location or complexity.

ASDWA is encouraging state security coordinators, and other interested parties, to:  1. Attend one of the explanatory webinars (see dates/times below); 2. Download and review the draft “refresh” document; and 3. Weigh in on the NIMS proposal to share your thoughts as to how the process could/should be improved.  This National Engagement Period will conclude at 5:00 pm EDT on May 9, 2016.

Here’s the full message from FEMA…

FEMA is in the process of reviewing and refreshing NIMS and is seeking stakeholder input on the draft. The draft of the refreshed NIMS retains key concepts and principles from the 2004 and 2008 versions, while incorporating lessons learned from exercises and real world incidents, best practices, and changes in national policy, including updates to the National Preparedness System.

Download the draft version of the refreshed NIMS and feedback matrix here

The draft NIMS:

• Reiterates the concepts and principles of the original 2004 version and the updated 2008 version;
• Reflects and incorporates lessons learned from exercises and real world incidents and policy updates, such as the National Preparedness System and NIMS-related guidance, including the 2013 NIMS Intelligence/Investigation Function Guidance and Field Operations Guide;
  • Reflects progress in resource typing and mutual aid and builds a foundation for the development of a national qualification system;
• Clarifies that NIMS is more than just the Incident Command System (ICS) and that it applies to all stakeholders with roles in incident management across all five mission areas (Prevention, Protection, Mitigation, Response and Recovery);
• Provides guidance on a common structure and activation levels for operations and coordination centers, including Emergency Operations Centers (EOC), through new Center Management System (CMS) guidance;
• Note that while we will continue to track NIMS implementation, the adoption of CMS is not mandatory as part of preparedness grants;
• Explains the relationship among ICS, CMS, and Multiagency Coordination Groups (MAC Groups); and
• Enhances guidance on information management processes to improve data collection plans, social media integration and the use of geographic information systems (GIS).

National Engagement Period Webinars

FEMA is hosting a series of 60-minute engagement webinars to highlight key proposed changes to NIMS, provide information on submitting feedback and answer participant questions. All webinars are open to the whole community, including individuals and communities, the private and nonprofit sectors, faith-based organizations and all governments.

Because each engagement webinar will cover the same information, please choose the session most convenient for you. Advance registration is required due to space limitations. Registration is on a first come, first serve basis. To register, click on your preferred webinar session from the list below.

Webinar 1: Monday, April 18, 11:00 a.m. EDT

Webinar 2: Tuesday, April 19, 2:00 p.m. EDT

Webinar 3: Wednesday, April 20, 10:00 a.m. EDT

Webinar 4: Wednesday, April 20, 1:00 p.m. EDT

Webinar 5: Thursday, April 21, 3:00 p.m. EDT

Webinar 6: Monday, April 25, 12:00 p.m. EDT

Webinar 7: Tuesday, April 26, 1:00 p.m. EDT

Webinar 8: Wednesday, April 27, 10:00 a.m. EDT

Webinar 9: Thursday, April 28, 5:00 p.m. EDT

 

Webinar 10: Monday, May 2, 12:00 p.m. EDT 

Comments made during the webinars are for discussion purposes only. FEMA will only formally adjudicate comments submitted using the feedback form. To provide input, download the draft NIMS and feedback matrix from the link above and submit the completed feedback form toFEMA-NIMS@fema.dhs.gov.

 

Hurricane Resources and FEMA Hazard Mitigation Funding for Water Utilities

 

Hurricane season began on June 1, 2015, but there’s still time to prepare. EPA’s Water Security Division wants to remind water and wastewater utilities about the free tools that support hurricane and disaster preparedness.

