Preparedness Ble, and the Map Will Zoom to the Location
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News From Down Under Volume VI, Issue IV April 2014 Hazard Mapping Top 5 Predicted from Department Global Health County of of the Interior Threats of 2014 Cumberland The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) The Centers for Disease Control and Pre- Emergency maintains a geospatial hazard mapping vention (CDC) announced the top five site to provide federal, state and local offi- global health threats for 2014 as: Management cials as well as the public an overview of 1. The emergence and spread of new Agency current natural hazards in the United States. The Interior Geospatial Emergen- microbes; (207) 892-6785 cy Management System (IGEMS) is the 2. The globalization of travel and food Fax (207) 892-8617 replacement for the Natural Hazards Sup- supply; port System (NHSS). 3. The rise of drug-resistant pathogens; 4. The acceleration of biological science The map lists wildfires; earthquakes; capabilities and the risk that these Directory capabilities may cause the inadvert- Hazard Mapping DOI .............. 1 wind, gale, flood, red flag, and other weather warnings; hurricanes; and volca- ent or intentional release of patho- Top 5 Predicted Global Health gens; Threats of 2014 ....................... 1 noes. Using the “Layers” menu, you can 5. Continued concern about terrorism Communications with also choose to view tide monitoring sta- Vulnerable Populations ......... 2 tions, current weather radar, and wind acquisition, development, and use of Mainers Encouraged to direction and strength. Users can view the biological agents. Purchase Flood Insurance .... 2 map with a choice of topographic, street The increase in world travel makes the Training G108: Community map, or satellite imagery backgrounds. Mass Care and Emergency spread of pathogens, new infectious dis- Assistance .............................. 3 eases, and even bio-terrorism more Cumberland County EOP ...... 3 Each marked event on the map is clicka- threatening and relevant. A past example 6th Annual Preparedness ble, and the map will zoom to the location. of this is Severe Acute Respiratory Syn- Conference ............................. 4 It also gives you detailed information drome (SARS), which spread to 4 conti- Maine Prepares Tips .............. 4 about the event. For example, clicking on nents in 2003. Currently, global health FEMA Independent Study ...... 4 a specific wildfire will take you to the Na- officials are watching Middle East Respir- 2014 Exercise Schedule ......... 4 tional Interagency Fire Center’s page, atory Syndrome (MERS) and H5N7 influ- Meetings .................................. 5 while clicking on a flooding event will take enza. you to the National Weather Service’s Wildfire Community Preparedness Day .................. 5 alert for the event. Catching a new strain of a virus early is Enforcement Active Shooter key to keeping it contained and develop- Emergency Response While the map is primarily for hazards and Training (PER275) .................. 5 ing a proper course of action. World or- warnings within the United States, it does ganizations and national agencies rely on Lessons Learned from Active Shooter Incident ..................... 6 show certain international incidents such the medical surveillance, detection, re- Aging Infrastructure and the as earthquakes and volcanoes. IGEMS is porting, and response of local agencies Emergency Services .............. 6 supported by the DOI Office of Emergen- and public health offices to strengthen the Training Opportunities ........... 6 cy Management. (Source: DOI Office of global health outlook. (Source: CDC New Website for School Emergency Management) Global Health Security) Emergency Planning .............. 6 Important Links ...................... 7 CCEMA Staff ........................... 7 Public Safety, Emergency Management and allied organizations are invited to submit articles, events, training oppor- tunities and news. David B. Feeney, [email protected] April 22-23, 2014 Pag e 2 News From Down Under April 2014 Check off Readability Statistics Communications with Click OK Click Resume Vulnerable Populations It will give you the readability grade level By CCEMA Staff: Margaret Cushing CCEMA is hosting a meeting on April 15th at the Portland Water District Nixon Training Center to encourage a Communications with vulnerable populations, in time of number of social service agencies to participate in devel- crisis, is vitally important to the safety of our most fragile oping a communication network with their clients. For residents. Vulnerable populations are those with hearing information contact Margaret Cushing, CCEMA, or visual impairment, illiteracy, non-English speaking, so- (207) 892-6785 [email