EMERGENCY PARTNER POSTINGS

Volume 4, No. 6

February 2000

New Attendance Record
Friends of the EIIP, emergency management practitioners and related disciplines set a record for participation in the January 2000 EIIP Virtual Forum. Each Wednesday session was very well attended with an average of 40 participants in each session. Pledgers continue to be an important component, averaging 18 pledgers per session, also our highest average to date. Please keep up the good numbers -- anything over 20-25 per session is considered above the industry-wide average for moderated discussions of a serious nature. Thank you for your continued support!

New Opportunity
Any Virtual Forum participant with an announcement for our online audiences is now offered an opportunity to share their news just prior to the close of each session. Participants are asked to compose a brief statement and be ready to input upon request just before we adjourn.

New Newsletter Format
Please note the streamlined format of Emergency Partner Postings; we hope to avoid repeating information found in other electronic newsletters (conference listings, web sites, etc.). Comments on format are welcome; we welcome news as well. Opinion pieces on emergency/disaster management topics are also invited for future issues - please keep them rather brief. Submit for consideration to amoore@emforum.org.

RRBDIN Update
EIIP Technical Projects Coordinator, Amy Sebring, travelled to Winnipeg, Canada during January to attend a conference focused on water issues in the Red River Basin. In addition to providing an opportunity to exhibit and present information about the RRB network in plenary session, Amy was able to meet many of the network members in person for the first time.

The Red River Basin Disaster Information Network conducted an interactive January 20 workshop entitled The Red River Basin Board: Making a Difference. The workshop featured Executive Director Jim Moench in an overview of the Red River Basin Board water management planning process, the current status of this grass-roots effort, and its goals for the future.

The RRBDIN is sponsored by the International Joint Commission, the Global Disaster Information Network, and the Red River Basin Board with support by the EIIP. Workshop transcripts and related materials are available via the Web site. http://www.emforum.org/redriver/

Wednesdays - 12:00 Noon EST:
February 2: Virtual Library - "Issues in the Wildland/Urban Interface" with Kenneth L. Patterson, Sr., Firefighter/EMT, St. Augustine, Florida.

February 9: Virtual Classroom - Major Aviation Disasters-Strategies to Save Lives And Control The Incident, with Gunnar J. Kuepper, Chief of Operations, Emergency and Disaster Management Inc.

February 16: Virtual Forum - Public Education and Information from the Emergency Planner's Companion CD-ROM Series, Barbara Vogt and John Sorenson, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).

February 23: Tech Arena - eTeam.com demonstrates new Internet-based emergency management software, Troy Armstrong, Director of Business Development, eTeam.com.

The following submitted the agreement form to become formal Partners and are listed on the EIIP Virtual Forum web site, with links to Websites if available (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:

EM Assist: POC Bill Karl, President, bkarl@dellnet.com

Interested in joining the EIIP? New Partners are welcome; Partnership Criteria and Agreement Form may be found at the following URL: http://www.emforum.org/partners/criteria.htm

by Amy Sebring
asebring@emforum.org

When most of us are stretched to the limit by the sheer number of "things to do," how can we make our public education efforts more cost-effective? That is, how can we reach the greatest number of people, with a message that will affect their behavior in a positive way, with the least investment of time, money, and energy. Perhaps the two new classes of radio service created by the FCC recently, Low Power FM, might provide just such an opportunity?

Complete details regarding the requirements may be found at the LPFM Web page at http://www.fcc.gov/mmb/prd/lpfm/, but in a nutshell, only local, non-commercial entities will be eligible to apply for these low-cost, limited range broadcast licenses. Public safety has been an anticipated use, and according to the Commission, this sector expressed great interest during the public comment phase of the proceedings.

While it is unlikely that a single local emergency management agency would be in a position to fill an entire day of programming, perhaps by joining with others interested in broader aspects of public safety, it could become more feasible. If enough communities pursued this avenue, it is fairly likely that non-local program content could be found, and/or communities could share content to some extent, and form, if not a network, then at least an affiliation. This might also be a great place to use talented volunteers in your community.

