March, 2023
Volume 17 Issue 3
**Best viewed on a computer browser or horizontally if you are on a smart phone**
Vermont Requests Federal Disaster Declaration for December Storm
Governor Phil Scott has made a formal request for federal disaster funds to assist communities and public utilities recover costs for repairs and power restoration following the December 22-24, 2022, winter storm. The request seeks a federal eligibility for entities in Caledonia, Chittenden, Essex, Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, and Washington counties.
“This storm impacted tens of thousands of Vermonters during the Christmas holiday weekend,” said Governor Scott. “It also created a large financial gap for public utilities, and by extension taxpayers. Restoration costs for some of these utilities were two or three times their annual maintenance budget, which is a deficit that will not be easily erased without further financial hardship for many Vermonters.”
If granted, a federal Major Disaster Declaration unlocks Federal Emergency Management Agency Public Assistance Program funding to reimburse municipal and non-profit utilities for 75% of eligible restoration costs. A declaration could also provide payment to municipalities for 75% of funds already spent on things like debris removal, road repairs, and staff overtime cleaning up after the storm.
Federal assessors identified nearly $3 million in program eligible costs incurred by public and non-profit utilities and communities in recovering from the storm, far exceeding the minimum threshold of $1.14 million in damages for Vermont to request a major disaster declaration. The counties included in the request incurred public infrastructure damages and recovery costs near or exceeding the $4.44 per capita threshold to qualify.
The verified amounts statewide and in each county are only a partial accounting, total damage costs are much higher. The state and federal government verified enough damage to qualify for a declaration; from experience in previous similar disasters, costs incurred are often higher.
The request was sent to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which will review and then send to President Biden for a final decision.
Click here to view the Governor’s letter to President Biden.
Regional Training Center Begins Operations
A regional training and management center designed to provide expanded resources to New England’s emergency management professionals has been launched.
The Northeast Emergency Management Training & Education Center (NEMTEC) is led by Massachusetts Emergency Management and was formed by the six New England states to meet a growing need among state and local emergency managers for improved access to training on emerging trends and expanding risks, including human-made hazards, infectious diseases, and climate and weather-related emergencies.
The state of Vermont will also maintain its current extensive training programs.
This comprehensive training program will provide advanced education and expanded resources to New England’s emergency management professionals, who face evolving challenges due to the increasing complexity and frequency of crisis events.
The Center will offer a variety of courses and workshops covering a wide range of topics, including the National Emergency Management Basic Academy, Emergency Operation Center Management, incident management, mission support, among others. Courses will be offered through in-person, virtual, and hybrid modalities to increase participant accessibility and convenience.
In addition to providing training and education resources, NEMTEC will also manage an extensive curriculum and cadre of experienced professionals to deliver these programs, ensuring that participants receive high-quality instruction from knowledgeable and experienced instructors. Participants can expect regular updates to course offerings that will incorporate emerging technologies and best practices in training and response to evolving threats and events within the region.
For more information about NEMTEC and to register for courses and workshops, please visit the MEMA website at www.mass.gov/mema/NEMTEC.
Spring Flood Outlook for Vermont
Non Profit Security Grants
The Vermont Department of Public Safety Homeland Security Unit is pleased to announce the grant period is open for the FY2023 Nonprofit Security Grant Program.
Where do I Look for Information?
For all funding announcements, application materials, instructions and resources, please visit the Homeland Security Unit website. Please familiarize yourself with the requirements of the funding announcement, what must be submitted, and what may be applied for.
When are Applications Due?
All applications and supporting documentation must be RECEIVED by the Homeland Security Unit by Friday, April 14th, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. EST. Proposals received after this date and time may NOT be eligible for consideration. To facilitate processing, completed grant applications and supporting documentation must be sent via email to DPS.HSUGrants@vermont.gov. Your application and supporting documentation must be received no later than the due date and time listed above.
What if I Have Questions?
For all funding announcements, application materials, instructions and resources, please visit the Homeland Security Unit website.
If you have additional questions about the grant opportunities, please contact DPS.HSUGrants@vermont.gov.
What Next?
Please communicate these funding opportunities to the agencies, organizations, and communities you represent.
The Homeland Security Unit will hold multiple webinars and technical assistance sessions to assist applicants in developing applications. The webinar sessions will be educational session that will provide an overview of the grant program, timelines, and general information on how to apply. The technical assistance sessions will be opportunities for applicants to attend and ask questions, similar to open office hours.
To register for both please visit the Microsoft Forms registration page found here. Registration for sessions will close 24 hours prior to the sessions at which point meeting invites will be distributed to those registered. The dial-in information will be distributed at that time.
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Application Assistance |
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Webinar Sessions |
Technical Assistance Sessions |
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March 8th, 2023 2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. |
March 9th, 2023 11:00-11:30 a.m. |
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March 15th, 2023 11:00 a.m. –12:00 p.m. |
March 16th, 2023 2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. |
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March 22nd, 2023 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. |
March 23rd, 2023 11:00-11:30 a.m. |
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March 29th, 2023 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. |
March 30th, 2023 2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. |
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April 5th, 2023 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. |
April 6th, 2023 11:00-11:30 a.m. |
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April 12th, 2023 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. |
April 13th, 2023 2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. |
If you have any questions about the grant opportunities please view our website at www.hsu.vermont.gov or contact DPS.HSUGrants@vermont.gov.
Frosty Force Exercise
Vermont Emergency Management and its partners took another step in its preparation for the Binary Blizzard catastrophic exercise on March 1. The federal Frosty Force exercise put state agencies and partners through the paces of a long-term power outage.
The scenario began eight days into a power outage that impacted half of Vermont, and would for up to eight weeks. The focus of the exercise challenged participants to provide food, shelter, and services for residents left in the dark.
