October, 2024
Volume 18 Issue 10
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President Biden Approves Federal Disaster Declaration June 23 and July 29-31 storms
President Joe Biden has approved two separate Major Disaster Declarations to help Vermont recover from this summer's storms.
The latest declaration will help communities and individuals in Caledonia, Essex, and Orleans counties recover from damages caused by rainfall and severe flooding July 29-31, 2024. This declaration includes Public Assistance (PA) funding to pay for public infrastructure repairs, Individual Assistance (IA) grants to help people recover some of their losses, and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funding to help Vermont towns build back stronger.
A partial federal damage assessment identified more than $3.7 million in public infrastructure damage caused by that storm, and the final tally will likely be much higher. According to the initial assessment, floodwaters also destroyed or damaged 85 homes across the three counties.
The Individual Assistance (IA) program helps people impacted by the disaster seek some reimbursement for necessary expenses and serious needs that cannot be met through insurance or other forms of assistance. Eligible expenses include rental assistance, home repair, home replacement, lodging, and other expenses.
To apply for IA funds, impacted Vermonters in the eligible counties should register at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or call 1-800-621-3362. Even if you have previously reported damage to 2-1-1, you must register with and apply to FEMA.
Vermont Emergency Management will contact communities in Caledonia, Essex, and Orleans counties seeking reimbursement for storm response and recovery to provide information about the Public Assistance (PA) program for federal reimbursement.
The other PA disaster declaration provides funding to help communities in Lamoille County recover costs for repairing public infrastructure damage caused by rainfall and severe flooding on June 23, 2024. That storm washed out roads and caused more than $1 million in damages in the town of Stowe alone, with lesser damage in surrounding communities.
These events bring Vermont's number of disaster declarations for events from June 23 - July 31 to three. Vermont previously received a disaster declaration for the storms of July 9-11.
Frosty Force State-Wide Exercise Registration
Vermont Emergency Management is hosting a statewide hybrid tabletop exercise on October 23, 2024. The exercise follows up a functional exercise that occurred in March of 2023 called “Frosty Force.” The purpose of the exercise is to validate the state’s plans and to work jointly with as many federal, state, and local municipalities as possible.
To register for the event, visit the VEM website.
For more information, contact State Exercise Administrator Julie Benedict at julie.benedict@vermont.gov or visit the VEM website.
Preparedness Conference Awards
At our annual Emergency Preparedness Conference, we recognized several individuals for their achievements in the past year. Michael Billingsley of Plainfield was named Emergency Management Director of the Year. During this severe flooding, Michael Billingsley not only worked nonstop for his town of Plainfield but also assisted other towns—sheltering a family from a nearby town, offering shelter to individuals in a town further away, and coordinating with nearby EMDs.
Brennan Bordonaro, Peter Brown, Spencer Chumbley, Brian Collins, Josh Cox, Kathleen Hammond, Brett LaRose, Merrill Pine, Sidney Pollock, Jay Sparks, and Mark Toof also received certificates for completing the Certified Emergency Management Program. For more information on the Emergency Management Director program visit our website.
The Vermont Emergency Preparedness Conference occurs every September. The event allows municipal officials and responders to learn more about emergency preparedness, response, and recovery. Registration usually begins mid-summer, check back here regularly for announcements on next year's event.
Get to Know the Red Cross
The Red Cross is holding two separate events to introduce itself and its services to Vermont responders.
The virtual events will help educate Fire Departments, Emergency Managers, and Town Administrators about what the Red Cross does and how they can utilize those services.
October 9, 2025 Registration
February 27, 2025 Registration
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
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
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: November 20, 2024, 1:00 p.m.- 2:30 p.m.
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
December 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: DPS Headquarters- Waterbury, VT
DATE/TIME: December 4-5, 2024, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. each day
PREREQUISITES: ICS-100, ICS- 200 and ICS- 300
REGISTRATION: State Learning Management System
PER 213- Wide Search Area
When disaster strikes it can be a challenge to effectively mobilize, organize, and deploy resources needed to perform search and rescue operations. The purpose of this course is to prepare participants to support a large search and rescue incident in a variety of roles ranging from searchers in the field, planning and support staff, and incident command. While built around the model of a large search and rescue event following a disaster, the course content applies to a vast number of critical situations including missing persons searches, natural disasters, terrorist incidents, and other scenarios.
LOCATION: Vermont Fire Academy, Pittsford, VT
DATE/TIME: December 10-12, 2024, 8:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.
PREREQUISITES: IS-100, IS-200, IS-700, and IS-800
REGISTRATION: TEEX
January 2025
ICS 300- Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents
This course focuses on 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, Emergency Operations Center staff.
LOCATION: Camp Johnson- Colchester, VT
DATE/TIME: January 10-12, 2025, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. each day
PREREQUISITES: ICS-100 and ICS- 200
REGISTRATION: State Learning Management System