Center of Excellence – Homeland Security Emergency Management

WASHINGTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are partnering to improve public awareness for National Flood Safety Awareness Week, March 18-22, 2013.  The agencies’ goal is to improve understanding about flood risk among individuals, families, businesses and communities. Knowledge and the right precautions can protect families, homes and finances.

“I’ve seen the devastation that can occur from floods. They can happen at any time, anywhere across the United States, which means we all need to be prepared now,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “In addition to obtaining a flood insurance policy for your home or business, there are simple steps folks can do now to be prepared for flooding – develop a family emergency plan and have an emergency supply kit ready to go.”

Floods are the most common hazard in the United States.  However, not all floods are alike. Floods typically occur when too much rain falls or snow melts too quickly. Chunks of ice from a thawing river can block its normal flow and force water out of its banks. While some floods develop slowly, flash floods develop suddenly.  Hurricanes can bring flooding to areas far inland from where they first hit the coast, as we witnessed two years ago from the devastating impacts of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee, and last year from Hurricanes Isaac and Sandy.

There are simple steps citizens can take today to reduce their risk to all types of floods.  Flood Safety Awareness Week is an excellent time for people and communities to learn about their flood risk and implement precautions to mitigate the threat to life and property.

“Flooding is dangerous and costly, killing nearly 100 people and causing an average of eight billion dollars in property damage in the United States each year,” said Dr. Louis W. Uccellini, director, NOAA’s National Weather Service, which produces an array of flood outlooks and forecasts, including watches and life-saving warnings. “A weather-ready nation is a prepared nation; one that will reduce flood losses by planning ahead, staying abreast of weather forecasts, and heeding the warnings.”

Dr. Uccellini emphasized that a primary flood killer is flooded roadways. People should never attempt to drive through them, but should “Turn Around, Don’t Drown,” NOAA’s flood safety slogan.

NOAA will issue the 2013 U.S. Spring Outlook and flood assessment on March 21.

FEMA and NOAA will provide the public with key information related to flood hazards, and ways to protect yourself and your property each day of National Flood Safety Awareness week.

Follow FEMA on social media (Facebook and Twitter) throughout the week to stay informed and to share the information with your social networks. For more information on flood safety tips and information, visit www.ready.gov.  For information on how to obtain a flood insurance policy, visit http://go.usa.gov/2RdJ.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth’s environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources.  Join us on Facebook, Twitter and our other social media channels.

Good afternoon to you all and as our Center’s Advisory Committee Members I am hoping to see you all at our “Industry Skills Gaps Forum” on April 2.

As you know the Homeland Security-Emergency Management (HSEM) profession is still an emerging field.  Since October 2011, HSEM jobs have increased by 11% (SimplyHired.com) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects employment to grow by 22% over the decade.  Emergency Management careers were reported to be one of the “50 Best Jobs of 2011”, with a strong growth rate expected over the next decade as reported by US News.  There is also a continuing move toward the professionalization of this field.

The HSEM Center’s role, guided by industry and labor, is to lead statewide education, curriculum, and training efforts that build a highly skilled workforce.  The Center is hosting an “Industry Skills Gap Forum” April 2, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Tacoma Convention Center which supports the work of Washington’s community and technical colleges.  Key industry leaders like yourselves are being invited to this important event.  The purpose of this meeting is to obtain from you “real time” information about the expected job growth trends over the next three to five years and to discuss workforce skills gaps that make filling job vacancies difficult for employers.  The Forum is part of the pre-conference activities during the Partners in Emergency Preparedness Conference.

Feedback from the Forum participants will help the State’s community and technical colleges make good decisions about their workforce programs to help ensure we educate a highly skilled and competitive workforce.  A summary report will be available to all participants.

The agenda including the link to the map and directions are attached.  Please RVSP by March 29, to me at lcrerar@pierce.ctc.edu.  I would appreciate your help in getting the word out about the Forum and look forward to seeing you at the Forum and please contact me if you have any questions.

Presented by the Clery Center for Security on Campus in partnership with the

Washington State Center of Excellence for Homeland Security and Emergency Management and

SBCTC Security, Safety and Emergency Management Council 

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR THIS EXCELLENT TRAINING SEMINAR ON THE FEDERAL CLERY ACT

Special registration fee of $165 per participant has been negotiated which includes morning continental breakfasts, refreshments and a lunch.

Multi-disciplinary teams of 5 or more there is a $25 discount per applicant.

Register now …

Clery Act Training – REGISTRATION LINK

Questions or need help contact:  Linda Crerar  lcrerar@pierce.ctc.edu

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

•  Campus Security & Police
•  Student Affairs
•  Legal Counsel
•  Residential Life
•  Victim Advocates
•  Admissions Officers
• Human Resources

Jeanne Clery Act Training Seminars

This day & a half long seminar which is now updated walks participants through each aspect of compliance of compliance including:

•         Collecting, Classifying and County Crime Statistics
•         Ongoing Disclosures – Timely Warning and Public Crime Log
•         Victim Support Services & Security Program
•         Annual Security Report

UPDATED to include the new reporting requirement which began in 2010 on:

•      Emergency Response & Immediate Notification
•      Expanded Hate Crime Reporting
•      Partnering with Local Police

At the conclusion of this interactive, multidisciplinary training participants will be equipped with the tools necessary to address all reporting requirements.

The Benefits

The most beneficial aspect of this dynamic, interactive training is the opportunity to discover and discuss what the Clery Act requires.  This kind of one-on-one attention and guidance is invaluable given the importance of adhering to the Cleary Act.  James Morrow, UNLV Police Department

The Curriculum

The Clery Center’s Jeanne Clery Act Training Seminars (CATS) curriculum was designed by a true multidisciplinary team of experts and practitioners in the field of campus law enforcement and student affairs. The curriculum was fully revised in 2011 to address participant suggestions, compliance challenges, and new concepts.

Each day and a half seminar includes presentations on:

• Emergency Response and Alerting Your Campus Community
• The Four W’s of Crime Reporting (Who, Where, When, and What)
• Building a Safer Campus Community (Prevention Education and Sexual Violence Guidelines)
• Bringing It All Together in the Annual Security Report

Each session is taught by an expert in his or her field and is designed to be interactive. There are exercises and opportunities to learn how different offices on campus can come together, not only to better comply with the Act, but also to truly embrace the spirit of the law.

The Clery Center encourages institutions to send collaborative teams to maximize the benefit of the training. Our sessions include information for those working in campus public safety, administration, counseling, student conduct/judicial affairs, risk management, and legal counsel

The Instructor

Executive Director Alison Kiss is the trainer for this seminar.  She  is an expert in policy and program development, victim assistance, crisis counseling, drug and alcohol education and sexual assault. An educator, trainer, speaker and author, Ms. Kiss is often quoted in major news publications and interviewed on national television news broadcasts.

Clery Act Compliance Tools

•         Collecting, Classifying, and Counting Reference Guide
•         Campus Security Authority (CSA) Guide (5-pack)
•         Campus Security Authority (CSA) Guide (50-pack)

Educational Videos

•            Culture of Silence: Stalking Education and Awareness (2009)
•            Speak Out & Stand Up (SOSU): Raising Awareness About Sexual Assault (2012)
•            Breaking the Silence (2002)

Look forward to seeing at the Seminar.  Please let me know if you have any questions or need assistance.  Happy holidays and Happy New Year.    Linda

Linda Crerar, MA ABS
Director
Center of Excellence HSEM
www.pierce.ctc.edu/dist/coe

Office: 253.912.3689
Cell: 360.455.0220

International House Rm #100
9401 Farwest Drive SW
Lakewood, WA 98498-1999