This was the first test of state-run Hubs spread strategically around the state in a large-scale event to provide those essentials.
The Binary Blizzard full-scale exercise is scheduled for 2024.
Stop the Bleed Courses in April
The Vermont Emergency Management Association is offering two free Stop the Bleed training sessions in April.
Stop the Bleed gives participants the ability to recognize life-threatening bleeding and act quickly and effectively to control bleeding once you learn three quick techniques. The session will also discuss how communities can arrange for further sessions of the training.
Two Evening Sessions:
April 18, 2023
6:00 – 9:00 pm
Central Vermont Medical Center, 130 Fisher Road, Berlin, VT
April 25, 2023
6:00 – 9:00 pm
Rutland Regional Planning Commission, 67 Merchants Row, Rutland, VT
The events are sponsored by the Vermont Emergency Management Association with support by Central Vermont Medical Center and Rutland Regional Planning Commission
Both sessions will also include a discussion of Local Emergency Management Plans (LEMP), with tips and lessons learned for new and experienced local Emergency Management Directors.
Training
Training Highlight
AWR- 362 Flooding Hazards: Science and Preparedness
Join us VIRTUALLY on March 29th & 30th 1:00pm- 5:00 (each day) for our Flooding Hazards: Science and Preparedness course. Learn about the current science behind the causes of floods, flood forecasting, flood risk assessment, and best practices for preparation and mitigation for both short- and long-fuse flooding events. Gain a better understanding regarding the factors that contribute to flooding and how they determine flood risk. Enhance your abilities to read and interpret forecasts, watches, and warnings from the National Weather Service and hydrographs from the U.S. Geological Survey. Increase your knowledge of how to plan for properly preparation for sudden flooding, such as flash flooding and dam breaks, and long-use flood events such as river flooding.
You must register through the University of Hawaii at the following link: https://ndptc.hawaii.edu/training/delivery/3230/
Registration Code: 5427
You will need to create an account before you can register.
Who Should Take This Course:
- Citizen/Community Volunteer
- Emergency Management
- Emergency Medical Services
- Fire Services
- Governmental Administrative
- Law Enforcement
- Public Works Modules:
- Science of Flooding
- Flood Risk
- Flood Forecasting and Public Information
- Safe Preparation and Mitigation for Floods
**SAVE-THE-DATE**
The 2023 Vermont Emergency Preparedness Conference will be held on September 20th & 21st at Burke Mountain Hotel & Conference Center in East Burke, VT.
Details to follow. Make sure you mark your calendars!
Make sure to sign up for our VEM Training email at https://list.vermont.gov/mailman/listinfo/dps.vemtraining
March 2023
ICS-100 Prep- Introduction to Incident Command
VA Medical Center, White River Junction
March 22, 2023, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. each day
Registration required via State Learning Management System: https://vermont.csod.com/
A laptop is required for this class
K2020 Debris Management Planning for State, Tribal, Territorial, and Local Officials - Virtual
March 28-30, 2023, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. each day
Registration required via NETC online admissions system:
Https://training.fema.gov/netc_online_admissions/
AWR- 362 Flooding Hazards: Science and Preparedness - Virtual
March 29 – 30, 2023, 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. each day
Must attend both sessions to receive credit
Registration required via University of Hawaii: https://ndptc.hawaii.edu/training/delivery/3230/
Code: 54271
April 2023
L0146 Homeland Security Exercise & Evaluation Program (HSEEP) - In Person
St Michael’s College
April 1-2, 2023, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. each day
Prerequisite: IS-120
Must attend all sessions to receive credit.
Registration required via the State Learning Management System: https://vermont.csod.com/
Vermont Local Emergency Management Director Course- Virtual
April 10-13, 2023, 5:00p.m. – 7:00 p.m. each day
Registration required via State Learning Management System: https://vermont.csod.com/
ICS 200 Prep- ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents – In Person
VA Medical Center, White River Junction
April 19-20, 2023, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. each day
Prerequisite: IS-100
Registration required via State Learning Management System: https://vermont.csod.com/
A laptop is required for this class
AWR- 136 Essentials of Community Cybersecurity - In Person
DPS – Headquarters- Waterbury
April 25, 2023, 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Registration required via the State Learning Management System: https://vermont.csod.com/
MGT 384 Community Preparedness for Cyber Incidents - In Person
DPS – Headquarters- Waterbury
April 25, 2023, 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. & April 26, 2023, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Registration required via the State Learning Management System: https://vermont.csod.com/
May 2023
SEOC Orientation - In Person
DPS – Headquarters- Waterbury
May 2, 2023, 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Prerequisite: IS-100
Registration required via State Learning Management System: https://vermont.csod.com/
NOTE: Individuals must be on the SEOC Roster to participate in this training
ICS-402- ICS Summary for Executives - Virtual
May 11, 2023, 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Registration required via the State Learning Management System: https://vermont.csod.com/
ICS 400- Advanced ICS for Command and General Staff – In Person
Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission- Winooski, VT
May 16-17, 2023, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. each day
Prerequisite: ICS-300
Registration required via State Learning Management System: https://vermont.csod.com/
June 2023
PER- 344 Social Media Tools and Techniques- Virtual
June 6, 2023- June 7, 2023, 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. each day
Must attend both sessions to receive credit
Registration required via University of Hawaii: https://ndptc.hawaii.edu/training/delivery/3265/
Code 03216
PER- 343 Social Media Engagement Strategies - Virtual
June 13, 2023- June 14, 2023, 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. each day
Must attend both sessions to receive credit
Registration required via University of Hawaii: https://ndptc.hawaii.edu/training/delivery/3266/
Code 81439
September 2023
Vermont Emergency Preparedness Conference
Burke Mountain Hotel & Conference Center
September 20-21, 2023
Registration details to come