December, 2023
Volume 17 Issue 12
**Best viewed on a computer browser or horizontally if you are on a smartphone**
Spring Flood Seminars Available Soon
Vermont Emergency Management’s 2024 Spring Flood Seminar will be available online in January, and question and answer sessions have been scheduled for February. The sessions provide information on the spring flood outlook and resources available to municipalities to prepare for, respond to, and recover from a flood.
Recordings of the seminar will be available in late January – there will be no live delivery of these partner seminars this year. Please save the date for your regional virtual event, all to be held live through Microsoft Teams.
• February 6th, 12-1pm: Spring Flood Q&A – Northwest. Franklin, Grand Isle, Chittenden & Addison counties.
• February 7th, 12-1pm: Spring Flood Q&A – South. Bennington, Windham, Windsor, Orange, and Rutland counties.
• February 8th, 12-1pm: Spring Flood Q&A – Northeast. Washington, Lamoille, Orleans, Essex & Caledonia counties.
Additional details will be provided in the January newsletter. Questions can be directed to DPS.EMHSTraining@vermont.gov
Funding Announcement: Project Scoping Under Hazard Mitigation Grant Program
Funding is available for municipalities following the July flooding event under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) to scope potential future projects to reduce risk. Projects scoped using HMGP funding are required to submit an application to implement a project under the same funding round, with an anticipated deadline of late 2024.
Scoping can be for a specific project or problem, like a dam removal or upsizing a bridge, or it can be utilized to assess a broader area within a community to develop potential alternatives to reduce future flood risk (such as floodplain restoration, upsizing infrastructure, etc.). Applications can also include engineering for designs of residential elevation projects or commercial and municipal floodproofing projects.
Scoping applications generally include hiring an engineer to complete an assessment of the river and development of potential alternatives, selecting a preferred alternative, and developing designs, budget, and scope for the preferred alternative. Additionally, applications can include the development of a Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA), which is required to apply for FEMA implementation funding.
Communities are responsible for a required 25% non-federal match. Local ARPA funding can be used as the match in most cases. If you are interested in applying, please contact dps.hazardmitigation@vermont.gov. Applications for project scoping will be accepted until January 31, 2024.
Vermont Alert
Vermont Alert is a notification tool available at no charge to the public, response organizations, and municipalities. VTAlert allows users to select which specific alerts they receive and for which specific areas, like home and work.
VTAlert can be set up to send weather, traffic, water, or other emergency or warning information to users and can be used by municipalities to send alerts. Users also decide whether alerts should be sent via the Everbridge app, text, email, phone, or any combination of all.
To register for VTAlert or for more information, visit www.vtalert.gov. Communities and response organizations that wish to promote the service can get blocks of advertising rack cards from Vermont Emergency Management by contacting susan.plant@vermont.gov.
Job Opportunity: Hazard Mitigation Paid Intern
The Hazard Mitigation Team at VEM is hiring a paid internship to begin in January to support Vermont communities in developing and implementing projects to reduce future flood risk. We seek someone who can work at least 10 hours a week (more hours could be available for the right person). This position will be remote and in-person, with the expectation that the selected candidate will be available to come to our offices in Waterbury each week on Tuesday.
If you are interested, please email a cover letter and resume to Stephanie A. Smith, State Hazard Mitigation Officer: Stephanie.A.Smith@vermont.gov.
Training
Federal Partners
Louisiana State University National Center for Biomedical Research and Training/ Academy of Counter-Terrorist Education
Regional Partners
New Hampshire: Bi-Monthly Training Newsletter
Massachusetts: Virtual ICS-400 class December 13th.
Vermont/Virtual
Most trainings require a Learning Management System(LMS) account. If you don’t have one, please register for a free account.
For a complete listing of trainings, go to the Events Calendar in the LMS
December 2023
Public Information Officer Basics for Locals
This course has been specifically designed by Vermont Emergency Management for local responders and government officials in Vermont. The three-hour course covers the fundamentals of press relations, effective use of social media, press release preparation, and interview dos and don'ts.
LOCATION: Williston Fire Department, Williston, VT
DATE/TIME: December 12, 2023, 9:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.
REGISTRATION: State Learning Management System
Shelter Fundamentals - In Person
Town of Barre Municipal Building
December 16, 2023, 10:00 a.m.
Registration: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5WBBP7P
Shelter Management - In Person
Town of Barre Municipal Building
December 16, 2023, 12:30 p.m.
Registration: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5WBBP7P
Shelter Fundamentals - In Person
Castleton Fire Department
December 17, 2023, 10:00 a.m.
Registration: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5WBBP7P
Shelter Management - In Person
Castleton Fire Department
December 17, 2023, 12:30 p.m.
Registration: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5WBBP7P
January 2024
VT- Alert Manager Training
This training is intended for Town Officials or Non-Profits who use VT-Alert for public and private 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
LOCATION: Virtual
DATE/TIME: January 10, 2024, 1:00 p.m.- 2:30 p.m.
REGISTRATION: State Learning Management System
L0146 Homeland Security Exercise & Evaluation Program (HSEEP)
The Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) course provides a comprehensive overview of exercise design and practical skill development. Using the same terminology and processes, this course will provide activities that will allow participants 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: McFarland State Office Building, Barre, VT
DATE/TIME: January 23-24, 2024, 8:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.
PREREQUISITES: IS-120
REGISTRATION: State Learning Management System
Public Information Officer Basics for Locals
This course has been specifically designed by Vermont Emergency Management for local responders and government officials in Vermont. The three-hour course covers the fundamentals of press relations, effective use of social media, press release preparation, and interview dos and don'ts.
LOCATION: Town of Barre Municipal Building, Barre, VT
DATE/TIME: January 26, 2023, 9:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.
REGISTRATION: State Learning Management System
February 2024
Vermont Local Emergency Management Director Course
This course will familiarize Local Emergency Management Directors (EMD) and Coordinators (EMC) with major roles, responsibilities, and “how to do it” guidance across all four phases of Emergency Management.
LOCATION: Virtual
DATE/TIME: February 14-15, 2024, 5:00 p.m.- 3:30 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: February 20, 2024, 1:00 p.m.- 3:30 p.m.
PREREQUISITES: ICS-100 and WebEOC Sate User Training
REGISTRATION: State Learning Management System
April 2024
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: Bristol Fire Department, Bristol, VT
DATE/TIME: April 10, 2024, 8:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.
PREREQUISITES: IS-100, IS-200, IS-700, and IS-800
REGISTRATION: State Learning Management System
ICS 300- Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents
This course focuses on the management of expanding incidents. It 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: Milton Fire Department- Milton, VT
DATE/TIME: April 23-25, 2024, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. each day
PREREQUISITES: ICS-100 and ICS- 200
REGISTRATION: State Learning Management System