Enhanced Virtual Forum Interactive Opportunities
The Emergency Information Infrastructure Partnership (EIIP) recently enhanced the Virtual Forum with new software and upgrades that triple its audience capability while providing for more effective Discussion Groups and Mail Lists. Utilization of these communication tools is a very effective way of sharing information, staying on top of current changes in programs, and networking. We are seeking volunteers to moderate the Mailing Lists and corresponding Discussion Group. See http://www.emforum.org/vforum/vforum.htm to access these features.

The EIIP is also pleased to announce expansion of the Virtual Forum weekly schedule that allows emergency professionals to participate online three days of the week. Effective March 1, look for the following interactive Virtual Forum sessions:

• Tuesdays - 1:00 PM (EST): Informal Brown Bag session (Note: moved from Wednesdays). Designed for open discussion of issues, opportunity to learn/practice chatting, and technical help resource.
  
  
• Wednesdays - 12:00 Noon (EST): Moderated Live Online Events featuring speakers in the Virtual Library, Virtual Classroom, EIIP Panel Room, and the Tech Arena.
  
  
• Thursdays - 8:00 PM (EST): Round Table Unmoderated Discussions on Topic of the Week with Guest Speaker. (See Online Events page for topic.)
  
  

Online Events:
3/04/98 - Virtual Library: Richard (Ryc) Lyden, Sr. Planner, presents State of Minnesota Response Activity Matrix (MnRAM).

3/5/98 - Virtual Forum: First Roundtable Topic - "Is an aging population increasing our vulnerability to disasters into the next century?" (Look for announcements of each week's Round Table discussion on the Online Events page.)

3/11/98 - Virtual Classroom: Amy Sebring, EIIP, Corpus Christi EMA, demonstrates "Using ArcExplorer (freeware) to Display FEMA Q3 Flood Data."

3/18/98 - EIIP Panel Room: Panel discussion of "Flood Plain Management: High and Dry" - Association of State Flood Plain Managers (ASFPM), FEMA Region V Mitigation Division, University of Massachusetts, and Jon Fuller & Associates (Private Sector Representative).

3/25/98 - Technology Arena: Philip Schneider, Director, Multihazard Loss Estimation Program, National Institute of Building Sciences, presents HAZUS, a loss estimation software program.

Please see the EIIP Virtual Forum for background materials on speakers and topics prior to the dialogues. If any sessions of interest are missed, edited and unedited versions of the transcripts are available on the web site.

Scheduled EIIP Conference Calls/Meetings:

3/13/98 - 12:00 Noon (EST) EIIP Planning Team meets to further evaluate Development Survey results (see below), and continue progress on the long term strategic plan.

Please contact the EIIP Coordinator (amoore@emforum.org) if you have questions about ongoing Partnership work and activities.

The following have submitted the Memorandum of Agreement form to become formal Partners during the past month and are listed as such on the EIIP Virtual Forum web site. (See http://www.emforum.org/partners/partic.htm.) Each Point of Contact (POC) has been welcomed to the EIIP and encouraged to become an active participant and worker in the Partnership.

Amateur Radio Emergencyt Service (ARES) of Southeast Louisiani, Inc.: POC: Martin D. Wade (mdwade@mobiletel.com).

EQE International, Inc.: POC: Neil Blais, Sr. Project Engineer (ncb@eqe.com).

South Carolina Emergency Preparedness Division (SCEPD): POC: Tim Murphy (tpmurphy@strider.epd.state.sc.us).

New Partners are welcome --- please see EIIP Partnership Criteria and Memorandum of Partnership Form.

The Emergency Information Infrastructure Partnership (EIIP) Development Plan was designed to gather information important to the future and direction of the EIIP Virtual Forum. Survey recipients were selectively chosen; all formal Partners were requested to complete the survey as well as EIIP members who have been active and extremely interested and supportive of the Partnership. Responses to the survey reflect the broad emergency management perspectives and diversity of our Partners and audience. Some questions drew a variety of thoughtful answers and comments but no consensus; however, several of the questions did generate strong consensus which either reinforces ongoing activities or gives very clear direction for the future.