REMINDER: Application Deadline – 8/28/15 for Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) Grants:  Utilities can now apply for FEMA HMA grants for projects that increase resilience to hurricanes and other hazards.

http://www.fema.gov/hazard-mitigation-assistance

Hurricane Incident Action Checklist:  Print and share these “rip and run” checklists to take action before, during, and after the storm.

http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/watersecurity/emerplan/upload/epa817f15006.pdf

Storm Surge Inundation and Hurricane Strike Frequency Map:  Find out worst-case coastal storm surge scenarios and hurricane strike frequency for your area.

http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/watersecurity/climate/stormsurge.cfm

Fed FUNDS – Find Funding:  Federal Funding for Utilities – Water/Wastewater – in National Disasters helps identify pre- and post-disaster funding opportunities and explains how to apply.

Watch Video: Fed FUNDS Overview

Flood Resilience Guide:  Easy-to-use tool that leads utilities through a four-step process to help them understand their flood risks and identify mitigation options.

http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/watersecurity/emerplan/upload/ epa817b14006.pdf

 

 

FEMA Issues 2015 National Preparedness Report

On May 28, FEMA released the 2015 National Preparedness Report (NPR). The NPR is an annual status report summarizing the Nation’s progress toward reaching the 2011 National Preparedness Goal of a secure and resilient nation. The 2015 NPR places particular emphasis on highlighting preparedness progress in implementing the National Planning Frameworks. The Frameworks describe how the whole community works together to achieve the Goal.

The 2015 report identifies 43 key findings across the Prevention, Protection, Mitigation, Response, and Recovery mission areas, in addition to six key overarching findings listed below:

• Recent events, including the epidemic of Ebola virus disease, have highlighted challenges with coordinating the response to and recovery from complex incidents that do not receive Stafford Act declarations.
• Businesses and public-private partnerships are increasingly incorporating emergency preparedness into technology platforms, such as Internet and social media tools and services.
• Environmental Response/Health and Safety, Intelligence and Information Sharing, and Operational Coordination are additional core capabilities to sustain, which are capabilities in which the Nation has developed acceptable levels of performance for critical tasks, but which face potential performance declines if not maintained and updated to address new challenges.
• Cybersecurity, Housing, Infrastructure Systems, and Long-term Vulnerability Reduction remained national areas for improvement, and Economic Recovery re-emerged as an area for improvement from 2012 and 2013. Access Control and Identity Verification is a newly identified national area for improvement.
• Perspectives from states and territories on their current levels of preparedness were similar to previous years. All 10 core capabilities with the highest self-assessment results in 2012 and 2013 remained in the top-10 for 2014; Cybersecurity continues to be the lowest-rated core capability in state and territory self-assessments.
• While Federal departments and agencies individually assess progress for corrective actions identified during national-level exercises and real-world incidents, challenges remain to comprehensively assess corrective actions with broad implications across the Federal Government.

The National Preparedness Report presents a national perspective, highlighting the contributions to preparedness made by the whole community—namely, Federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, the private and nonprofit sectors, faith-based organizations, communities, and individuals. The report also integrates data from the annual Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment process and State Preparedness Reports from the 56 states and territories.

For a copy of the full report go to:  https://www.fema.gov/national-preparedness-report

Mitigation Planning Information Exchange Webinars

FEMA is partnering with the American Planning Association (APA) and the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) to offer a free, quarterly webinar series to share challenges, best practices, and evolving methods and techniques in hazard mitigation planning. The purpose of the webinar series is to encourage peer-to-peer learning and the exchange of information among a national and even international audience.

The first webinar in the series is titled The Role of Hazard Mitigation in Post-Disaster Recovery

DATE:  Wednesday, May 6, 2015

TIME:   4:00-5:00PM (eastern)

REGISTER:  https://www.planning.org/nationalcenters/hazards/planninginformationexchange/

The planning information exchange will focus on multi-hazard mitigation planning but also emphasize its connections with recovery planning and preparedness. APA and ASFPM will act as co-conveners of all webinars and will select topics and presenters. Participants can earn one continuing education credit through APA and ASFPM.  The American Planning Association website (use the link above) also offers more information about upcoming webinars.

April 30 is National PrepareAthon! Day

Twice a year, a national day of action, National PrepareAthon! Day, focuses attention to the importance of creating a more resilient Nation by bringing stakeholders, communities, and individuals together to take action and join the conversation on resilience. April 30 marks the date for the first 2015 National PrepareAthon! Day.  This year’s event will focus on being better prepared for natural disasters such as floods, wildfires, hurricanes, and tornadoes.

