Registration for the Fall Forum is now open in the Knowledge Center. You may enroll for either the Blacksburg or Fredericksburg session. The Fall Forum program is scheduled for one full day and a half. 

The Virginia Emergency Management Fall Forum is a collaborative effort of the Virginia Department of Emergency Management and the Virginia Emergency Management Association (VEMA). Attendance at either the Emergency Management Fall Forum or the VEMA annual spring symposium is a requirement for those affiliated with jurisdictions receiving Emergency Management Performance Grant funding.  Participants may attend one of the Fall Forum events as well as the annual spring symposium event. 

A key feature of the Fall Forum includes the State Coordinator’s briefing with federal and state legislative updates.  Also, current trends, challenges, and solutions in emergency management will be presented.  The Fall Forum is an opportunity to meet new staff, connect with colleagues from across the Commonwealth, and provide input on upcoming initiatives and plans.  Do not miss this opportunity to have your voice heard as we continue to strengthen the link between local and state emergency management. 

Attendees requiring overnight accommodations should make arrangements directly with the designated hotel.  If attendees choose to lodge at another hotel, reimbursement will be limited to the state lodging rate. When making reservations, tell the hotel staff you wish to reserve a room in the “EM Fall Forum Block." VDEM will reimburse the cost of lodging for each jurisdiction's director and coordinator of Emergency Management or their designated representatives if financial support is necessary. Authorized personnel traveling more than 70 miles to the Fall Forum site will be reimbursed for lodging. Attendees should use official vehicles for travel and attend the closest Forum as a one-day commute where possible.

LOCATION

DATE

HOTEL PHONE

RESERVATION DEADLINE

ENROLLMENT DEADLINE

Fredericksburg Hospitality House and Conference Center: 2801 Plank Road Fredericksburg, VA 22401

Sept. 28- 29, 2016

540-786-8321

Sep. 10, 2016

September 14, 2016

Inn at Virginia Tech: 901 Prices Fork Road Blacksburg, VA  22980

Oct. 19- 20, 2016

540-231-8000

Sep. 19, 2016

October 5, 2016

Individuals who need an accommodation of a functional or access need to attend the training should contact the LMS Help Desk via telephone at 804-897-9995 or via email at [email protected] at least two weeks prior to course start.

For participants who feel comfortable using the Knowledge Center: access the Knowledge Center using the web address for the agency where your account resides. If your account is with VDEM, you will go to https://covkc.virginia.gov/vdem/external. The announcement section on VDEM’s login page provides an instruction sheet for first time users to register for an account and, once approved, enroll in the desired course(s).

For those who do not feel comfortable using the Knowledge Center for enrollment, there is an option for enrollment via submission of an online form. Each course description on VDEM’s website (www.vaemergency.gov) has a link to the form, and it is also linked on the VDEM Knowledge Center home page (https://covkc.virginia.gov/vdem/external). Our Help Desk will use the form to verify/create your account and enroll you in the course. If you still have difficulty, please contact the LMS Help Desk at 804-897-9995.

COURSE NAME

DATES

LOCATION

ENROLLMENT DEADLINE

Search and Rescue First Responder

October 8-9, 2016

Carroll County

September 30, 2016

L146 HSEEP

October 11-12, 2016

Newport News

September 30, 2016

VEOC 100 WebEOC for Local Governments

October 12, 2016

Stafford

October 11, 2016

V400 Fall Forum Blacksburg

October 19-20, 2016

Blacksburg

October 14, 2016

VEOC 100 WebEOC for Local Governments

October 19, 2016

Colonial Heights

October 18, 2016

PER 314- REP Exercise Evaluator Course (REEC)

October 25-28, 2016

TCF Richmond

October 11, 2016

Maturing Public-Private Partnerships (FEMA/FCC)

December 6, 2016

TCF Richmond

November 22, 2016

V810: ICS Forms Review

January 10, 2017

Dublin

January 9, 2017

G291:Joint Information Center Planning

February 23, 2017

VA Beach

The courses below are local ICS classes taught by VDEM authorized instructors for their agencies or localities, free of charge, with limited administrative and logistical support from VDEM. Completion certificates are issued by VDEM, and recognition is granted nationwide. Enrollment is via the Knowledge Center (KC). Please see instructions below to enroll.  