Education of the public as well as training and professional development are recurring themes throughout the survey results and comments provided. It is also notable that sharing of ideas and information throughout the global emergency management community is desirable as well as access to information/communication technologies regardless of community size, location or emergency services discipline. To accommodate the global sharing and networking, training is needed in using the technologies, a common nomenclature is deemed essential, and a nationwide information network for daily and disaster use is required.

The Planning Team focus will be on those areas of strong consensus as a mandate for future planning and implementation. Findings provided by the survey will be considered along with all comments provided to various questions as the EIIP Planning Team continues the development of the long-term EIIP strategic planning process.

Survey Results: Findings have been condensed for ease in reading; to view the Survey Questions and compiled raw data, please see the EIIP Activities page. You are invited to complete the survey, if you wish, and return according to the instructions provided.

Top three issues facing the U.S. emergency management community:
1. Training;
2. Recognition, visibility and credibility of emergency management professionals; and
3. Educating the public re: emergency management.

The most critical need in emergency management program that would most greatly enhance public safety (other than money and political support.)
1. Public education/training (30%);
2. Information management and warnings to the public (30%);
3. Comprehensive emergency management programs with better coordination, cooperation and communication among all players in the community (30%); and
4. Professional development and training (10%).

Overwhelming consensus on whether or not the EIIP should take an international perspective and work towards a global sharing of ideas and information.
Yes (90.5%) No (9.5%)

Top three needs of emergency management community re: information or communications technology.
1. Training and education
2. Access issues --- equity and integration of systems/data standards; and
3. Dependable disaster-proof communications

100 % of respondents agreed that training in the use of information tools is important.

Majority of respondents replied that an integrated, nationwide emergency information network that permits a continuous flow of information in disasters and daily communication would enhance interagency coordination.
Yes (81%) No (5%) No answer (14%)

Majority affirmed common nomenclature and data standards are important.
Important (71%) No opinion/did not answer (24%) Could assist or hinder (5%)

Respondents indicated the following information/communication technologies hold the most promise for the future:
The Internet was listed in 15 responses with GIS (4) and global cell phones (3); other responders listed things like satellite, statistical and intelligence technologies.

Majority of survey responses indicate that equal access to information technology for communities is important regardless of size.
Yes (90.5%) No reply (9.5%)

The last Survey question asked for strategies the EIIP might pursue to support its future role. Responses were as varied as the respondents. Remarks were encouraging and supportive of the Partnership efforts.

The mission of the Western States Seismic Policy Council (WSSPC) is to provide a forum to advance earthquake hazard reduction programs throughout the Western Region and to develop, recommend and present seismic policies and programs through information exchange, research and education. The WSSPC announces the following conferences:

• Western United States Earthquake Insurance Summit on June 25-26, 1998, Sacramento, California, and
• Western States Seismic Policy Council 20th Annual Conference, September 15-18, 1998, in Pasadena, California.

For further information, please contact: WSSPC, 121 Second Street, 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105 (wsspc@wsspc.org), (415)974-6435, fax (415)974-1747.

A Boeing Delta 2 booster carrying the first four satellites for the Globalstar Big LEO constellation was recently launched from Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida. The $2.6 billion Globalstar system is a satellite-based wireless telecommunications system designed to provide voice, data, fax, and other telecommunication services to users worldwide. Users of Globalstar will make, or receive, calls using hand-held or vehicle mounted terminals similar to today's cellular phones. Calls will be relayed through the Globalstar satellite constellation, 1,414-km above the earth, to a ground station and then through local terrestrial systems to their destination. Contact: Keith Stein, Associate Technical Editor, Launchspace Publications, Inc. (http://www.launchspace.com).

Commerce Secretary William M. Daley recently announced the appointment of Air Force Brigadier General John J. Kelly (Ret.) as the 13th Director of the National Weather Service. General Kelly is the former head of the Air Force Air Weather Service, which provides perational weather support for all Army and Air Force activities. Kelly assumed his duties on February 26th. He is responsible for completing the modernization of the weather service, ensuring its cost-effective and efficient operation, and maintaining the quality of daily weather forecasts and warnings. Kelly will also be responsible for maintaining strong working relationships, not only with the academic community and private sector, but also with Congress and state and local governments.