You are encouraged to share this information with your colleagues in the water community.  Is your city, town, village, or community of whatever type ready to withstand Mother Nature?  Want to know more about your options?  Interested in being part of this year’s National PreparAthon! Day?  Take a look at these resources at www.ready.gov/prepare:

• How to Prepare: This hazard-specific guide provides information on the basics for a range of hazards, how to protect yourself and your property, and what steps to take now.
• Prepare Your Organization Playbooks tailored to each hazard: These materials are designed to provide community leaders and employers with tools and resources to support participation.
• Fact sheets, background information, customizable promotional materials, and fill-in-the-blank template outreach materials: These resources encourage participation and promote involvement.

Additional resources and more information about this event are available on the FEMA website.  Go to http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/94719 and take a look!

HELPFUL TOOLS FOR ALL TO USE

Over the past few years, ASDWA’s Security Committee has been engaged in developing tools that provide low or no cost ways for state drinking water programs and their water community partners to support water utilities (and their own programs) in the collective and ongoing effort to better prepared and more resilient in the face of water emergencies of all sorts.

One tool is appropriate for states, member organizations, assistance providers and utilities – especially smaller systems.  The tool, Water Emergency Roundtable – Outline for Discussion, creates a step-by-step process for a one-day shirt-sleeves discussion on what a community can or should do in the event of an emergency that either severely diminishes the available water supply or shuts the supply off completely.  The Outline Guide offers tips, scripts, and templates on how to organize such a discussion, who to invite, what materials may be needed, topics that may be discussed, and what sort of follow up would be helpful to the community after the discussion takes place.

This is a low cost approach, which would be helpful in enhancing collaborative partnerships among state drinking water programs, water utility organizations, and the communities that they both support.  It would also go a long way toward helping those communities better engage with their own emergency and utility service providers to create an effective and efficient foundation for community resiliency.

Most recently, the Committee has partnered with EPA’s Water Security Division to host webinars in 2014 to showcase how states are collaborating with their WARN programs; how state labs can design a Continuity of Operations (COOP) plan; and demonstrate how state drinking water programs are partnering with their emergency management counterparts.  Information on all of these webinars can be found on ASDWA’s website www.asdwa.org under the Security tab.

The Committee has also developed targeted tools for state drinking water programs to use to enhance their own preparedness, responsiveness, and resilience in times of crisis.

BRIDGING THE GAP:  Coordination Between State Primacy Agencies and State Emergency Management Agencies focuses on collaborative opportunities between state primacy and emergency management agencies when an incident requires state involvement.  The document highlights the need to consider water as part of an effective emergency response; the value that state primacy agencies can provide both before and during an emergency; and a quick checklist of topics that should be discussed when a primacy agency meets with their emergency management counterparts.

STATE DRINKING WATER PROGRAM All Hazards Preparedness, Mitigation, Response and Recovery Checklist provides state drinking water programs with a checklist of actions that should be considered before, during, and after an emergency.  The document offers recommended actions that every state drinking water program should be able to undertake and implement to support and sustain public health protection.

Please take a few moments to look at these tools.  Think about whether you can make changes within your own program to improve your resilience.  Maybe one or more of these can help.

EPA Climate Ready Water Utilities Initiative Releases Storm Surge Inundation Map

Interested in knowing more about how storm surges can affect communities along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts?  EPA has just posted a new Storm Surge Inundation Map that can help.

The Storm Surge Inundation Map is an interactive map that illustrates the current worst-case storm surge and inundation scenarios on the American Gulf and Atlantic coasts, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  The map combines data layers from FEMA 100 and 500 year flood maps as well as NOAA’s Sea, Lake, and Overland Surge from Hurricanes (SLOSH) and National Hurricane Center’s coastal county hurricane strike maps.  Explore the map on EPA’s website.