Training Opportunity: FEMA EMI Virtual TableTop Exercise Series

Course: V-0005 - Virtual Tabletop Exercise Series (VTTX) – Tornado Focus

The deadline for applying to participate in the exercise is
December 14, 2012.

 930 - Training Opportunity - VTTX V0005 Jan 20 2013

Exercise Date & Location:

 January 23, 2013, Virtual Exercise – Multiple Locations


Exercise Description:

This exercise is the fifth in a series of 12 Virtual Tabletop Exercises (VTTX) offered monthly by the Emergency Management Institute (EMI). The VTTX involves key personnel from a community-based organization discussing simulated scenarios in an informal setting, and can be used to assess plans, policies, training and procedures. This VTTX differs from other Tabletop exercises in that it will be conducted using Video-Teleconference (VTC) technology, and is intended to provide an opportunity for responders across the Nation to simultaneously participate in a hazard-specific facilitated discussion. Lead facilitation for the exercise will be coordinated by EMI, with local facilitation provided by the participating agency. This format will allow the common delivery of exercise materials, scenarios, modules, and discussion questions among those participating in the exercise.

Benefit to the Emergency Management Community:  

The VTTX is a pre-packaged set of exercise materials requiring reduced effort by participating organizations. The novel delivery method will allow participating communities to share real-time tornado related preparation, response and recovery concerns and solutions with all participants providing a unique environment for learning lessons and sharing information.

Exercise Goal:  

This virtual exercise will enable the participants to exercise their knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to effectively conduct all-hazards emergency preparedness, response and recovery. Overall goals include:

1. Prepare participants for a tornado affecting their community.
2. Enable participants to better coordinate their response operations with counterparts from local governments, other State governments, Federal agencies, private sector organizations, and nongovernmental agencies.
3. Leverage VTC technology to reach remote sites.
4. Provide a virtual, experiential education environment to exercise and enhance critical response and recovery tasks.

This delivery method will allow participating communities to share real-time tornado related preparation, response and recovery concerns and solutions with all participants.

Exercise Length:  

4 Hours. Start time is 12:00 p.m. EST and end time is 4:00 p.m. EST (to accommodate participants in multiple time zones).

Target Audience:  

This VTTX is designed for a “community-based” organization with representation from multiple Emergency Support Functions (ESFs), comprised of whole community stakeholders and partners involved in a tornado event response and recovery.


Exercise Design:

This VTTX is designed to engage the participants in a no fault, hazard-specific exercise discussion. The lead facilitation will occur via VTC from the EMI campus, and will be complimented by a dedicated local agency facilitator at each VTC site.

The VTTX will be supported by an Exercise and Coordination Facilitation Guide, which will include all required logistical information (room layout, connection instructions, etc.), as well as facilitation and hot wash instructions.

The VTTX will consist of:

• A hazard awareness briefing on the scenario hazard.
• Three discussion modules presented by the EMI facilitator.
• Local discussion with guided questions facilitated by an on-site facilitator.
• Brief-outs from each participating location after each module.
• Hot wash conducted at each location after the VTC has ended.

Participation Requirements:

The VTTX will be limited to 10 locations per exercise. Participants must have an appropriate site equipped with VTC capability that can access the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) VTC site (connection information will be provided by EMI). Participating locations will be responsible for local exercise logistics, and should designate an exercise coordinator to implement the logistical requirements for the exercise. In addition, the location must provide a person capable of facilitating the on-site portion of exercise. Electronic copies of the related exercise materials (Exercise and Coordination Facilitation Guide, Situation Manual, agenda, etc.) will be provided in advance by EMI.

To Apply:

Locations interested in participating in the VTTX series should submit an email request to participate in the exercise to Todd Wheeler at Todd.Wheeler@fema.dhs.gov, phone (301) 447-1101; or Al Fluman at Al.Fluman@fema.dhs.gov, phone (301) 447-1299. When applying, please provide a central point of contact from your organization to work all issues. Each location will receive a notice from EMI and will be provided with relevant logistical information and exercise materials to set up and facilitate the exercise locally.

The deadline for applying to participate in the exercise is December 14, 2012.

Schedule of future VTTXs:

Note - a separate announcement will be sent out for each offering

February 20, 2013 (V-0006) – Scenario: Wildland Fire (Prep for potentially dry season in March and other times of year)
March 13, 2013 (V-0007) – Scenario: Flood (Prep for April thaw and storms)
April 24, 2013 (V-0008) – Scenario: Rail Hazardous Materials Incident (Non-seasonal)
May 15, 2013 (V-0009) – Scenario: Hurricane (Prep for upcoming hurricane season)
June 26, 2013 (V-0010) – Scenario: Mass Casualty (Prep for upcoming vacation season)
July 10 , 2013 (V-0011) – Scenario: Fixed Hazardous Materials Incident (Non-seasonal)
August 21, 2013 (V-0012) – Scenario: CBRNE – Biological (Anniversary of 9/11, plus new ideas and methods of attack)
(Note: If you have previously submitted an email request specifically for V-0005; you do not need to re-send.)

