July, 2024
Volume 18 Issue 7
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Preliminary Damage Assessment for June 23 Storms
Vermont Emergency Management (VEM) Director Eric Forand has submitted a request for a Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to determine if the state qualifies for a federal major disaster declaration for flooding and resulting damage on June 23, 2024.
The request asks for assessments in Caledonia and Lamoille counties to determine if the state qualifies for a Public Assistance (PA) Disaster Declaration for the storm. A Public Assistance declaration would provide 75 percent reimbursement to communities for local storm damage repairs. Additional counties could be added to the request as data collection continues.
“Much of the state escaped damage,” Director Eric Forand said. “However, the storm trained on pockets of the state, resulting in severe damage to roads and other public infrastructure in the impacted communities. This will be an expensive recovery for those towns, and we are requesting an assessment to start the process of getting those municipalities financial help.”
An assessment by the state suggests damages to public infrastructure resulting from the storm to be more than $1.5 million. To qualify for a major disaster declaration, FEMA must verify at least $1.183 million in response and public infrastructure recovery costs. These costs include road repairs, debris removal, contractor expenses, and municipal employee overtime.
The assessments are expected to begin on July 9.
VEM Guide for Towns Navigating FEMA PA Application Process
Applying for federal disaster assistance after a storm and declared disaster can be daunting, even for those who have already gone through it.
Vermont Emergency Management has developed a step-by-step guide for cities and towns navigating the complicated FEMA Public Assistance program. The guide can be accessed on the Vermont Emergency Management website.
Visit VEM's Public Assistance Program web page for more information and assistance.
Vermont State Resources for Purchase of Equipment
VEM frequently receives communications from municipalities asking where to buy response equipment, radios, or other materials to support emergency response. The state of Vermont has programs that could help:
- There is a Vermont surplus property program that now has an online showroom. Anyone can purchase these items, which currently include monitors, laptops, file cabinets, chairs, tables, and much more.
- The state maintains a list of current statewide contracts. Some of these contracts are available to towns, schools, and political subdivisions to use, but you would need to look at each contract to verify, which is in the “purchasing entities” section.
New Spontaneous Volunteer Management LEMP Annex
One of the greatest things about Vermont is our shared ethic of community support, mutual aid, and support one another in difficult times. In the aftermath of an emergency, many of our towns experience outpourings of volunteer support, as Vermonters and sometimes people from farther afield show up to help. These volunteers provide needed support but can also pose challenges to anticipate, organize, and keep safe.
Has your town experienced droves of volunteers in the aftermath of an incident? Have you struggled to find roles, manage volunteer safety, and make effective use of volunteer time and energy? Vermont Emergency Management is now offering a Spontaneous Volunteer Management annex to the Local Emergency Management Plan to support towns and Emergency Management Directors in planning for volunteers before, during, and after an emergency. The annex covers gathering and managing volunteers, necessary volunteer gear and preparation, and ways of planning in advance for volunteer tasks, and tracking volunteer hours.
Weather Decision Support Services for National Night Out
The National Weather Service Burlington office is offering to provide decision support services by monitoring weather radar for potential thunderstorms during the National Night Out on Tuesday, August 6th. If your community plans to participate and you want to be notified of potential thunderstorms within 30 minutes of your location, please fill out the National Night Out 2024 form.
The NWS Burlington office can also provide decision support services to local Emergency Managers for any large outdoor event that requires additional time to implement evacuations or other safety measures from impending weather.
Are you interested in becoming a trained spotter? Please review the certified SKYWARN Spotter program through the National Weather Service.
