Friday, November 9, 2018

No more business as usual. 21st Century Solutions to 21st Century Problems.

Next Generation Leaders. 

No more.

No more business as usual. 21st Century Solutions to 21st  Century Problems.


"It is my belief that the best results in business come from a creative process, from the ability to see things differently from everyone else, and from finding answers to problems that are not bound by the phrase
'we have always done it this way.' "  Wayne Rogers


Make the change. 
CDS



Black Emergency Managers Association 
          International
1231  Good Hope Road  S.E.
Washington, D.C.  20020
Office:   202-618-9097 
bEMA International 
GC_Endorser_BLUE_RGB_GRADIE     







Change without Sacrifice is an Illusion.  Lisa Ellis


COOP GETS/WPS (priority call by cell phone) User Council Webinar. Nov 29, 2018

u s d h s f e m a
NATIONAL CONTINUITY PROGRAMS

Continuity Professionals, you are invited to participate in the next GETS/WPS User Council Webinar. The webinar will review recent events and will assist subscribers and their organizations in preparing for emergency events. Updates on the programs and other information on emergency communications will be provided.
If you are new to the programs, we suggest you review the information on the GETS web site https:www.dhs.gov/gets and the WPS web site https:www.dhs.gov/wps beforehand.
When: November 29, 2018 from 1:00 P.M. to 2:30 P.M. EST
Where: Please RSVP to receive further details.

Please download the latest GETS/WPS NewsNotes :
It contains information about Hurricane Florence, the new iPhone dialer app, updated WPS charge information, and other useful program information.
Government Emergency Telecommunications Service (GETS)
The Government Emergency Telecommunications Service (GETS) supports national leadership; federal, state, local, tribal and territorial governments; first responders; and other authorized national security and emergency preparedness (NS/EP) users. It is intended to be used in an emergency or crisis situation when the landline network is congested and the probability of completing a normal call is reduced.
GETS provides NS/EP personnel priority access and prioritized processing in the local and long distance segments of the landline networks, greatly increasing the probability of call completion.
Wireless Priority Service (WPS)
Wireless Priority Service (WPS) supports national leadership; federal, state, local, tribal and territorial governments, and other authorized national security and emergency preparedness (NS/EP) users. It is intended to be used in an emergency or crisis situation when the wireless network is congested and the probability of completing a normal call is reduced.

WPS provides NS/EP personnel priority access and prioritized processing in all nationwide and several regional cellular networks, greatly increasing the probability of call completion.

Monday, October 29, 2018

Shelter, Home, and Homelessness. If it struck tomorrow, would you be prepared?


Loss of home from disasters, living in shelter or temporary housing is a devastating crisis physically and emotionally.

A disaster can leave an individual or family and on even a larger scale communities homeless.

Homelessness is a serious issue globally in every major city.

From shelter to permanent housing must be a part of the planning and resiliency building process not only from disasters, but as a major consideration to address overall homelessness.

Can disaster\emergency management principles be used to address social issues that lead to major crisis of man-made disasters?  Yes.  Something for communities to consider.

BEMA International

How HUD Could Help More Families Affected by Natural Disasters
By Alys Cohen – Government Executive


After the winds die down and the flood waters recede, natural disaster survivors begin the long process of putting the pieces of their lives back together.  But for low-income homeowners, this period can exacerbate economic vulnerabilities, causing too many survivors to lose their homes amidst the struggle to rebuild. 

Earlier this year, HUD developed a new “disaster standalone partial claim” program to help homeowners who have mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration avoid foreclosure. 

However, unnecessary barriers to enrollment and the limited scope of the program place this critical lifeline out of reach for too many families struggling after recent storms and other disasters.

HUD introduced its new program in response to the 2017 hurricanes and wildfires to help borrowers impacted by natural disasters continue to make their mortgage payments and stay in their homes.  Through this program, disaster survivors can access an interest-free second mortgage loan to cover up to one year of missed mortgage payments. 

Borrowers generally repay the loan when they sell the home or refinance, and their initial mortgage terms remain unchanged.  For those who can access it, the program can be a life-saver.