The Commission is likely to begin accepting applications in a few months and will provide 30 days public notice before accepting any applications. Once the application "window" opens, it will only be open for five days, and applications will be required to be filed electronically. Therefore, advance preparation will be necessary to take advantage of this opportunity.

February '00 EENet Schedule:
February 2:, 2:00 PM EST: Special Y2K Wrap-up
February 9: 2:00 PM EST: Exercising: Practice, Practice, Practice
February 16: 2:00 PM EST: National Alert Broadcast, Video Magazine
February 23: 2:00 PM EST: Smallest Community Can Manage Fire Prevention

For a description of each of these programs and broadcast information,
visit the EENet Web site: http://www.fema.gov/home/emi/eenet.htm .

EVENTS! (from http://www.sustainableusa.org)

• Greenprints 2000: Sustainable Communities by Design - Atlanta, GA Feb 6-8
• Renewable Energy for the New Millennium - Sydney, Australia, March 8-10
• Earth Day is scheduled to take place all over the world March 19-20

NDEC Sponsors Long-Term Drought Forum:
The National Disaster Education Coalition (NDEC) sponsors "Long-Term Drought Forum" on February 17, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, at National Weather Service Headquarters in Silver Spring, MD. The NDEC will use information from the forum to explain drought and its effects, and outline steps individuals, families and communities should take before and during a drought. To register, contact Linda Kremkau (301-713-0091 x118) Linda.Kremkau@noaa.gov .

Brochure Available for Download: Tis the Season:
The Capital Area Chapter of the American Red Cross and the Leon County (FL)
Sheriff's Office Division of Emergency Management have prepared a brochure, "Tis the Season," for residents of Mobile or Manufactured Homes on how to prepare for the high winds of a hurricane. Download (PDF format) http://www.tallytown.com/redcross.

Calls for Papers:

• The International Emergency Management Society Conference (TIEMS 2000) is in Orlando, FL May 16-19. The deadline for submission of papers is now March 1. http://www.tiems.org Contacts: Suleyman Tufekci, University of Florida tufekci@ise.ufl.edu and Kathleen Kowalski, NIOSH kek2@cdc.gov
• The Journal of the American Society of Professional Emergency Planners (ASPEP) requests papers for 2000 edition. Papers are due July 31, 2000. The Journal will be released in November at the annual conference of the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) in Austin, Texas. http://www.globalserve.net/~tmheath/
• The 5th Asia-Pacific Conference on Disaster Medicine is September 27-30 in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Abstracts are due by February 29. Contact: Diana Ericson dprc@interchange.ubc.ca Web site: http://www.safety.ubc.ca/5APCDM/intro5apc4.htm
• American Sociological Association meeting in Washington, DC August 12-16, 2000, ISA Research Committee session on "Feminist Theories and Approaches to Disaster." Seeking papers which focus on the contributions of feminist theories and methods to disaster research and response. Send an outline of your paper (complete paper if available) and your CV to Betty Morrow, Co-Director, Lab for Social & Behavioral Research, International Hurricane Center, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199. Deadline: February 28. morrowb@fiu.edu

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Update:

Project Impact Success Stories: See the FEMA Web site for numerous success stories from Project Impact communities and partnerships across the country at http://www.fema.gov/impact/lessons.htm.

The Fifth Annual Technology Partnership for Emergency Management Workshop and Exhibition is June 11-15 in Colorado Springs, CO, sponsored by FEMA and hosted by the U S Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). http://www.fema.gov/nwz00/techpart.htm

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National Emergency Management Association (NEMA) Update:

NEMA Announces Web Site Updates and Mid-Year Conference: See updated NEMA Web site http://www.nemaweb.org; enhancements include a Document Library, Document Uploading Center, and Online HMGP Database.

The 2000 NEMA Mid-Year Conference is Feb. 25-Mar. 2, Hyatt Regency Crystal City, Arlington VA. See NEMA site for conference agenda, online registration, etc.

