March 2025
Volume 19 Issue 3
**Best viewed on a computer browser or horizontally if you are on a smartphone**
Local Emergency Management Plans: Due June 1, 2025
Now that Town Meeting Day has passed, Local Emergency Management Plans submitted to Vermont Emergency Management must comply with updated requirements noted in the December newsletter. VEM Regional Coordinators can provide support in updating plans. Please contact your Regional Coordinator now, as support is provided on a first-come, first-serve basis. Both virtual and in-person support is available for:
- Facilitating workshops to develop your plan
- Reviewing draft plan
- Answering questions
Please remember these plans are no longer submitted to Regional Planning Commissions; they now go directly to your Vermont Emergency Management Regional Coordinator either by email or by submitting through WebEOC.
If you have any questions, please contact your Regional Coordinator.
Updated LEMP requirements include:
- Municipalities can still submit a short form, long form, or any type of document they wish as long as it meets the new minimum requirements and includes the new municipal adoption form.
- Regional Emergency Management Committee (REMC) representatives must be listed on the Municipal Adoption Form.
- The Emergency Management Director must be one of the individuals who wrote the plan.
- Plans will require listing a shelter that the city or town has the authority to open.
- Local Emergency Management Plans will still need to be submitted after town meeting day, but the deadline will be extended to June 1st.
Waze Available for Local Road Information
Local communities can now use the map/direction app Waze to alert motorists to local road closures or other travel interruptions. New England 511 currently provides information and notifications about state roadwork, road restrictions, road closures, and special events, but does not include information about local roads.
Municipalities can partner directly with Waze for local road information. Waze is a free, Google-owned GPS app that provides travelers with up-to-date navigation and traffic information. Municipalities can sign up and use Waze to alert residents and visitors to local road closures and day-of events. Because Waze transfers information about state roads from 511, it will provide travelers with the best picture of both local and state travel routes. Citizens can input and validate information in Waze, which provides a better real-time picture.
Waze for Cities allows cities and towns to:
- Make live edits to notify motorists of active roadwork or emergency scenes.
- Upgrade or downgrade local roads from Major Highway, to Off-road/Not Maintained.
- Alert motorists to specific road details, unpaved, tunnel, etc.
- Add roadway restrictions such as travel times or prohibit certain vehicles (electric, motorcycle, private, public transportation, taxi).
Apply for Waze for Cities - Waze Partners Help (google.com). The site also includes instructions on how to apply for a Waze for Cities Account. State of Vermont Partners who have a .com email will most likely have their application request denied. If you are applying for a Waze for Cities account and receive a message saying that your request was denied, please reach out to your VEM Regional Coordinator.
Childcare Providers - Required Coordination and Planning
The 2025 Local Emergency Management Plan requirements have changed to replace “Vulnerable Populations” with “Organizations and Communities Requiring Additional Coordination”. One type of organization needing additional coordination is Child Care Providers.
A list of registered or licensed Child Care Providers is available on the Child Development Division website. Per Child Care Licensing Regulations that went into place in 2016, both in-home providers and centers are required to have a written emergency response plan. In October 2024, CDD issued an additional federal requirement that programs must include a process for reunifying children with their families in the event of an emergency. When a new Child Care Provider facility is opened, they may reach out to the Emergency Management Director to discuss this plan. This allows you to gain awareness of this organization, establish plans for coordination, share known area hazards, and discuss any potential challenges with implementing their plan. To help facilitate those connections, we share Emergency Management Director public contact information with these entities. If you believe this information to be incorrect, please contact your Vermont Emergency Management Regional Coordinator to update it.
Please note that determining compliance with Child Care Licensing Regulations remains the responsibility of the Child Development Division. Childcare providers can confirm compliance by contacting the Licenser on Duty
Emergency Management Spotlight: Marshfield Plan Review
On Tuesday, February 4th, the town of Marshfield put its local emergency management plan under the microscope during a review session led by its Emergency Management Director Justin Campbell, and Selectboard member Chris Whalen. The session also included a discussion on flood preparedness.