Webinars: DHHS. Partnership Center (English & Spanish)

HHS Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships

November and December 2012 Webinars

The HHS Partnership Center continues to host a series of webinars for faith and community leaders. All webinars are open to the public and include a question and answer session where you can ask HHS staff any questions you may have. We also encourage you to submit questions you would like to have answered on the webinars to ACA101@hhs.gov.

To participate in one of the webinars, please select your preferred topic from the list below and submit the necessary information. After registering you will receive an e-mail confirmation containing information about joining the webinar. Please contact us at ACA101@hhs.gov if you have registration problems.

All of the webinars are closed to the press.

The Health Care Law 101 (in Spanish)

November 27^th at 2:00 p.m. ET

A presentation on the main provisions in the Affordable Care Act and how to access care in your community.

Introduction to the HHS Office for Civil Rights

November 28^th at 11:00 a.m. ET

An introduction to the HHS Office of Civil Rights. The Office of Civil Rights will share information about what their office does, how they can help faith and community leaders and will answer questions.

Tour of www.HealthCare.gov

November 29^th at 12:30 p.m. ET

A tour of the www.HealthCare.gov website, including how to access private and public insurance in your community; when parts of the law are going into effect; and how to access care if you don’t have insurance.

Introduction to the HHS Office for Civil Rights (in English and Spanish)

December 10^th at 3:30 p.m. ET

An introduction to the HHS Office of Civil Rights in English and Spanish. The Office of Civil Rights will share information about what their office does, how they can help faith and community leaders and will answer questions.

The Health Care Law 101

December 12^th at 3:00 p.m. ET

A presentation on the main provisions in the Affordable Care Act, the health care law, and how to access care in your community.

The Health Care Law 101 (in Spanish)

December 18^th at 2:00 p.m. ET

A presentation on the main provisions in the Affordable Care Act, the health care law, and how to access care in your community.

Fellowship Opportunity: Dept of Energy. Micky Leland Fellowship

Mickey Leland Energy Fellowship A 10-Week Summer Internship Program The Mickey Leland Energy Fellowship (MLEF), sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Fossil Energy, is a 10-week summer internship program that provides opportunities to minority and female students who are pursuing degrees in science, technology (IT), engineering, or mathematics (STEM majors). Candidates who are selected will have the opportunity to work on focused research projects consistent with the mission of the Office of Fossil Energy. During the 10 weeks, students will work at one of several locations. At the conclusion of the internship, students will attend a "Technical Forum" where they will present their research project and tour several technical sites located nearby (the location of the technical forum changes every year). Candidates will receive a paid stipend during the program, in addition to approved transportation expenses to and from the internship site and technical forum location. The MLEF program allows students to gain valuable experience in DOE/FE mission-related research programs, and offers an "inside view" of federal employment which encourages students to consider future opportunities within the Department of Energy.   Eligibility RequirementsTo qualify for the program, students must: Be 18 years of age; Be a citizen of the United States; Be currently enrolled full-time in an accredited college or university (sophomore year or higher); and Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. MLEF: A Paid Internship OpportunityStudents will be paid: A weekly stipend of $600 for undergraduate students; A weekly stipend of $750 for Master's students; A weekly stipend of $850 for Doctoral and Post-Doctoral students; Approved travel costs to and from the host site; and Approved travel costs to the Technical Forum for presentations and awards.          2012 Mickey Leland Energy Fellowship Students and Mentors Preserving the Memory of Mickey Leland On August 8, 2000, then-Energy Secretary Bill Richardson renamed the Office of Fossil Energy's Minority Education Intiative the Mickey Leland Energy Fellowship. The Secretary stated that the ceremony to honor the late Congressman from Houston - who died on August 7, 1989, in a plane crash - would be a way to "remember a great American who dedicated his life to expanding human potential." The Secretary also said that he "could find no better way to honor his memory than to endow his name on a program that will elevate the opportunities for future generations of minority students." Since 2000, the MLEF has provided valuable research opportunities and experience to over 420 students who have graduated from the program. For More Information please contact: >     Joe Giove U.S. Department of Energy Division Director, FE-222 19901 Germantown Road Germantown, MD 20874 301-903-4103                http://www.fossil.energy.gov/education/lelandfellowships

2013 Summer Internship and Research Opportunities

The DHS Summer Research Team Program for Minority Serving Institutions provides research opportunities to increase and enhance the scientific leadership at Minority Serving Institutions in research areas that support the mission and goals of DHS. The program supports research teams composed of a faculty member and up to two students (undergraduate or graduate level) for a 10-week summer appointment. Participants conduct research at university-based DHS Centers of Excellence. The award includes a stipend plus transportation expenses to/from the internship location.
http://www.orau.gov/dhseducation/faculty/index.html

The DHS HS-STEM Summer Internship Program provides a 10-week summer research experience for undergraduate and graduate students majoring in DHS-related science, technology, engineering and mathematics (HS-STEM) disciplines. Students will have the opportunity to conduct research in DHS mission-relevant areas at federal research facilities located across the country. Participants receive a stipend plus transportation expenses to/from their internship location.