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International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) Update:

IAEM Broadens Mail List Discussion and Plans Mid-Year Retreat: IAEM will continue the mail list concept that focused on Y2K preparation prior to the Millennium rollover by expanding the discussion to all hazards/aspects of emergency management via iaem-list@asmii.com ; see IAEM site http://www.iaem.com to subscribe.

The IAEM Mid-Year Retreat is March 18-21 at FEMA's National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg Maryland. Contact: IAEM@aol.com

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American Red Cross (ARC) Update:

Masters of Disaster Materials Available by Summer 2000: Web-based information is now available about the Masters of Disaster children's disaster safety curriculum project. http://www.redcross.org/disaster/masters/

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Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) Update:

Emergency Services Dinner: The CFSI announces the 12th Annual National Fire & Emergency Services Dinner, May 3, Washington, DC. http://www.cfsi.org/dinner.html Contact Mike Eversole, CFSI Events Coordinator (202) 371-1277; or info@cfsi.org .

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National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) Update:

NVFC Upcoming Meeting and Arson Awareness Week: The NVFC Spring Meeting will be held in Washington, DC, May 11-13. Call 888-ASK-NVFC (275-6832) or see http://www.nvfc.org.

National Arson Awareness Week is April 30-May 6, 2000; the theme is "Target Arson -- Don't Get Burned!" See http://www.usfa.fema.gov/napi/aaw00.htm for details.

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National Association of SARA Title III Program Officials (NASTTPO) Update:

Announcing 12th Annual NASTTPO Conference: The 12th Annual National Association of SARA Title III Program Officials Conference is April 11-15 in Hartford, CT. The NASTTPO Conference is open to anyone with an interest in hazardous materials preparedness, planning, prevention, mitigation, or response, and is a grant-eligible activity under the Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness (HMEP) grant. USDOT will conduct workshops at the conference concerning the HMEP grant. The registration fee is $175 if received by 3/10/00; $210 after 3/10/00 or as a walk-in at the conference. Visit NASTTPO web site http://www.nasttpo.org for agenda, lodging and travel arrangement information.

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Gender and Disaster Network (GDN) Update:

Reaching Women and Children in Disaster: A global workshop for policy makers, practitioners, and researchers, June 3-6, 2000, in Miami, Florida. Contact Betty Morrow morrowb@fiu.edu or (305)348-1607). http://www.anglia.ac.uk/geography/rwcidconference/

GDN is an educational project for people interested in gender relations in disaster contexts. http://pluto.anglia.ac.uk/geography/gdn/

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HELPU Advocacy & Consulting Update:

Materials Available for Download: Fire safety/disaster mitigation guides for disabled citizens are available on the HELPU web site (Leslie Little, Dir. helpu@visi.net):

• http://members.spree.com/sip/helpu/abcs.html - a children's page using the alphabet on fire safety
• http://members.spree.com/sip/helpu/disabledchildren.html - a teaching guide for instructing fire safety to severely disabled children and youth
• http://members.spree.com/sip/helpu/y2k(fs).html -Y2K(fs)=Yes to Keeping Fire Safe (geared towards disabled populations)
• http://members.spree.com/sip/helpu/mitigationpg1.html - Disaster Mitigation Strategies for Disabled Populations
• http://members.spree.com/sip/helpu/cold2000.html - Cold Weather Preparedness (for disabled citizens using mobility aides)

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"Emergency Partner Postings" is a monthly update on progress of the partnership, activities, and services available through Emergency Information Infrastructure Partnership (EIIP) Virtual Forum web site, other electronic sources of information, and articles of interest concerning awareness and use of information technology. The news will be posted on the web site the last week of each month.

We encourage readers to submit articles for this newsletter about use of the Internet for emergency management and other aspects of information technology. Deadline for contributions is the 20th of each month for that month's newsletter. Submit contributions to Lori Wieber, lwieber@emforum.org.

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