Amy Sebring: Welcome to the EIIP Virtual Forum Round Table! Amy Sebring: Today the Round Table is being sponsored by the NEMA, National Emergency Managers Association, and we are pleased to welcome back Rich Diffenbach to serve as host. Amy Sebring: Rich was with us earlier in the summer and we had a very informative session. Since then, NEMA has held its annual meeting, and we invited Rich and his guests to come back and update us. Richard Dieffenbach: Thank you Amy Amy Sebring: Rich, we turn the session over to you. Richard Dieffenbach: Thanks! Richard Dieffenbach: Again, my name is Rich Richard Dieffenbach: And I am with the National Emergency Management Association. Richard Dieffenbach: A couple of quick reminders for any first timers with us today Richard Dieffenbach: The session will consist of a few minutes of introduction and overview, and then we will open it up to audience participation. Richard Dieffenbach: If a URL is displayed in the chat window, it will appear blue. If you click on it, it will open the linked Web page in your browser window. Richard Dieffenbach: Today I'd like to share with you what NEMA is doing, specifically our recent National Conference and the issues we focused on there. Richard Dieffenbach: For those of you who don't know, NEMA is the professional association of all 59 state, pacific and Caribbean insular emergency management directors. Richard Dieffenbach: But NEMA is also proud to have corporate members, individual members, and members from all levels of government (local, state, federal) Richard Dieffenbach: All of them interested in promoting integrated emergency management. Richard Dieffenbach: Our goal is to provide leadership and expertise in em, assist our members through our policy services and professional development, and promote an awareness of emergency management and the challenges we face. Richard Dieffenbach: In August, NEMA held its annual conference in Des Moines, Iowa. Richard Dieffenbach: We focused on a variety of issues at the conference that are important to all emergency managers Richard Dieffenbach: and everyone in the emergency response profession. Richard Dieffenbach: Major areas of interest included Richard Dieffenbach: Federal legislation affecting emergency management at the state and local level Richard Dieffenbach: The dreaded Y2K problem Richard Dieffenbach: Terrorism response and domestic preparedness Richard Dieffenbach: school safety Richard Dieffenbach: lessons learned in recent disasters Richard Dieffenbach: changes to FEMA's fire suppression program Richard Dieffenbach: interstate mutual aid--especially for use during the Y2K risk period Richard Dieffenbach: and changes to FEMA's fire suppression program and the problems of wildland urban interface. Richard Dieffenbach: We also had a session on marketing emergency management to the public. Richard Dieffenbach: All these issues are both timely Richard Dieffenbach: but promise to continue to impact what we do in emergency management. Richard Dieffenbach: In addition, we also elected our new officers. Richard Dieffenbach: The new president of NEMA for 1999 will be Joe Myers, who is the director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management. Richard Dieffenbach: Joe has been president in the past when he was director in North Carolina. Richard Dieffenbach: He brings to his position a lot of hands-on knowledge of em Richard Dieffenbach: and an understanding of the political aspects of what we do, at the local, state and federal levels. Richard Dieffenbach: It is important that we have such leaders in our profession Richard Dieffenbach: whether in NEMA, IAEM and all our friends and partners. Richard Dieffenbach: I am also pleased to announce Richard Dieffenbach: that our new President elect for NEMA, who will take over when Mr. Myer's term expires, Richard Dieffenbach: is Mr. Jim Greene, director of emergency management from Montana. Richard Dieffenbach: The conference was a great meeting. Richard Dieffenbach: We had the opportunity to meet with Peter Kind, who is heading up the President's Y2K Council's information coordination center Richard Dieffenbach: Laurie Robinson, who is the US assistant attorney general at the DOJ Richard Dieffenbach: and head of the Office of Justice Programs, which assists state and local government with a variety of programs Richard Dieffenbach: including terrorism preparedness grants and projects. Richard Dieffenbach: We also met with Mr. Tom Kuker, who has been tapped to head the Richard Dieffenbach: National Domestic Preparedness Office. Richard Dieffenbach: For those of you who are not familiar with the NDPO, Richard Dieffenbach: its job will be to serve as a coordinating body for all federal anti-terrorism and terrorism response efforts by the federal government. Richard Dieffenbach: NEMA has been vocal in our belief that the federal government needs to strengthen the coordination of all the various federal agencies Richard Dieffenbach: that have anti-terrorism duties, but who sometimes don't talk to one another. Richard Dieffenbach: It is also important that state, local and federal agencies all work together to address the issue of domestic terrorism and respond effectively together. Richard Dieffenbach: For the coming year, President Myers has listed the following as his foci for NEMA. Richard Dieffenbach: Standards and accreditation Richard Dieffenbach: The Year 2000 Problem, Terrorism preparedness, Hazard mitigation and reducing disaster costs, Carrying a strong voice on Capitol Hill on behalf of em, Richard Dieffenbach: Effective response and recovery programs, Richard Dieffenbach: Private/public partnerships, The wildland/urban interface fire threat, The Emergency Management Performance Grant initiative, And school safety Richard Dieffenbach: It looks to be an exciting year and we look forward to tackling these areas head on Richard Dieffenbach: No if anyone has any questions or comments, please step up! Amy Sebring: We now invite your questions or comments, however please first enter just a question mark to indicate you wish to contribute, prepare your comment, but wait until you are recognized by name... Amy Sebring: then either hit the Enter key or click on the Send button. We will take comments in the order the question marks are submitted. We are ready to start now. Russell Coile: ? Richard Dieffenbach: Russell Richard Dieffenbach: please Amy Sebring: ? Richard Dieffenbach: Amy please Russell Coile: What is going on in accreditation of City and County emergency preparedness program? Amy Sebring: go ahead and respond to Russell please Rich. He has a little lag time. Richard Dieffenbach: In terms of NEMA, we are not addressing the issue of local program accreditation. Richard Dieffenbach: However, David King: ? Richard Dieffenbach: This is obviously an important aspect to any truly accepted national standard for emergency management. Russell Coile: Thank you Richard Dieffenbach: We have brought our friends at IAEM and other city/county groups to talk with us about Richard Dieffenbach: there concerns and desires on the subject. Richard Dieffenbach: In addition, I know that FEMA recently drafted a proposed Capability Assessment for Readiness (CAR) survey... Richard Dieffenbach: for local jurisdictions. As NEMA plans to use the state car... Richard Dieffenbach: as one of the bases for the state standards program, I think it all feeds into the same, long term process. Richard Dieffenbach: Amy please... Amy Sebring: I am very interested in the marketing program you mentioned. Can you tell us a little more about it Rich? Richard Dieffenbach: Sure. Richard Dieffenbach: Something that we at NEMA and I know many of you have seen... Richard Dieffenbach: is that there really is not a lot of exposure for em agencies at the state and local level. Richard Dieffenbach: We've all heard stories of the media misunderstanding state and local em... Richard Dieffenbach: for FEMA, for example. Richard Dieffenbach: Also, FEMA has an energetic community outreach program that some states say can swallow up state and local efforts just after a big disaster. Richard Dieffenbach: So several states are really stepping up their public outreach efforts. Richard Dieffenbach: In this case... Richard Dieffenbach: we heard from a firm in Iowa that has been working on campaign for Iowa emergency management. Richard Dieffenbach: It has included professional radio spots, strategic leaflet campaigns, Richard Dieffenbach: etc., all geared not only to publicize the hard work of Iowa em, Richard Dieffenbach: but also the need for citizens to practice good disaster preparedness and mitigation. Richard Dieffenbach: The program appears to be a success and I am sure other state, cities and counties are adopting similar programs. Richard Dieffenbach: David please. Pat Moore: ? David King: Can you talk a little about the EM Performance Grant Initiative and NEMA's position? Richard Dieffenbach: Mr. King, Richard Dieffenbach: you did have to ask that question. Richard Dieffenbach: For those of you who are not familiar Richard Dieffenbach: FEMA has proposed that various existing grant programs be... Richard Dieffenbach: unified into a single grant program for states... Richard Dieffenbach: FEMA Director James Lee Witt has said that he wants to eliminate all the various funding streams... Richard Dieffenbach: to make the process smoother and... Richard Dieffenbach: to enhance state and local flexibility over how the funds are used. Richard Dieffenbach: NEMA has been part of a working group with FEMA to go over the proposal. Richard Dieffenbach: NEMA does not have a formal position on this obviously significant effort. Richard Dieffenbach: I do know that states are very interested in seeing that any flexibility that is offered by the EMPG would not be obstructed... Richard Dieffenbach: by possible burdensome reporting procedures. Amy Sebring: ? Richard Dieffenbach: Also, states are very interested in finding out how the EMPG will work with the existing CAR and PPA/CA process that currently informs federal grant funding. David King: I think the other concern on this end of the food chain is "streamline" is often an euphemism for "reduced funding..." Richard Dieffenbach: Right now, NEMA is waiting for FEMA to work out the details. Richard Dieffenbach: That is a concern. Richard Dieffenbach: Pat please. Pat Moore: What, if anything is being done to work with or coordinate a marketing effort for these programs through the National or State Chamber of Commerce organizations so that it reaches the businesses who can provide great resources in times of disasters?? Richard Dieffenbach: That is a very good point. Richard Dieffenbach: I am not sure how Iowa is handling that... Richard Dieffenbach: But one of the issues that Joe Myers