http://www.orau.gov/dhseducation/internships/index.html

CDC Health Advisory: Outbreak of Fungal Meningitis

This is an official

CDC HEALTH ADVISORY

Distributed via Health Alert Network
November 20, 2012, 15:00 ET (3:00 PM ET)
CDC HAN-00335-2012-11-20-ADV-N

Update: Multistate Outbreak of Fungal Meningitis and Other Infections Associated with Contaminated Steroid Medication

Summary
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to work closely with state public health departments on a multistate investigation of fungal meningitis and other infections among patients who received a methylprednisolone acetate (MPA) injection prepared by the New England Compounding Center (NECC) in Framingham, Mass. This HAN notice provides updated information on the following:

• Epidural abscess and other clinical syndromes being diagnosed in exposed patients
• Diagnostic and treatment recommendations for clinicians

Background
As of November 19, 2012, a total of 490 cases, which includes 34 deaths, have been reported in 19 states (see CDC’s website for up-to-date information about case count and distribution by state). Exserohilum rostratum continues to be the predominant fungus identified in patients and confirmed by the CDC laboratory.

Clinical Syndromes Reported to CDC
Currently, more than 7 weeks after the three implicated lots of MPA¹ were recalled, CDC continues to receive reports of fungal infection in exposed patients. Previously, the majority of new cases reported to CDC were patients with fungal meningitis following injection.

Although cases of fungal meningitis continue to be reported, CDC has recently observed an increase in the number of patients presenting with evidence of epidural abscess, phlegmon, discitis, vertebral osteomyelitis, or arachnoiditis at or near the site of injection. These complications have occurred in patients with and without evidence of fungal meningitis.

Of the 91 cases reported to CDC since November 4, 2012, a total of 26 (29%) were classified as meningitis, 61 (67%) had spinal or paraspinal epidural abscess or osteomyelitis, 2 (2%) had peripheral joint infection, and 2 (2%) had more than one condition (Figure 1).

Figure 1

Note: Data presented in Figure 1 are preliminary and subject to change. Additional patients may ultimately meet multiple case definitions (e.g., meningitis and osteomyelitis/abscess) as more time elapses and additional information is provided to CDC. Reporting dates to CDC may lag behind onset dates.

Diagnostic and Treatment Guidance
As a reminder, CDC’s current diagnostic and treatment guidance addresses management of patients with epidural abscess or other complications at or near the injection site. These localized infections may occur in isolation or in patients previously diagnosed with fungal meningitis. Although patients with these localized infections frequently have new or worsening back pain, symptoms may be mild or clinically difficult to distinguish from the patient’s baseline chronic pain. Based on current information, CDC recommends the following diagnostic protocol:

• In patients with new or worsening symptoms at or near the injection site, physicians should obtain an MRI with contrast of the symptomatic area(s), if not contraindicated. This recommendation also applies to patients being treated for meningitis. In some cases, radiologic evidence of abscess or phlegmon has become apparent on repeat MRI studies performed subsequent to an initially normal imaging procedure. Clinicians should therefore have a low threshold for repeat MRI studies in patients who continue to have symptoms localizing to the site of injection, even after a normal study. However, the optimal duration between MRI studies is unknown.
• CDC has received reports of patients being treated for fungal meningitis who had no previous evidence of localized infection at the site of injection, but who were subsequently found to have evidence of localized infection (e.g., epidural abscess, phlegmon, discitis, vertebral osteomyelitis, or arachnoiditis) on imaging studies. Therefore, in patients being treated for meningitis, even in the absence of new or worsening symptoms at or near the injection site, clinicians should strongly consider obtaining an MRI of the injection site approximately 2-3 weeks after diagnosis of meningitis. Early identification of new disease may facilitate additional specific interventions (e.g., drainage) and provide information for measuring effectiveness of therapy thereafter.
• For patients demonstrated to have epidural abscess, phlegmon, discitis, vertebral osteomyelitis, or arachnoiditis, early consultation with a neurosurgeon to discuss  whether surgical management, including debridement, is warranted in addition to antifungal therapy (for information about antifungal therapy, see Interim Treatment Guidance for Central Nervous System and Parameningeal Infections Associated with Injection of Contaminated Steroid Productshttp://www.cdc.gov/hai/outbreaks/clinicians/guidance_cns.html).

CDC continues to gather data from existing and newly reported cases of infection and will use this information to inform updates to existing guidance. Healthcare professionals with patients under their care should check CDC’s website for the most up-to-date clinical guidance because information is subject to change.

¹NECC lots of methylprednisolone acetate (PF) 80mg/ml:

Methylprednisolone Acetate (PF) 80 mg/ml Injection, Lot #05212012@68, BUD 11/17/2012
Methylprednisolone Acetate (PF) 80 mg/ml Injection, Lot #06292012@26, BUD 12/26/2012
Methylprednisolone Acetate (PF) 80 mg/ml Injection, Lot #08102012@51, BUD 2/6/2013

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) protects people's health and safety by preventing and controlling diseases and injuries; enhances health decisions by providing credible information on critical health issues; and promotes healthy living through strong partnerships with local, national, and international organizations.