February 2025
Volume 19 Issue 2
**Best viewed on a computer browser or horizontally if you are on a smartphone**
Input Needed For Community Warming Center and Shelter Page
Vermont has seen a couple of stretches of extremely cold weather so far this winter, and there will surely be more. During those periods, a few cities, towns, and non-profits have opened their doors to residents who may need a place to warm up, even if it’s only for a couple of hours during the day.
Vermont Emergency Management makes every effort to list these warming centers and emergency shelters on our shelter page. The same page is used for cooling locations in the summer.
Our list of warming centers, open town halls, or other facilities municipalities set up for people to warm consists of only those we know of. At times, we see news reports, but for the most part, communities are asked to report them to us so we can make the public aware. This is not an official report; it is simply a way to get the word out that you are open.
Reports should be sent to vtjic@vermont.gov. Please provide a contact, hours of operation, address, and any other pertinent information you have.
Other resources listed on the shelter page include locations and hours of public libraries, a link to community organizations, and preparedness information in ten languages.
Spring Flood Question and Answer Session February 13 - Register Now
A series of recorded Spring Flood Seminar videos have been posted on the Vermont Emergency Management YouTube page. These videos inform local officials about how to prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate the impacts of the upcoming spring flood season.
You are invited to join us for a virtual question and answer session on February 13th, 12-1 pm. During this session, the National Weather Service will provide an updated spring flood outlook, and all participants will have the opportunity to pose questions to the National Weather Service and any other partner who provided a video in our series. Please be sure to view the recorded presentations before attending this event, and come prepared with questions. You must register for this event, but once you register, you will receive a confirmation email and calendar appointment. Questions can be directed to DPS.EMHSTraining@vermont.gov
Hazardous Material Spill Reporting
In Vermont, any person who has knowledge of a hazardous material spill and may be subject to liability for that spill is responsible for reporting it. This includes any hazardous material spill on the land or water that:
• Is 2 gallons or more.
• Is less than 2 gallons but poses an actual threat to human health or the environment (for example, a gallon of gasoline spilled to a wetland); or
• Exceeds a Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) reportable quantity. CERCLA reportable quantities of hazardous substances listed in 40 CFR Section 302.4 must be immediately reported to the Department of Environmental Conservation Spill Program by calling the 24-hour Hazardous Materials Spills Hotline at 1-800-641-5005 or, during regular business hours (M-F 7:45 am - 4:30 pm EST) at (802) 828-1138. Any person who has knowledge of a spill and who may be subject to liability for that spill is responsible for reporting the spill.
In addition to reporting to the Department of Environmental Conservation, any spill of hazardous material that impacts (or threatens) surface water (e.g., lakes, streams, wetlands) must also be reported to the U.S. Coast Guard via the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802.
When a spill is reported to Vermont DEC, a spill manager will determine if on-site assistance is needed to assess environmental impact and/or oversee cleanup efforts. The spill manager can provide assistance related to spill containment and cleanup, and the proper management of cleanup materials. The DEC’s Spill Program can also assist with obtaining information about the hazards associated with the spilled materials, contacting other individuals with potential cleanup obligations, and, if needed, hiring a cleanup contractor.
Additional information is available on the Department of Environmental Conservation Spill Program website: https://dec.vermont.gov/waste-management/spill-management For general program questions or information about reporting requirements, contact James Donaldson at (802) 828-1138.
Training Spotlight: K1301 Continuity of Operations Planning
Recent flooding has changed the landscape of emergency response. Buildings used to manage a response that were once deemed safe have been subject to flooding, making them unusable or inaccessible to response staff. Continuity of Operations (COOP) Planning is critical to ensure a seamless response.
Responders should have a COOP plan for response and other government activities. FEMA is offering a Continuity of Operations Planning course virtually from March 24-27, 2025. K1301 provides individuals with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to develop and maintain a plan for their organization or town. This course is open to all levels of government as well as whole-community partners.
Training
Most trainings require a Learning Management System(LMS) account. If you don’t have an account, you can register for one on the State LMS website.
For a complete listing of trainings, go to the Events Calendar in the LMS.