has said... Richard Dieffenbach: will be a focus is the importance of public/private partnerships. It is not enough to... Richard Dieffenbach: reach out to the public. Richard Dieffenbach: We also need to reach out to businesses... Richard Dieffenbach: I think Y2K has really highlighted this to many state directors,... Richard Dieffenbach: who have commented that their outreach has helped them build new relationships with critical Richard Dieffenbach: business providers in their states. Pat Moore: At one point in time, the President was going to hold a 'Summit' of the Fortune 100 leaders to discuss this right about the time Project Impact was getting off the ground but it never came to be. If the State Board of Trades and National Business Councils took 'disaster preparedness' as a goal within their communities, it would greatly help this effort . It is being done in some communities by the local contingency planning groups Richard Dieffenbach: FEMA's Project Impact program likewise is helping em realize the value of working with Chambers of commerce, etc. Pat Moore: but without the backing or 'energy' of national organizations' it goes much slower.. Richard Dieffenbach: Thanks for that, Pat. And you are very right. Richard Dieffenbach: One of our major goals this year Pat Moore: Why has no one in the government approached the Board of Trades , for example, which helps control the economies in the communities? Richard Dieffenbach: will be to enhance the role and the mission of our Private Sector committee to do just that, Richard Dieffenbach: to reach out to the private sector on behalf of our members, state emergency management. Richard Dieffenbach: You raise an excellent challenge for NEMA and I'll make sure I sure the comment. Richard Dieffenbach: Amy please... Amy Sebring: Rich, have you had any further news regarding the proposed rule on the Public Assistance program? Richard Dieffenbach: For those who are unfamiliar... Richard Dieffenbach: FEMA has proposed a new regulation that would require Richard Dieffenbach: public buildings to have insurance Richard Dieffenbach: in order to get funding from the Public Assistance program. Richard Dieffenbach: FEMA had intended to publish a rule in June... Richard Dieffenbach: but has put the rule on hold due to concerns being expressed by NEMA and other organizations. Richard Dieffenbach: We feel that any such rule needs to be studies first... Richard Dieffenbach: to determine what impact it will have on state and local governments. Richard Dieffenbach: Some believe that the cost of insurance will be low... Richard Dieffenbach: others think this could be a real burden that strained jurisdictions don't need. Richard Dieffenbach: FEMA tells us that Richard Dieffenbach: the proposed rule is being evaluated by OMB... Richard Dieffenbach: but that it will take several months to get an answer. Isabel McCurdy: OMB? Richard Dieffenbach: Office of Management and Budget, who will assess the potential impact Richard Dieffenbach: of the rule... Amy Sebring: We are about out of time. Thank you Rich. We appreciate the update very much, and thank you audience for participating with us today. Richard Dieffenbach: Thanks Amy for this chance. As before, there are so many great issues Richard Dieffenbach: that we all need to address in some detail. Richard Dieffenbach: If you are all interested in what we at NEMA are doing, check out our web site at www.nemaweb.org Amy Sebring: Yes, it sure helps us to know where the focus will be. So many issues, so little time! Amy Sebring: Before we adjourn, some announcements ... Amy Sebring: First, I am very happy to say that we have made it over the halfway mark in our Pledge Drive. (See http://www.emforum.org/eiip/pledge.htm ) and today ... Amy Sebring: we ring the //bell http://www.emforum.org/pledge.wav for Chip Hines, Don Beattie, and James Courtney! Amy Sebring: Second, some exciting news. In accordance with a decision taken by our Planning Team, we are pleased to announce that the EIIP is now a non-profit organization, incorporated in the state of Tennessee. Amy Sebring: We will continue to operate in partnership with those organizations who have meant so much to us over the years, but to avoid confusion over the legalities of form of organization, we have taken the corporate name of the "Emergency Information Infrastructure Project." Amy Sebring: (Also hard work by Ms. Avagene!) Amy Sebring: Third, thanks primarily to Russell Coile, we have a number of new papers in the User Docs section of our Virtual Library. I have also added a Quick Pick link to User Docs on our homepage. Amy Sebring: If you have a paper you can send us, please see the instructions at http://www.emforum.org/vlibrary/submit.htm and we will be happy to include. Amy Sebring: Finally, upcoming events .... tomorrow in the Virtual Classroom, we continue our hazards series with Dr. Marc Levitan, Acting Director of the Hurricane Center at Louisiana State University. He will be presenting his paper "Are Chemical Plants at Risk from Hurricane Winds? Amy Sebring: Next Tuesday Round Table will be our Community and Family Preparedness session hosted by Kellye Junchaya. Special Guest is Sam Isenberg (FEMA) to discuss the CERT program, Community Emergency Response Teams. Amy Sebring: We will adjourn for now, but you are welcome to stay for open discussion. Amy Sebring: Thanks Rich. Great job again!