Heat Health and Safety Resources
Vermont Department of Health Hot-Weather Page
New Heat and Health Tracker From the Centers for Disease Control
Training
Most trainings require a Learning Management System(LMS) account. If you don’t have an account, you can register for one at the following link: https://vermont.csod.com/selfreg/register.aspx?c=%255e%255e%255eQGm2wxcSUvINsXvXjRYs1A%253d%253d
For a complete listing of trainings go to the Events Calendar in the LMS: https://vermont.csod.com/LMS/catalog/EventsCalendar.aspx?tab_page_id=-10&tab_id=20000513#m=2&d=03/08/2023
VT- Alert Manager Training: This training is now an anytime training in the LMS. We will still host the virtual live training. You can take this training at the following link on the LMS: https://vermont.csod.com/ui/lms-learning-details/app/video/588bdf66-6e68-490e-aa8b-18ccdd115184
July 2024
PER -275: Law Enforcement Active Shooter Response
Terrorism involving active shooter attacks on population centers has become part of law enforcement officers’ awareness; however, increased awareness of a problem does not ensure preparedness or appropriate response tactics. This course addresses technical aspects of planning and implementing a rapid law enforcement deployment to an active shooter incident through classroom presentations, hands-on performance-based field training, and scenario-based practical exercises.
LOCATION: Hartford Memorial Middle School, White River Junction, VT
DATE/TIME: July 9-11, 2024, 8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. each day
REGISTRATION: required Louisiana State University National Center for Biomedical Research and Training (LSU NCBRT) Access Code: NCBRT275
This is for LAW ENFORCEMENT ONLY
L0146 Homeland Security Exercise & Evaluation Program (HSEEP)
The Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) course provides a comprehensive overview of exercise design along with practical skill development. Using the same terminology and processes, this course will provide activities that will give participants an opportunity to interact with many of the templates and other materials that are provided by the National Exercise Division to ensure exercises are conducted in a consistent manner. Anyone who will be a member of an exercise design team or fulfill a role in one of the following areas of the exercise design process: design, development, conduct, evaluation, or improvement process for exercise. The primary audience for the course is training officers, exercise managers, persons who will utilize the exercise and evaluation system, and persons interested in becoming an HSEEP Evaluator for Vermont Emergency Management.
LOCATION: Vermont Agency of Human Service, 11 Prospect St (Rooms 320 and 350), White River Junction, VT
DATE/TIME: July 30-31, 2024, 9:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.
PREREQUISITES: IS-120
REGISTRATION: State Learning Management System
August 2024
ICS 400- Advanced ICS for Command and General Staff
This course provides training for personnel who require advanced application of the Incident Command System (ICS). This course expands upon information covered in ICS 100 through ICS 300 courses, which are prerequisites for the ICS 400 course.
LOCATION: Norwich Fire Department- Norwich, VT
DATE/TIME: August 6-7, 2024, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. each day
PREREQUISITES: ICS-100, ICS- 200 and ICS- 300
REGISTRATION: State Learning Management System
MGT -417: Crisis Management for School-Based Incidents for Key Decision Makers
The purpose of this 2 day management/planning level course is to provide the operational-level details to support many of the topics covered in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) approved AWR 148: Crisis Management for School-Based Incidents – Partnering Rural Law Enforcement and the Local School Systems awareness-level course. Rural schools, law enforcement, other emergency responders, and community stakeholders are often limited in their access to resources, so it is imperative that all potentially affected parties collaborate in planning, preparation, communication, response, and recovery in the event of a school-based incident. Moreover, these affected parties must come together to practice their interoperable skills through drills and exercises to ensure the strategies in place provide for an effective crisis response and collaborative recovery. With the intent of building upon the foundation of the AWR 148 course and utilizing an all-hazards approach, this two-day course will provide content instruction, develop concept-specific skills, and provide opportunities for law enforcement, school personnel, and community stakeholders to collaboratively apply the course objectives in scenario-based applications.
LOCATION: Middlebury Union High School
DATE/TIME: August 8, 2024, 8:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. & August 9, 2024, 8:00 a.m.- 3:30 p.m.