The session brought together a group of stakeholders who are critical to preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters in town. Members of the town’s Selectboard, Clerk, Fire Department, Department of Public Works, the local school district, and the Marshfield Resilience Hub, a community organization dedicated to supporting response and recovery efforts, worked collaboratively to ensure the town is prepared for future floods and other potential disasters.
This meeting served as a valuable platform for collaboration, allowing local representatives to engage directly with the emergency management plan, identify strengths, and explore opportunities for improvement. The discussions were constructive, fostering an open exchange of ideas to strengthen the town’s readiness for emergencies.
Through their leadership in organizing and facilitating this meeting, EMD Justin and selectboard member Chris demonstrated many facets of an effective local emergency management program; proactive thinking, building strong relationships, and breaking down communication barriers. Their efforts are a testament to the importance of thoughtful planning and community engagement in enhancing disaster preparedness.
The enthusiasm from all attendees was palpable, and there is a shared anticipation that these discussions will continue with regular meetings in the future to further refine plans and prepare for various emergency scenarios.
Article by VEM Northeast Regional Coordinator Sidney Pollock
Training Spotlight: American Red Cross Shelter Fundamentals
Shelter Fundamentals introduces the roles and responsibilities for opening, operating, and closing a shelter during a disaster. The course focuses on what new shelter workers need to know to work in a shelter.
Referencing shelter checklists, participants will work on a case study that takes them through four of the six phases of the Sheltering Cycle: Opening, Organizing, Operating, and Closing.
Saturday, March 29, 2025
1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
Bennington Fire Department
130 River Street
Bennington, VT 05201
Sunday, March 30, 2025
10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Brattleboro Fire Department
103 Elliot St
Brattleboro, VT 05301
Registration for both classes can be found here
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
March 2025
Umatter® Suicide Prevention Awareness and Skills Training
Participants learn basic knowledge and skills of suicide prevention including societal myths and attitudes, use of sensitive language, risk factors and warning signs, protective factors, considerations for populations at risk, examples of what to say and do, and local and national resources for help. Participants learn a three-step process for talking with someone who presents with risk for suicide. This learning exchange includes a discussion of best practices for suicide prevention in your organization or community setting.
Who should attend: Anyone interested in preventing suicide. General and inclusive across organizations, demographics, and communities.
Objectives of Training:
● Know basic information about suicide prevention
● Identify protective factors, risk factors, and warning signs
● Learn the 3-step intervention process and practice it
● Increase confidence and competence to respond
● Understand your role in suicide prevention either in your school, organization, or community
LOCATION: Virtual
DATE/TIME: March 24, 2025, 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. each day
REGISTRATION
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
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.
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
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
National Resources Conservation Service(NRCS) Watershed Program Opportunities for Flood Prone Communities
Participants will learn about NRCS Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program assistance with project sponsors for flooding and erosion protection following a natural disaster including structural solutions that protect communities from additional flooding threats and financial assistance for sponsor-led property buyouts.
The webinar will also include NRCS Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Operations (WFPO) Program assistance to sponsors in preparing and carrying out watershed plans for purposes such as watershed protection and flood prevention, assessing the extent of watershed problems and the needs of a flood-prone community with watershed plans that may include nonstructural or structural measures.
Presenters include Sonya Keith - NRCS National WFPO Program Coordinator | John Derbish - NRCS National EWP Recovery Manager | Tina Hendon - NWC Chair |Gene Saurborn - NWC Executive Director.
LOCATION: Webinar
DATE/TIME: April 22, 2025, 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
REGISTRATION
Register in advance for this webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
ICS-402 - ICS 402 Summary for Executives
The purpose of this course is to provide an orientation to the Incident Command System for Executives and Senior Officials.
LOCATION: Manchester Fire Department, Manchester, VT
DATE/TIME: April 28, 2025, 11:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m.
REGISTRATION
June 2025
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: Bennington Public Safety Building, Bennington, VT
DATE/TIME: June 19, 2025, 8:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.
PREREQUISITES: IS-100, IS-200, IS-700, and IS-800
REGISTRATION
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.
Mental Health First Aid Training
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among adults.
LOCATION: Hybrid- It will be virtual and at DPS Headquarters, Waterbury, VT
DATE/TIME: June 24, 2025, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
REGISTRATION
This course is only for participants from within the state of Vermont.
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
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.