November, 2022
Volume 16 Issue 11
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Change to our Newsletter
Those who are longtime readers of our newsletter, and even those who saw it last month, will notice a significant change to our format. We have discontinued the traditional PDF layout for a web-based design.
This new format will allow you to click directly on links in our news items, and allow for easier accessibility for those visually impaired individuals who use screen readers and other on-line tools.
New VEM Deputy Director - Eric Forand
Eric Forand of Bristol was recently appointed the new Vermont Emergency Management Deputy Director following the retirement of Chip Deasy this summer.
Eric joined VEM in September of 2017, serving as the State Exercise Administrator for five years. He now manages day to day operations at VEM and works with communities and partners on VEM issues and initiatives.
Before joining VEM, he worked for the Town of Bristol on planning, zoning and economic development. Eric also has long experience in emergency response as a firefighter for the last 14 years, currently serving as assistant chief in Bristol.
He is also a former EMT-B , and past instructor at the fire academy. He is currently the assistant fire chief in Bristol. Deputy Director Forand can be reached at eric.forand@vermont.gov.
VEM Email Listservs for Towns and EMDs
Vermont Emergency Management has established a new public facing email lists webpage (https://vem.vermont.gov/email-lists). This page will allow our constituents to register for and receive updates from VEM that are most pertinent to them, or all correspondence.
To subscribe to any of our public email lists, simply visit the page and submit your email address and name through the form provided. Once approved (which may take 1-2 business days), you’ll receive a welcome email confirming your subscription.
On this webpage, you’ll be able to subscribe to the following lists:
VEM Daily Watch Officer Report: Reports each morning from Vermont Emergency Management's watch officer
VEM Newsletter: Vermont Emergency Management's monthly newsletter
School Safety: Periodic announcements from Vermont's school safety program
VEM Funding: Notice of emergency management funding opportunities
VEM Training: Notice of scheduled emergency management trainings
Anyone can subscribe to these public facing email lists to receive up-to-date information from Vermont Emergency Management, so please notify those in your communities who may benefit from the information coming from these lists.
Emergency Operations Center Grants
Vermont Emergency Management has funding available to support Local Emergency Management and Emergency Operations Center (EOC) improvement projects. This funding, provided through the Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG), will allow Cities, Towns, Villages, and Regional Emergency Management Committees to build capacity at the local and regional levels of Vermont and increase preparedness, capabilities, and resources to adequately respond to threats and hazards. Improvements include, but are not limited to auxiliary power, technology, communications, and operational aids to enhance EOC capabilities.
All the details on this grant, including eligibility information, application, and guidance are available here: https://vem.vermont.gov/funding/empg
If you have questions related to the grant, the application, or related info, please do not hesitate to reach out DPS.EMPGGroup@Vermont.Gov.
Vermont Hosts NEMA Conference
For the first time ever, Vermont hosted the 2022 National Emergency Management Association Annual Forum in Stowe last month. State Emergency Management Directors, their staff, private sector partners and many more converged from across the country to discuss a number of current and emerging topics in Emergency Management.
Major topics included:
Women in Emergency Management
Energy Lifeline Interdependencies and Reliability
The Growing Wildfire Risk Across the U.S.
Elevating state emergency management – reviewing proposals in Maryland and Oregon to make Emergency Management a standalone department reporting to the chief executive
Response and Recovery
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell and National Weather Service Director Ken Graham joined the group to address the future of both organizations. Vermont Lieutenant Governor Molly Gray also provided a welcome to our visitors.
The conference also marked the end of Vermont Emergency Management Director Erica Bornemann’s term as President of NEMA. Bornemann was given a NEMA Presidential Citation for her work, and presented the President’s Pin and welcomed into the Past President’s Club.
You can view photos from the event on our Facebook page.
Button Up Vermont
The state of Vermont is teaming with Efficiency Vermont and Vermont Gas Systems to promote the Button Up Vermont campaign, an effort to help Vermonters prepare their homes to maximize energy efficiency and access emergency heating assistance.
The program’s state website shares a comprehensive inventory of programs and tools to help Vermonters navigate winter heating needs, including financial assistance for low- and moderate-income households, weatherization, home improvement incentives, safe heating advice, and more. Vermonters can access this online inventory at www.vermont.gov/buttonupvt
The state has allocated federal money to Vermont weatherization programs that allow moderate-income families to have 75 percent of the cost of a weatherization project covered, plus low- or no-cost financing to help projects fit into monthly budgets. Specific details can be found on the Button Up Vermont website: www.vermont.gov/buttonupvt
Training
November 2022
SEOC Orientation - In Person
DPS Headquarters - Waterbury
November 29, 2022, 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
January 2023
AWR- 228 Community Resilience - Virtual
January 18-19, 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/3228/
Code: 82516
February 2023
K2020 Debris Management Planning for State, Tribal, Territorial, and Local Officials - Virtual
February 7-9, 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/
Vermont Local Emergency Management Director Course - Virtual
February 21-22, 2023, 2:30p.m. – 6:30 p.m. each day
Registration required via State Learning Management System:
https://vermont.csod.com/
AWR- 347 Climate Adaption Planning for Emergency Management - Virtual
February 28, 2023 – March 1, 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/3229/
Code: 79028
March 2023
ICS 300- Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents – In Person
Hartford Fire Department - Hartford, VT
March 14-16, 2023, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. each day
Prerequisite: ICS-100 and ICS- 200
Registration required via State Learning Management System: https://vermont.csod.com/
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
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 p.m. – 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/
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