For participants who feel comfortable using the KC: access the KC using the web address for the agency where your account resides. If your account is with VDEM, you will go to https://covkc.virginia.gov/vdem/external. The announcement section on VDEM’s login page provides an instruction sheet for first time users to register for an account and, once approved, enroll in the desired course(s).

For those who do not feel comfortable using the Knowledge Center for enrollment, there is an option for enrollment via submission of an online form. The form may be found at this link. Our Help Desk will use the form to verify/create your account and enroll you in the course. If you still have difficulty, please contact the LMS Help Desk at 804-897-9995.

Enrollment Deadline is noon on the business day before the sponsored course start date.

COURSE NAME

DATES

LOCATION

ENROLLMENT DEADLINE

ICS 400 (B) Advanced ICS

September 28-29, 2016

Fairfax

September 27, 2016

ICS 300 (B) Intermediate ICS

September 30- Oct. 2, 2016

Chesterfield

September 29, 2016

ICS 300 (B) Intermediate ICS

October 1-2, 2016

Cana

Septermber 30, 2016

ICS 400 (B) Advanced ICS

October 8-9, 2016

Cana

October 7, 2016

ICS 300 (B) Intermediate ICS

October 26-27, 2016

Chesapeake

October 25, 2016

ICS 300 (B) Intermediate ICS

October 26-28, 2016

Fairfax

October 25, 2016

ICS 300 (B) Intermediate ICS

November 2-4, 2016

Chesapeake

November 1, 2016

ICS 400 (B) Advanced ICS

November 9-10, 2016

Chesapeake

November 8, 2016

ICS 400 (B) Advanced ICS

November 14- 15, 2016

Richmond

November 11,2016

ICS 400 (B) Advanced ICS

December 7-8, 2016

Chesapeake

December 6, 2016

ICS 300 (B) Intermediate ICS

January 10-12, 2017

Dublin

January 9, 2017

ICS 300 (B) Intermediate ICS

February 15-17, 2017

Fairfax

February 14, 2017

ICS 400 (B) Advanced ICS

March 1-2, 2017

Fairfax

February 28, 2017

ICS 300 (B) Intermediate ICS

May 24-26, 2017

Fairfax

May 23, 2017

ICS 400 (B) Advanced ICS

June 7-8, 2017

Fairfax

June 6, 2017

ICS 300 (B) Intermediate ICS

September 13-15, 2017

Fairfax

September 12, 2016

ICS 400 (B) Advanced ICS

October 11-12, 2017

Fairfax

The Fairfax County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) will sponsor the sixth annual CERT conference (CERTCON 2016) in the National Capital Region on Sept. 24 and 25.

The focus of CERTCON 2016 is “Back to Basics – Neighbors Helping Neighbors.” The goal is to expose each attendee to opportunities to refresh his or her CERT skills and techniques. An elective schedule of classroom presentations, demonstrations, workshops and hands-on sessions will allow participants to return home to their neighborhoods, businesses and CERT teams with a customized experience of refreshed skills.

CERTCON 2016 is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 24, at the Annandale Campus of the Northern Virginia Community College and Sunday, Sept. 25, at the Lorton Training Site. All CERTs are invited to attend, and we especially encourage CERTs from the mid-Atlantic region to seize the opportunity to enhance their knowledge and skills sets, as well as be exposed to new and different techniques and tools. The objective for this CERTCON is to make us all more effective as "Neighbors Helping Neighbors." If you’re still not sure if you want to attend CERTCON 2016, check out tentative Saturday, Sept. 24 schedule of sessions:

Hurricanes and the Middle Atlantic States, A     Surprising History - Rick Schwartz