protected] cial, cultural or geographic isolation, cognition impairment, mental illness, etc. Cumberland County Emergency Management Agency, Maine CDC, and Cumberland District Public Health Offices Mainers Encouraged to are working together on a Community Communications Network. The network would consist of social service pro- Purchase Flood Insurance viders who can assist in reaching those who may experi- ence barriers in receiving public health and emergency March 5, 2014 management messages easily and rapidly. AUGUSTA, MAINE – If your home or business is located Typically, emergency information is delivered to the public near a water body, the Maine Floodplain Management via radio, television, websites, social media, etc. Many Program encourages you to purchase flood insurance to existing websites have PDF files attached, which provide protect your investment. Standard home- and business- further information on Emergency Preparedness, but are owners’ insurance policies do not cover flood-related dam- not formatted so that blind or visually impaired persons, ages. using a screen reader, can access the information. This information may also be written in technical language that Since 1968, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) a struggling reader may have trouble understanding. has been offering flood insurance, which can be pur- chased through local property and casualty insurance PDF and screen readers are not “user-friendly” and PDF agents. Rates are set and do not differ from company to documents are not always designed to be compatible company or agent to agent. These rates depend on many with screen readers; these issues, caused by lack of plan- factors, which include the date and type of construction of ning for accessibility, mirror Internet accessibility issues the building, along with the building’s level of flood risk. that occur when a Web designer fails to follow the accessi- bility guidelines of the World Wide Web Consortium’s Web March and April are historically when flooding occurs in Accessibility Initiative. Adobe has developed a number of Maine, but heavy rains can cause flooding any time of the tools and resources to make it easier for authors to create year. It is estimated that up to 75% of homes and busi- accessible PDF documents; these are available at nesses in floodplains in Maine are not covered by flood insurance. The average annual premium in Maine is http://www.adobe.com/accessibility $1029.00. As long as your community participates in the National Flood Insurance Program, you can buy flood --From “Accessing PDF Documents with Assistive Tech- insurance no matter where you live. There is a 30-day nology: A Screen Reader User’s Guide from Adobe Ac- waiting period before any new policy goes into effect. Con- cessibility” sider buying flood insurance now, so you won’t be without flood coverage when you need it most. Emergency Communications, to vulnerable populations should be written at not more than a sixth grade reading For more information, please visit the official site of the level. Microsoft Word has an easy tool that will tell you NFIP: http://www.floodsmart.gov. Additional information is the grade level of your document. available by calling the Maine Floodplain Management Program at (207) 287-8063. In Microsoft Word: For more information, • Use Spelling and Grammar check contact: Sue Baker at • Click Options (bottom of box) (207) 287-8063 Pag e 3 News From Down Under April 2014 educational provider. Community Mass Care Registration and Emergency Assistance All applications should be submitted by email/fax via FEMA Training Announcement G108 training application form 119-25-1 found at: The Community Mass Care and Emergency Assistance http://www.maine.gov/mema/training course (FEMA Course G108) will be offered May 28th and The form may be e-mailed or Faxed to the MEMA Training 29th, 2014 at Jeff's Catering in Brewer. Office (contact information below). Course Description Please contact Michael Grant with any additional ques- This course is designed to provide training for local com- tions. munities to prepare for and manage this function effective- Michael Grant, MEMA ly. The goal is to prepare community agencies, organiza- 207-624-4400 / FAX 207-287-3178 tions, and businesses to work together to provide Mass [email protected] Care and Emergency Assistance services to those affect- ed by disaster. Cumberland County The purpose of this course is to develop foundational knowledge of Mass Care and Emergency Assistance ser- Emergency Operations vices in the community. It is not a “how to” for sheltering. Participants will use this information to build Community Plan (EOP) Emergency Action Items and to identify gaps in the com- munity’s program. By CCEMA Staff: Diane Eastwood At the conclusion of the course, the participants