For the partial claim option to work, mortgage servicers must be prepared to make eligibility determinations for an unexpected surge of homeowners when a disaster hits.  But rather than streamlining the process, HUD’s recently updated program retains unnecessary roadblocks, potentially leaving many vulnerable homeowners out in the cold.

For example, FHA homeowners with variable incomes, including small business owners and hourly service workers, are likely to have trouble with a requirement that their wages be equal to or greater than their wages prior to the disaster. 

Small business owners often have to temporarily close their businesses during a disaster and its aftermath.  Typically—and understandably—their income goes down post-disaster.  The same goes for their employees and other retail and service workers who depend on a steady stream of customers to make ends meet.  Those who have lost some of their wages as a result of a natural disaster, but who are able to make mortgage payments again—the very people who most need assistance keeping their homes—are unnecessarily blocked from the program’s benefits. 

HUD should establish a reasonable threshold below 100 percent of previous income to expand access to the program.

HUD’s process is also duplicative.  Applicants must show they can afford their mortgage payments in addition to showing that their current income meets the department’s requirements.  But if they were able to make their mortgage payments before the disaster, and their current income equals or exceeds their pre-disaster income, it should be obvious that they can still afford to make their payments, and HUD should not require them to prove that. 

Even if HUD were to adopt a threshold below 100 percent of pre-disaster income, it should be based on data analysis demonstrating likely affordability.  Moreover, HUD requires excessive documentation of income and expenses for homeowners seeking hardship assistance.  Department officials should act now to reduce this red tape, which can delay much-needed assistance.

HUD recently made improvements to the disaster standalone partial claim program, (i.e.  expanding the number of months of back payments that can be covered by the program) but only for the survivors of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in Puerto Rico and the U.S.  Virgin Islands. 

The improvements should also apply to disasters in other states and territories.  Texans impacted by Hurricane Harvey and Californians impacted by the wildfires, for example, are unable to access this revised program to help deal with storm-related back payments.  Survivors of Florence in the Carolinas and Hurricane Michael in Florida also are left out.

HUD’s new partial claim program must be broadly available to survivors of natural disasters who could use it to stabilize their mortgages in areas where the recovery is slow.  Until access to the partial claim option is expanded and further streamlined, survivors who can afford their current payments but need help catching up will be more likely to lose their homes and face further devastation.


Alys Cohen is a staff attorney at the National Consumer Law Center focusing on mortgage lending, foreclosure prevention, and low-income homeownership.  She also directs the Center’s disaster response work.








Black Emergency Managers Association 
          International
1231  Good Hope Road  S.E.
Washington, D.C.   20020
Office:   202-618-9097 
bEMA International 
GC_Endorser_BLUE_RGB_GRADIE     








Change without Sacrifice is an Illusion.   Lisa Ellis







Tuesday, October 23, 2018

Distribution of Relief Goods. DisasterReady October 23, 2018



Logistics and Distribution


Distribution of Relief Goods


In this short course, learn the steps and considerations involved in distributing relief goods. 




Food Security: National Latino Farmers & Ranchers Trade Association. Annual Winter Forum and Networking Dinner. Dec. 13-14, 2018


Climate Change and Disaster Assistance.

If in the Washington, D.C. area join me for The Rural Coalition of Black Farmers, and the National Latina Farmers & Ranchers Trade Association (NLFRTA) Annual Winter Forum and Networking Dinner at the National Press Club December 13-14, 2018.

Additional updates and information can be found at:
            Rural Coalition of Black Farmers:  https://www.ruralco.org
                        and
NLFRTA:  http://www.nlfrta.org 

CDS



The Rural Coalition
&
The National Latino Farmers & Ranchers Trade Association

Annual Winter Forum and Networking Dinner:
Celebrating 40 Years of Rural Resilience

Washington DC - December 13-14, 2018

Thurs. Dec 13 (9:00 AM –  5:00 PM - Location TBA)
Forum Program (tentative)

Fri. Dec. 14 (9 AM – 4 PM - Location TBA)
Forum Program (Tentative)
Morning – Building a Future for Agriculture for our Youth
A delegation will attend NASS Hall of Fame Event (https://www.nass.usda.gov/About_NASS/Hall_of_Fame/index.php )
Afternoon-  Dialogue with our Partners and Allies on our shared work and the solutions we are building with communities.
Closing Session on Learning from our Histories.
Panelist During Days Event
Discussion:  Climate Change & Disaster Assistance
-Eugene Pickett.  Black Farmers & Ranchers of New Mexico
-Joel Segal.  Justice Action Mobilization Network
-Charles Sharp.  Black Emergency Managers Association International

Fri. Dec 14
(6 PM – 10 PM at National Press Club)
Networking Dinner at the National Press Club.