Controlling Utilities in Your Home - Jonathan Wood, Fair Oaks VFRC

Traumatic Triage - Dr. Dan Avstreih, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue

Blood Borne Pathogens – Capt. Pete Masters, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue

Bystander Care – Greg St. James, Montgomery County CERT

Excellence in Leadership, Phil Amtower. MO CERT I

Autism Spectrum and First Responder - Scott Campbell

Everything Duct Tape – Anita Van der Merwe, Missy Tuttle-Ferrio

Crowd Management and Community Events - Barry Feil, director,     Celebrate Fairfax

Emergency Communications in Disasters -  ARRL

Community Animal Response Team (CART), Louisa County

Exercise Design and Execution – Derek Rowan

On Sunday, Sept. 25, the conference will be capped with a full-day of exercises and demonstrations at the Fairfax County Urban Search and Rescue training facility in Lorton, Virginia. Throughout the day, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in hands-on refresher exercises that will challenge their skills in search and rescue and first aid.

You may register at certcon2016.eventbrite.com.

The annual Virginia Emergency Management Symposium will be March 21-24, 2017 in the Williamsburg Lodge in Williamsburg, Virginia.

For participants who feel comfortable using the Knowledge Center: access the Knowledge Center using the web address for the agency where your account resides. If your account is with VDEM, you will go to https://covkc.virginia.gov/vdem/external. The announcement section on VDEM’s login page provides an instruction sheet for first time users to register for an account and, once approved, enroll in the desired course(s).

For those who do not feel comfortable using the Knowledge Center for enrollment, there is an option for enrollment via submission of an online form. Each course description on VDEM’s website (www.vaemergency.gov) has a link to the form, and it is also linked on the VDEM Knowledge Center home page (https://covkc.virginia.gov/vdem/external). Our Help Desk will use the form to verify/create your account and enroll you in the course. If you still have difficulty, please contact the LMS Help Desk at 804-897-9995.

COURSE NAME

DATES

LOCATION

ENROLLMENT DEADLINE

VEOC 100 WebEOC for Local Governments

September 8, 2016

Toano

September 7, 2016

G191 Incident Command System/Emergency Operations

September 10, 2016

Wise

September 10, 2016

G393 Mitigation for Emergency Managers

September 19-21, 2016

Prince William

September 12, 2016

G386 Mass Fatalities Management

September 20-21, 2016

Prince William

September 12, 2016

G290 Public Information Officer

September 22-23, 2016

Prince William

September 12, 2016

Search and Rescue First Responder

September 24-25, 2016

Tazewell

September 16, 2016

Search and Rescue First Responder

October 8-9, 2016

Carroll County

September 30, 2016

L146 HSEEP

October 11-12, 2016

Newport News

September 27, 2016

VEOC 100 WebEOC for Local Governments

October 19, 2016

Colonial Heights

October 18, 2016

PER 314- REP Exercise Evaluator Course (REEC)

October 25-28, 2016

TCF Richmond

October 11, 2016

Maturing Public-Private Partnerships (FEMA/FCC)

December 6, 2016

TCF Richmond

November 22, 2016

V810: ICS Forms Review

January 10, 2017

Dublin

January 9, 2017

New LMS System Launches in October 2016

All courses are at the Prince William Government Complex

G290 – Public Information Officer

When:  September 22-23, 2016 8:00am to 5:00pm

​This two day course is designed for the new or less experienced Public Information Officer (PIO) and focuses on essential emergency PIO functions. The course will teach PIOs how to write a news release, conduct an on-camera interview and prepare awareness campaigns. The class is a prerequisite for the Advanced Public Information Course (E388) at the Emergency Management Institute. This is an elective for the Advanced Professional Series (APS) certification. Students MUST bring a laptop to class. Prerequisites: IS-29 Public Information Officer Awareness Training.