VT- Alert Manager Training- this training is now an anytime training in the LMS. Not to worry, we will still host the virtual live trainings. You can take this training on the LMS
February 2025
MGT 405: Mobilizing Faith-Based Community Organizations in Preparing for Disaster
This course covers emergency planning and brings together emergency managers and first responders with Faith-Based Community Organization (FBCO) leaders in a shared learning environment. This course facilitates effective communication to develop comprehensive local emergency plans.
Topics include (but not limited to):
• The roles FBCOs have played during and after major disasters.
• Understanding the responsibilities and authority of each level of governmental and non-governmental organizations, as well as the four phases of emergency management and other significant emergency-related terminology.
• The role leadership plays in FBCO preparedness, applying social networking techniques to prepare members for disaster, and completing an emergency plan checklist that can be utilized by FBCOs during the planning process.
• The process for developing a local emergency plan, listing the elements of a comprehensive county emergency plan, and evaluating a plan for FBCO engagement.
LOCATION: Virtual
DATE/TIME: February 11-12, 2025, 12:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. each day
REGISTRATION
Must attend both days to receive credit.
ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) Active Shooter Response Training
Training is the leading program for response to violent critical incidents (VCI). VCI are man-made forms of violent disasters, including active shooter, violent intruder, mass shooting, terrorism, workplace violence, and other unexpected tragedies. The mission of ALICE is to save lives. Our training program empowers individuals to participate in their own survival using proactive options-based response strategies when faced with violence. Participating in ALICE Instructor Certification provides you with the training necessary to teach others these lifesaving strategies.
LOCATION: The Mountain School at Winhall, Winhall, VT
DATE/TIME: February 18, 2025, 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
REGISTRATION
Developing Emergency Operations Plans (EOPs) K-12 101 Train-the-Educator (TtE)
Each school day, our nation’s schools are entrusted to provide a safe and healthy learning environment for approximately 55 million elementary and secondary school students in public and nonpublic schools. In June 2013, the Obama Administration released the Guide for Developing High-Quality School Emergency Operations Plans (School Guide), which provides an overview of Federal guidance on school emergency management planning. The School Guide, produced by the U.S. Departments of Education; Justice, led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Homeland Security, led by the Federal Emergency Management Agency; and Health and Human Services, incorporates lessons learned from events, like the school shooting in Newtown and the tornadoes in Oklahoma, as well as years of emergency planning work by the Federal government, to present a recommended process, important content elements, and key considerations for school emergency operations plan (EOP) development. In collaboration with their local government and community partners, schools can take steps to plan for these potential emergencies through the creation of a high-quality school EOP. With this K-12 101 TtE VTBR, an expert team will provide an overview of the recommended six-step planning process to create a high-quality school EOP, which includes the following: Step 1: Forming a Collaborative Planning Team Step 2: Understanding the Situation Step 3: Determining Goals and Objectives Step 4: Plan Development Step 5: Plan Preparation, Review, and Approval Step 6: Plan Implementation and Maintenance. Pre- and -post-training activities will provide guidance on how this training is relevant to emergency operations planning and assist with the implementation of what is learned.
LOCATION: Virtual
DATE/TIME: February 18, 2025, 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
REGISTRATION
Must attend both days to receive credit.
March 2025
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: DPS Headquarters, Waterbury, VT
DATE/TIME: March 5-6, 2025, 9:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.
PREREQUISITES: IS-120
REGISTRATION
Must attend both days to receive credit.
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: Bennington Rescue Squad- Bennington, VT
DATE/TIME: March 7-9, 2025, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. each day
PREREQUISITES: IS-100 and IS-200
REGISTRATION
Must attend all three days to receive credit.
K1301 Continuity of Operations Planning
This course assists continuity practitioners with understanding their continuity roles and responsibilities and provides them with the knowledge, skills and tools necessary to help develop and maintain a viable continuity plan for their organization. The course materials are based on guidance found in Federal Continuity Directives (FCDs) 1 and 2 and the Continuity Guidance Circular (CGC) for developing continuity plans and programs. By the end of the course, students will possess the ability to build a draft continuity plan and understand the key roles necessary for developing critical mitigation strategies and key elements of a continuity capability. The target audience for this course is all levels of government and whole community partners.
