Training & Events
Webinar: Building Community Resilience through Innovation and Partnerships (Council of State Governments) Historic amounts of grant funding will flow into states in 2021 to use for pre-disaster mitigation and large infrastructure projects from the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Program through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The new BRIC program allows states and local communities to shift from reactive disaster spending and instead take forward-leaning and innovative approaches to building resilience, including public-private partnerships and nature-based solutions. Learn how this unprecedented opportunity can be leveraged to build climate and disaster resilience, reinforce equity and encourage stronger economies. Note: No cost for CSG-associate members; $250 for non-members. If you have questions about registration, please contact CSG at registration@csg.org.
- Friday, Nov 13, 2020 02:00 PM
FEMA National Advisory Council virtual meetings (FEMA) — on emergency management issues, pursuant to Homeland Security Department; Federal Emergency Management Agency (F.R. Page 68355)., Agenda includes: present recommendations to and receive feedback from leadership; and discuss strategic priorities with FEMA leadership and topical experts. Note: RSVP required by 5 p.m. November 13. Contact: Jasper Cooke at 202-646-2700 FEMA-NAC@fema.dhs.gov to register and receive dial-in information.
- November 17-18, starting @ 12:30pm ET.
Maximizing FEMA COVID-19 Funding and Reimbursements — The U.S. Conference of Mayors’ webinar “Maximizing FEMA Funding and Reimbursements Eight Months In,” is now available at no cost on-demand. Eight months into the pandemic, many cities are preparing and submitting reimbursement requests to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This webinar provides useful information to assist cities in using available federal aid to respond to the impact of COVID-19 on cities and their residents
Resources
State and Local Mitigation Planning Policy Update: Summary of Feedback Report (FEMA) The National Mitigation Planning Program is updating the state and local mitigation planning policies. These policies guide the review and approval of state and local hazard mitigation plans. The policies are also known as the Mitigation Plan Review Guides, and are FEMA’s official interpretation of the hazard mitigation planning requirements in the Code of Federal Regulations (44 CFR Part 201). This effort included a broad call for ideas and feedback. Representatives from state, local, and territorial communities and the public could participate in one of three listening sessions held in mid-July as well as submit comments by email. Over 550 federal, state, local, academic, and non-governmental partners shared nearly 440 comments The National Mitigation Planning Program has summarized these comments in a report available online.
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Creates Mobile Flood Tool (HS Newswire) – The U.S. Geological Survey announced Friday the completion of a new mobile tool that provides real-time information on water levels, weather and flood forecasts all in one place on a computer, smartphone or other mobile device. The new access anywhere interactive map helps minimize loss of life and property. the USGS National Water Dashboard will help inform forecasting, response and recovery efforts for agencies such as the National Weather Service, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and other federal, state and local agencies.
November is Infrastructure Security Month (DHS / CISA) Designed to focus on the vital role critical infrastructure – cyber and physical – plays in keeping the nation and our communities safe, secure and prosperous. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is promoting two sub-themes for Infrastructure Security Month 2020: In a Time of Transformation: Security and Response during a Global Pandemic and The Future of Securing Critical Infrastructure.
Securing Soft Targets and Crowded Places (DHS / CISA) CISA’s collection of resources covering the many facets of this topic. Securing Soft Targets and Crowded Places offers planning and response guidance on active shooters, vehicle ramming, chemical attacks and fire as a weapon.
Special Report: Public Health in State and Local Government (Pew: Rt. Fifty) Covid-19 exposed gaps in data use for state governments but it also revealed innovative practices that can be applied in the future. This Special Report looks at the latest trends in public health as agencies combat coronavirus and other problems.
Federal Register Updates (NEMA) The Federal Register was active in recent days, with a selection of relevant updates below:
- FEMA: Comment Request on Information Collection for National Disaster Preparedness Survey
- FEMA: Comment Request on Information Collection for Emergency Notification System (ENS)
- CDC: Statement of Organizations, Functions, and Delegations of Authority
- FCC: Correction to Date Regarding Wireless 911 Location Accuracy Requirements
CISA Graphic Novel: Real Fake (CISA) Real Fake, the first graphic novel in CISA’s Resilience Series, communicates the dangers and risks associated with dis- and misinformation through fictional stories that are inspired by real-world events. Readers follow protagonists Rachel and Andre as they discover that a command center in Russia is using a network of troll farms to spread false narratives about elections to American voters. With the elections coming up, Rachel and Andre follow the trail of synthetic media and stop the cyber assailants from causing chaos, confusion, and division.
Articles
All-Hazards:
Alerts: Action-Led Alerts Effective in Natural Disasters (HS Newswire)
Wildfires Threaten West Coast’s Seismic Network (UN Prevention Web)
Volunteers Needed to Help With Hurricane Zeta Recovery (WLOX)
Can AI and Connected Tech Foster Better Disaster Decision-Making? (GCN)
What Creates Community Disaster Response Chaos (Nat. Interest)
Resilience:
How Better Building Codes Can Mitigate Wildfires’ Devastation (UN Prevention Web)
How New Modes of Storytelling Engage Australians in Disaster Preparedness and Long-Term Resilience (AUS)
Firebreak: Wildfire Resilience Strategies for Real Estate (ULI – Knowledge Finder)
Public Health / Biosurveillance:
Moving Millions of County Dollars to Prepare for COVID (EM/GovTech)
Escaping the ‘Era of Pandemics’: Reducing Risks of Worse Crises to Come (HS Newswire)
Local Health Departments Find New Ways to Provide Flu Vaccines (Pew: Rt. Fifty)
Critical Infrastructure & Cyber:
Creating a National Network of Cybersecurity Institutes (HS Newswire)
New Cyber Technologies Protect Utility Energy Delivery Systems (HS Newswire)
Safeguarding the Nation’s Supercomputers (HS Newswire)
A Big 2020 Election Hack Never Came. Here’s Why. (Pew: Rt. Fifty)
Apple Will Require Apps to Add Privacy “Nutrition Labels” Staring December 8th(The Verge)
Innovations & Interconnections:
The World’s Courtrooms Could Unleash the Next Wave of Green Investing (Bloomberg Green)
Poor U.S. Pandemic Response Will Reverberate in Health Care Politics for Years, Health Scholars Warn (HS Newswire)
ESG Data Explosion, Investors Demand Diversity, Policymakers Fight Climate Change (Financial Times)
The Denialist Playbook: On Vaccines, Evolution and More, Rejection of Science Has Followed a Familiar Pattern (Sci American)
From Brassville to... (working title) 