G0386 – Mass Fatalities Incident Response

When:  September 20-21, 2016 8:00am to 4:00pm ​

This 16 hour course prepares local, state, and private industry response personnel to effectively manage any incident that results in more fatalities than can be handled using local resources alone. Recommended prerequisites are IS-230.d Fundamentals of Emergency Management and G191 ICS/EOC Interface.

G0393 – Mitigation for Emergency Managers

When:  September 19-21, 2016 8:00am to 5:00pm

​Participants are required to bring a copy of their community’s mitigation plan to class, if available. If the jurisdiction does not have a mitigation plan, or the plan is incomplete, the participant should bring the community’s hazard analysis or any other parts of the plan that may be completed. The course is designed to enable the non-technical emergency worker to acquire skills in the use of mitigation. It provides training in how to perform mitigation activities fundamental to reducing and eliminating long-term risk from hazards. It also addresses the important roles of the emergency program manager (or other local government representative) in mitigation: motivator, coordinator, and monitor in local implementation of the National Mitigation Strategy. This is a required course for the Advanced Professional Series (APS). Recommended prerequisite is IS-393.a Introduction to Hazard Mitigation. Registration: Participants should enroll in these sessions via the COVKC LMS. For Course Enrollment:

For No Existing Account (for those who do not currently have a Knowledge Center account)

http://www.vaemergency.gov/em-community/training/no-exist-acct

For Existing Account (for those who do currently have a Knowledge Center account with any state agency) http://www.vaemergency.gov/em-community/training/lms-existing NOTE: These courses are required for the FEMA Advanced Professional Series certificate https://training.fema.gov/programs/aps/. Certifications of completion can be emailed to Candice Barnack [email protected]  or faxed to 804-897-6556.

The courses below are local ICS classes taught by VDEM authorized instructors for their agencies or localities, free of charge, with limited administrative and logistical support from VDEM. Completion certificates are issued by VDEM, and recognition is granted nationwide. Enrollment is via the Knowledge Center (KC). Please see instructions below to enroll.  

For participants who feel comfortable using the KC: access the KC using the web address for the agency where your account resides. If your account is with VDEM, you will go to https://covkc.virginia.gov/vdem/external. The announcement section on VDEM’s login page provides an instruction sheet for first time users to register for an account and, once approved, enroll in the desired course(s). For those who do not feel comfortable using the Knowledge Center for enrollment, there is an option for enrollment via submission of an online form. The form may be found at this link. Our Help Desk will use the form to verify/create your account and enroll you in the course. If you still have difficulty, please contact the LMS Help Desk at 804-897-9995.

Enrollment Deadline is noon on the business day before the sponsored course start date.

COURSE NAME

DATES

LOCATION

ENROLLMENT DEADLINE

ICS 400 (B) Advanced ICS

September 13-14, 2016

Alexandria

September 12, 2016

ICS 400 (B) Advanced ICS

September 28-29, 2016

Fairfax

September 27, 2016

ICS 300 (B) Intermediate ICS

September 30- Oct. 2, 2016

Chesterfield

September 29, 2016

ICS 300 (B) Intermediate ICS

October 1-2, 2016

Cana

Septermber 30, 2016

ICS 400 (B) Advanced ICS

October 8-9, 2016

Cana

October 7, 2016

ICS 300 (B) Intermediate ICS

October 26-27, 2016

Chesapeake

October 25, 2016

ICS 300 (B) Intermediate ICS

October 26-28, 2016

Fairfax

October 25, 2016

ICS 400 (B) Advanced ICS

December 7-8, 2016

Chesapeake

December 6, 2016

ICS 300 (B) Intermediate ICS

January 10-12, 2017

Dublin

January 9, 2017

Jacqueline Bell is VDEM’s new recruiting specialist

Jacqueline Bell is the new recruiting specialist for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM).

Before joining the VDEM staff, she was a human resources manager at UTi Integrated Logistics.

She has a bachelor’s degree in management and marketing from Virginia State University and a master’s degree in business administration (with a concentration in human resources management) from Strayer University.