REGISTRATION: Rural Domestic Preparedness Consortium (RDPC)
G0191- ICS/EOC Interface
This course provides an opportunity for participants to begin developing an effective interface between the Incident Command System (ICS) and the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) for their community by applying Incident Command System (ICS) principles. This course reviews ICS and EOC responsibilities and functions and depends heavily on exercises and group discussions to identify interface issues and develop solutions. As part of the course, these concepts are then applied to exercise situations.
LOCATION: Manchester Community Library, Manchester, VT
DATE/TIME: August 13, 2024, 8:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.
PREREQUISITES: IS-100, IS-200, IS-700, and IS-800
REGISTRATION: via State Learning Management System
VT- Alert Manager Training
This training is intended for Town Officials who use VT-Alert for public notifications. This class is required for all people who will be using the program at the manager level. This training can also act as a refresher as needed. The class will be approximately 1.5 hours long and consist of sending live test alerts. A computer and internet connection are required. A second computer monitor is highly suggested as there is a follow along portion to the class. Prior to the training please confirm that your town has the required VT-Alert adoption paperwork. If you are unsure please contact dps.vtalert@vermont.gov
LOCATION: Virtual
DATE/TIME: August 14, 2024, 1:00 p.m.- 2:30 p.m.
REGISTRATION: State Learning Management System
ICS 300- Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents
This course focuses on the management of expanding incidents and is intended for those who will be serving in the following positions: command staff, section chiefs, strike team leaders, unit leaders, division and group supervisors, branch directors, multi-agency coordination system staff, and Emergency Operations Center staff. This course is for middle management, strike team leaders, task force leaders, unit leaders, division and group supervisors, branch directors, and Emergency Operations Center staff.
LOCATION: DPS Headquarters- Waterbury, VT
DATE/TIME: August 20-22, 2024, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. each day
PREREQUISITES: ICS-100 and ICS-200
REGISTRATION: State Learning Management System
September 2024
2024 Vermont Emergency Preparedness Conference
LOCATION: Lake Morey Resort, Fairlee, VT
DATE/TIME: September 10-11, 2024
https://vem.vermont.gov/conference
State Emergency Operation Center Orientation
The purpose of this training is to provide an overview of the State Emergency Operations Center. This course is ONLY available to those who staff the Vermont State Emergency Operations Center.
LOCATION: DPS Headquarters, Waterbury, VT
DATE/TIME: September 17, 2024, 1:00 p.m.- 3:30 p.m.
PREREQUISITES: ICS-100 and WebEOC Sate User Training
REGISTRATION: State Learning Management System
October 2024
Mental Health First Aid Training
DPS Headquarters, Waterbury, VT
October 25, 2024, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Registration required via State Learning Management System
November 2024
L0146 Homeland Security Exercise & Evaluation Program (HSEEP)
The Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) course provides a comprehensive overview of exercise design along with practical skill development. Using the same terminology and processes, this course will provide activities that will give participants an opportunity to interact with many of the templates and other materials that are provided by the National Exercise Division to ensure exercises are conducted in a consistent manner. Anyone who will be a member of an exercise design team or fulfill a role in one of the following areas of the exercise design process: design, development, conduct, evaluation or improvement process for exercise. The primary audience for the course is training officers, exercise managers, persons that will utilize the exercise and evaluation system and persons interested in becoming an HSEEP Evaluator for Vermont Emergency Management.
LOCATION: DCF Office, Brattleboro, VT
DATE/TIME: November 12-13, 2024, 9:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.
PREREQUISITES: IS-120
REGISTRATION: State Learning Management System
State Emergency Operation Center Orientation
The purpose of this training is to provide an overview of the State Emergency Operations Center. This course is ONLY available to those who staff the Vermont State Emergency Operations Center.
LOCATION: DPS Headquarters, Waterbury, VT
DATE/TIME: November 26, 2024, 1:00 p.m.- 3:30 p.m.
PREREQUISITES: ICS-100 and WebEOC Sate User Training
REGISTRATION: State Learning Management System