LOCATION: Virtual
DATE/TIME: March 24-27, 2025, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
PREREQUISITES: IS 1300
REGISTRATION
Registration Code: II4JA
April 2025
Radio Operator (RADO) Training Course
This class provides hands-on and lecture-based training for the All-Hazards ICS Radio Operator (RADO) position. It is designed for emergency response professionals and support personnel in all disciplines who have a basic understanding of the All-Hazards ICS Communications Unit (COMU). It introduces public safety professionals and support personnel to various Radio Operator concepts, including radio etiquette, interoperable communications, dispatch operations, and emergency communications procedures. Participants develop the essential core competencies used during incident response and planned events to perform the duties of the RADO in an All-Hazards environment, including communications support for public safety, wildfire, marine, aviation, and HF radio communications. The responsibilities of an All-Hazards RADO can include staffing the Incident Communications Center, monitoring radio traffic, and base station operations for emergency operations centers, hospitals, dispatch centers, and non-governmental organizations supporting civil emergency response at the state, local, or regional level.
LOCATION: Hanover Police Department- Hanover, NH
DATE/TIME: April 1-2, 2025, 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
PREREQUISITES: IS-100, IS-200, IS-700, IS-800
REGISTRATION
Must attend both days to receive credit.
For more information on this training, please contact Corey Chase, Director of Radio Technology Services, at corey.chase@vermont.gov or 802-241-5212
**Just Added** 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 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: Bellows Falls Union High School, Westminster, VT
DATE/TIME: April 8, 2025, 8:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. & April 9, 2025, 8:00 a.m.- 3:30 p.m.
REGISTRATION
Must attend both days to receive credit.
Communications Technician (COMT)
This class introduces public safety professionals and support staff to various communications concepts used in incident response and planned events. It is designed for emergency response professionals who have a technical communications background. The course is instructor-led and supports learning through discussion, lectures, and hands-on exercises to explain processes used for the establishment and operation of the technical communications resources for an incident or planned event.
LOCATION: Hanover Police Department- Hanover, NH
DATE/TIME: April 21-25, 2025, 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
PREREQUISITES: IS-100, IS-200, IS-700, IS-800
REGISTRATION
Must attend all five days to receive credit.
For more information on this training, please contact Corey Chase, Director of Radio Technology Services, at corey.chase@vermont.gov or 802-241-5212
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: April 16, 2025, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
REGISTRATION
June 2025
HSEEP Bootcamp
The goal of this course, Exercise Bootcamp, is to reinforce prior exercise management training and to coach emergency managers through the planning, conduct, and evaluation of a tabletop exercise. The course is divided into four modules each focusing on a different aspect of the exercise management process, with a combination of classroom instruction and individualized engagement between students and instructors. The modules are:
• Module 1: Scoping
• Module 2: Design and Evaluation Planning
• Module 3: Preparing for Conduct
• Module 4: Post-Conduct (AAR and Beyond)
LOCATION: Virtual
DATE/TIME:
Day 1 - June 24, 2025, 8:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.
Day 2 - July 22, 2025, 8:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.
Day 3 - August 26, 2025, 8:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.
REQUIRED: Conduct your tabletop between August 10th and October 1st
Day 4 - October 26, 2025, 8:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.
PREREQUISITES: L0146 Homeland Security Exercise Evaluation Program (HSEEP), Previous participation in an exercise (as documented by a sign-in sheet and accompanying brief narrative describing the student’s role in the exercise(s))
REGISTRATION
Must attend all four days to receive credit.
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 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: Lamoille South Supervisory Union, Morrisville, VT
DATE/TIME: June 30, 2025, 8:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. & July 1, 2025, 8:00 a.m.- 3:30 p.m.
REGISTRATION
Must attend both days to receive credit.
August 2025
**Just Added** PER-340: Active Threat Integrated Response Course
This course is designed to improve integration between law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical services (EMS) in active shooter events. The course provides law enforcement officers with key medical skills based on tactical emergency casualty care (TECC) guidelines that can be used to the point of injury (POI) to increase the survivability of victims. The course also provides a model framework for law enforcement, fire, and EMS to integrate responses during an active shooter event through the rescue task force concept.
LOCATION: Stowe High School, Stowe, VT
DATE/TIME: August 1-2, 2025, 8:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. & August 3, 2025, 8:00 a.m.- 3:30 p.m.
REGISTRATION
ACCESS CODE: NCBRT340
Must attend both days to receive credit.