Debra Kaufman 

 Debra Kaufman is the new chief financial officer at the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.

 Before joining VDEM, Debra was the chief operations officer for Richard Bland College. Prior to that, she had more than 30 years of experience as vice president of finance for consumer markets at Verizon Communications. 

 She graduated from Troy State University with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. Through Villanova University, she earned the Six Sigma Green Belt, which is the result of a training program that provides participants with enhanced problem-solving skills, with an emphasis on the DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control) model.

For participants who feel comfortable using the Knowledge Center: access the Knowledge Center using the web address for the agency where your account resides. If your account is with VDEM, you will go to https://covkc.virginia.gov/vdem/external. The announcement section on VDEM’s login page provides an instruction sheet for first time users to register for an account and, once approved, enroll in the desired course(s).

For those who do not feel comfortable using the Knowledge Center for enrollment, there is an option for enrollment via submission of an online form. Each course description on VDEM’s website (www.vaemergency.gov) has a link to the form, and it is also linked on the VDEM Knowledge Center home page (https://covkc.virginia.gov/vdem/external). Our Help Desk will use the form to verify/create your account and enroll you in the course. If you still have difficulty, please contact the LMS Help Desk at 804-897-9995.

COURSE NAME

DATES

LOCATION

ENROLLMENT DEADLINE

Search and Rescue First Responder

August 30- September 1, 2016

Chesterfield

August 26, 2016

G191 Incident Command System/Emergency Operations

September 10, 2016

Wise

September 10, 2016

G393 Mitigation for Emergency Managers

September 19-21, 2016

Prince William

September 12, 2016

G386 Mass Fatalities Management

September 20-21, 2016

Prince William

September 12, 2016

G290 Public Information Officer

September 22-23, 2016

Prince William

September 12, 2016

PER 314- REP Exercise Evaluator Course (REEC)

October 25-28, 2016

TCF Richmond

October 11, 2016

Maturing Public-Private Partnerships (FEMA/FCC)

December 6, 2016

TCF Richmond

November 22, 2016

V810: ICS Forms Review

January 10, 2017

Dublin

January 9, 2017

New LMS System Launches in October 2016

The courses below are local ICS classes taught by VDEM authorized instructors for their agencies or localities, free of charge, with limited administrative and logistical support from VDEM. Completion certificates are issued by VDEM, and recognition is granted nationwide. Enrollment is via the Knowledge Center (KC). Please see instructions below to enroll.

For participants who feel comfortable using the KC: access the KC using the web address for the agency where your account resides. If your account is with VDEM, you will go to https://covkc.virginia.gov/vdem/external. The announcement section on VDEM’s login page provides an instruction sheet for first time users to register for an account and, once approved, enroll in the desired course(s).

For those who do not feel comfortable using the Knowledge Center for enrollment, there is an option for enrollment via submission of an online form. The form may be found at this link. Our Help Desk will use the form to verify/create your account and enroll you in the course. If you still have difficulty, please contact the LMS Help Desk at 804-897-9995.

Enrollment Deadline is noon on the business day before the sponsored course start date.