General Kelly's military career spanned 31 years and included seven years as Director of the Air Weather Service. He did graduate work in meteorology at Pennsylvania State University and received a masters degree in public administration from Auburn University. In addition, he is a Fellow of the American Meteorological Society.

The Association of FloodPlain Managers (ASFPM) has developed a professional certification program for floodplain managers throughout the country. It would recognize as Certified Floodplain Managers those individuals who are members of the ASFPM; have appropriate floodplain management training, education, and experience; and pass a floodplain management examination. Continuing education would be required for renewal; recognition would be given to State certification programs; and an advanced examination and designation are anticipated at a later date. This effort is being funded by FEMA and the ASFPM Foundation. The schedule calls for certification materials to be pilot tested at the ASFPM mid-March meeting. See ASFPM web site for details about the certification program and other organizational information (http://www.floods.org).

Funding for emergency preparedness grants would double in FY99 under the President's FY99 budget proposal. The grant program, administered by DOT's Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA), would grow from $7 million enacted for the current fiscal year to $14 million in FY99. Emergency preparedness grants are awarded by RSPA to States, which use the grants to train hazmat responders and improve emergency response plans. According to RSPA, there are two reasons for the increase in funding: (1) Congress intended for RSPA to have a particular authority level and intended for RSPA to apply the law to all hazmat carriers and shippers; and (2) emergency responders need to be trained properly. RSPA says that of the 3.2 million emergency responders affected by the law, only 130,000 per year benefit from grant funding. Increased funding would improve the number of persons benefiting from the funding by providing larger grants to the States, and also give States more money to work with when focusing on compliance. Once the appropriations bill for DOT is enacted, RSPA intends to propose a rule increasing the annual level of funding for the grant program to $14.3 million beginning in FY99.

Organizational & Issue Updates from EIIP Partners

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)Update:

FEMA Federal Register Notices / Restoration of Damaged Facilities - FEMA published in the February 5 issue of the Federal Register its final rule for Disaster Assistance; Restoration of Damaged Facilities. The rule requires that eligible costs associated with State and local repair or replacement standards (building codes, specifications, or standards required for the construction of facilities) be found reasonable and be limited to the standards that are in writing and formally adopted by the State or local government on or before the date of the disaster declaration. The rule staggers the effective dates; the rule will be effective for local standards on January 1, 1998, and for State standards on January 1, 2000. The rule is effective March 9.

* * * *

National Coordinating Council on Emergency Management (NCCEM):

Four-way Leverage = Radios (condensed from the NCCEM Bulletin, "From the Regions" section). A four-way partnership coordinated by NCCEM Board member Bob Goldhammer, CEM, resulted in 40 free tone-alert NOAA weather radios to Polk County, Iowa day care centers, and a flood of requests for reduced-price radios by local citizens. The Polk County Emergency Management Agency, the National Weather Service, KCCI- TV and Radio Shack all worked together to educate their community and provide an essential warning service. Contact Bob Goldhammer for details (515-286-2107; e-mail: (rggoldhamr@aol.com). If radio or TV stations in other areas contact Bob, he will provide local emergency management contacts and information, and give the local emergency management office a "heads-up" about the interest in their area. (See also new Virtual Forum Discussion Group for the exchange of ideas for promoting NOAA Radio.)

* * * *

National Emergency Management Association (NEMA) Update:

NEMA/CSG State Emergency Management Funding Survey - A NEMA/CSG State Emergency Management Funding Survey seeks to capture FY97 State spending for emergency preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery. This is important since Congress continues to look at ways to cut the federal cost of disasters. The deadline for completing the survey is April 3.

* * * *

National Institute for Urban Search and Rescue (NIUSR):

XII Project Progress Report: XII Core Working Group met at DISA, Arlington, VA, Feb. 24 & 25, in preparation for their 2-week demonstration in May. The Xtreme Information Infrastructure (XII) Project undertaken by NI/USR involves the development of a large-scale coordinated National Inter-Agency Response System. It involves the co-partners of the National Emergency Management Association (NEMA), the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab, the ESC at Hanscom AFB, DISA, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL/NASA), Mantech Systems Engineering Corporation and the Optimus Consulting Group. Visit NI/USR web site at http://niusr.org.