COURSE NAME

DATES

LOCATION

ENROLLMENT DEADLINE

ICS 400 (B) Advanced ICS

August 24-25, 2016

Chesapeake

August 23, 2016

ICS 400 (B) Advanced ICS

September 13-14, 2016

Alexandria

September 12, 2016

ICS 400 (B) Advanced ICS

September 28-29, 2016

Fairfax

September 27, 2016

ICS 300 (B) Intermediate ICS

September 30- Oct. 2, 2016

Chesterfield

September 29, 2016

ICS 300 (B) Intermediate ICS

October 1-2, 2016

Cana

Septermber 30, 2016

ICS 400 (B) Advanced ICS

October 8-9, 2016

Cana

October 7, 2016

ICS 300 (B) Intermediate ICS

October 26-27, 2016

Chesapeake

October 25, 2016

ICS 300 (B) Intermediate ICS

October 26-28, 2016

Fairfax

October 25, 2016

ICS 400 (B) Advanced ICS

December 7-8, 2016

Chesapeake

December 6, 2016

ICS 300 (B) Intermediate ICS

January 10-12, 2017

Dublin

January 9, 2017

RICHMOND – Virginia responders from the National Capital Region, Central Virginia and Hampton Roads Incident Management Teams deployed to Maryland on Aug. 2 to support that state in efforts to respond to and recover from Saturday’s destructive flooding in Howard County. The teams will be tasked with providing incident management support to Howard County and will be staffed by personnel from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, Metro Washington Airport Authority, Prince William and Fairfax counties and the cities of Manassas, Fairfax, Hampton, Virginia Beach, and Chesapeake.

“Virginia is ready to provide whatever assistance and resources we have to support our colleagues in Maryland manage this incident and transition into recovery,” said State Coordinator of Emergency Management Dr. Jeffrey Stern.

Registration for the Fall Forum is now open in the Knowledge Center. You may enroll for either the Blacksburg or Fredericksburg session. The Fall Forum program is scheduled for one full day and a half.  Please note Knowledge Center will be unavailable from August 24 to 30 due to the update. After September 1 you may register for the Fall Forum via the New Knowledge Center interface.

The Virginia Emergency Management Fall Forum is a collaborative effort of the Virginia Department of Emergency Management and the Virginia Emergency Management Association (VEMA). Attendance at either the Emergency Management Fall Forum or the VEMA annual spring symposium is a requirement for those affiliated with jurisdictions receiving Emergency Management Performance Grant funding.  Participants may attend one of the Fall Forum events as well as the annual spring symposium event. 

A key feature of the Fall Forum includes the State Coordinator’s briefing with federal and state legislative updates.  Also, current trends, challenges, and solutions in emergency management will be presented.  The Fall Forum is an opportunity to meet new staff, connect with colleagues from across the Commonwealth, and provide input on upcoming initiatives and plans.  Do not miss this opportunity to have your voice heard as we continue to strengthen the link between local and state emergency management. 

Attendees requiring overnight accommodations should make arrangements directly with the designated hotel.  If attendees choose to lodge at another hotel, reimbursement will be limited to the state lodging rate. When making reservations, tell the hotel staff you wish to reserve a room in the “EM Fall Forum Block." VDEM will reimburse the cost of lodging for each jurisdiction's director and coordinator of Emergency Management or their designated representatives if financial support is necessary. Authorized personnel traveling more than 70 miles to the Fall Forum site will be reimbursed for lodging. Attendees should use official vehicles for travel and attend the closest Forum as a one-day commute where possible.

LOCATION

DATE

HOTEL PHONE

RESERVATION DEADLINE

ENROLLMENT DEADLINE

Fredericksburg Hospitality House and Conference Center: 2801 Plank Road Fredericksburg, VA 22401

Sept. 28- 29, 2016

540-786-8321

Sep. 10, 2016

September 14, 2016

Inn at Virginia Tech: 901 Prices Fork Road Blacksburg, VA  22980

Oct. 19- 20, 2016

540-231-8000

Sep. 19, 2016

October 5, 2016

Individuals who need an accommodation of a functional or access need to attend the training should contact the LMS Help Desk via telephone at 804-897-9995 or via email at [email protected] at least two weeks prior to course start.

Chesterfield County is seeking applications for a deputy emergency management coordinator.

The person in this position will assist the emergency management coordinator in all planning aspects of emergency management and prepare and oversee the review, revision, enhancement, maintenance and updates of the county’s comprehensive emergency management programs, plans and protocols. This person will also assist county departments/agencies with emergency plans and assist with training and exercise development, facilitation and evaluation.

Minimum qualifications include a bachelor’s degree in emergency management, homeland security, planning, public administration or a related field and three years of experience in public safety or municipal planning. The applicant must show that he or she has taken various emergency management courses. The salary range is $54,488 to $64,127. The closing date to apply is Aug. 11.