* * * *

March 14-17, 1998: National Coordinating Council on Emergency Management (NCCEM) 1998 Mid-Year Meeting - EMI, Emmitsburg, Maryland (http://www.nccem.org). The CEM Commission will meet immediately prior to the Mid-Year Meeting. Any CEM up for recertification in 1998 may also proctor the CEM exam on Saturday, March 14, 2:00-5:00 PM. Contact NCCEM for more details.

March 15-18, 1998: Ninth Annual Corporate Contingency Planning Seminar & Exhibition, sponsored by Disaster Recovery Journal: co-sponsors are Disaster Recovery Institute International, Ernst & Young, LLP, and Private and Public Businesses, Inc. (PPBI); location is the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina, San Diego, CA. For further information, call (314) 894-0276 or check URL (http://www.drj.com).

March 31 - April 1, 1998: 1998 South Carolina Hurricane Conference - "The Calm Before The Storm" - The South Carolina Emergency Preparedness Division will hold its 1998 Hurricane Conference on March 31st and April 1st in Charleston at the Sheraton Charleston Hotel. Registration fee for the conference is $40. The deadline for hotel reservations is March 16; rooms are $69 plus tax. Conference participants should contact the Sheraton Hotel for reservations (800-968-3569). Anyone interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at the conference should contact Francis Tubolino at SCEPD, 803-734-8020. See the SCEPD web site (http://www.state.sc.us/epd) for conference agenda and details on two free pre-conference workshops, "Forecasting Primer for News Media" and "Disaster-Resistant Communities: Techniques for Planners and Other Professionals."

April 21-24, 1998: Thirteenth Annual SALEMDUG Conference, Technology in Emergency Management - Designed for anyone interested in enhancing their knowledge of emergency management technologies -- federal, state and local emergency managers, as well as business and industry. Holiday Inn Sun Spree, Virginia Beach, VA; registration $75 by March 22. Contact: Dave Miller, SALEMDUG President, Iowa Emergency Management Division, (515) 281-3231 (dmiller@max.state.ia.us).

May 17-22, 1998: Flood Mitigation Technology: Times are Changing - Association of Floodplain Managers, Inc. (ASFPM), Milwaukee, WI. Complete conference agenda, activities and registration materials will be available in February (asfpm@execpc.com).

June 4-7, 1998: 15th International Hazardous Materials Response Teams Conference -
Sponsored by International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), Towson, Maryland. For information, fax IAFC Professional Development Department (703) 273-9363.

June 25-28, 1998: 2nd Annual "Search & Rescue/Disaster Response" Conference and Expo - Nashville, TN Convention Center. Featuring 110 sessions, live demos, a huge exhibit hall, and the Tennessee Valley Vehicle Extrication Competition! For further information, please see the SR/DR '98 web site (http://srdr.com). Or contact Scott Samuels, SR/DR, (715)547-3340, fax (715)547-6674.

October 22-23, 1998: 1998 Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) Congress -Orlando Marriott Hotel, Orlando, FL (http://www.ibhs.org).

Income tax time is here! See these sites for tax help and financial planning:

• IRS Home Page (http://www.irs.ustreas.gov) - Home of the "fastest, easiest tax publication on the planet," the Daily Planet; everything you need is there: forms, publications and instructions.
  
  
• 1040.com (http://www.1040.com) - No bells, no whistle, just income taxes --- both federal and state. News, tips, forms and rates on one no-nonsense page.
  
  
• FinPlanDotCom (http://www. Finplan.com) - This comprehensive financial planning site includes tools, free software and original content for personal finance, retirement, insurance, estate planning and taxation.
  
  
• Bank Rate Monitor (http://www.bankrate.com) - Site offers tools for finding the lowest rate on mortgages, auto loans and credit cards, and offers 1,600 pages of background to help you get a handle on credit.

We encourage readers to submit articles for this newsletter about use of the Internet for emergency management and other aspects of information technology. Try to keep them fairly short. Deadline for contributions is the 20th of each month for that month's newsletter. Submit contributions to Avagene Moore, CEM (amoore@emforum.org).