Black Emergency Managers Association 
          International
1231  Good Hope Road  S.E.
Washington, D.C.  20020
Office:   202-618-9097 
bEMA International 
GC_Endorser_BLUE_RGB_GRADIE     








Change without Sacrifice is an Illusion.  Lisa Ellis

Thursday, October 18, 2018

City of Los Angeles Training and Exercise Calendar | 2018 - 2019

2018
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
  • Family Assistance Center (FAC) Seminar | Tuesday, December 4, 2018
  • Disaster Recovery 101 Seminar | Tuesday, December 11, 2018
2019
JANUARY
  • G393: Disaster Mitigation | Tuesday, January 29 - Thursday, January 31, 2019
FEBRUARY
  • G235: Emergency Planning | Tuesday, February 12 - Thursday, February 13, 2019
  • G290-291: Basic Public Information Officer (PIO) and Joint Information Center (JIC)/Joint Information System (JIS) | Monday, February 25 - Thursday, February 28, 2019

Wednesday, October 17, 2018

Prepare, Respond, Recover with your Tax Dollars. IT's YOUR RIGHT. October 2018


We must prepare and plan for future disasters.  Climate change is real and the frequency and intensities of natural disaster will become more intense.

We must move forward as a collective and utilize our rights to the funding and other opportunities that we not only paid for in blood, sweat and tears, but thru annual taxes to both the State and Federal governments.  These are our monies that must be used for our purposes.

Keep in mind the following numbers:
1.      Five individuals for (primary & secondary’s) for CERT Train-the-Trainer and Program Manager Courses
2.      Twenty to twenty-five community members to start a CERT Team.


Please review information listed below on creation of a CERT Corp Council/Program registration process for username and password.


Gullah/Geechee Nation
-Consider Council or Program for each member nation state (North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida).
-Each council shall have to coordinate efforts with local emergency management offices\agencies at State, and local level


CERT Corp Council/Program Registration

-        For login and account setup.
-        Start the process.

Citizen Corps Council / CERT Program Registration
Registration Overview
FEMA is asking all new and existing local Citizen Corps Councils and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Programs to register or re-register on the National Citizen Corps and CERT websites.

FEMA has two newly improved online registries that will demonstrate community readiness efforts of local Citizen Corps Councils and CERT Programs.

Providing a snapshot of local success, the registries collect and share over 100 data points for each registered Council and CERT Program.

New data collected will allow Councils and CERT Programs to share information highlighting community partnerships and activities among government and civic leaders, integration of non-governmental resources into government plans and protocols, local efforts to improve personal and organizational preparedness, and volunteer programs and volunteer disaster response activities.

Councils and CERT Programs are sponsored by local emergency management or elected leaders and registry submissions are reviewed by each State before being posted on the website.

Every Citizen Corps Council and CERT Program is required to re-register as if they were creating a new Citizen Corps Council or CERT Program – even if they previously registered – if they wish to have a listing in the Citizen Corps and CERT directory.  Please note that only Citizen Corps Councils and CERT Programs may register.  The registry is not for individual CERT Teams that are organized within a CERT Program.

Outreach and Assistance
FEMA will promote registration through different channels to encourage and guide Citizen Corps Council and CERT Program leaders in updating their Council’s or Program’s online profiles. Outreach and assistance efforts include:
• Series of webinars that walk users through the registration process from the perspectives of a Citizen Corps Council coordinator, a CERT Program coordinator, or a state or Regional CERT or Citizen Corps coordinator
• How-to guides for Councils / CERT Programs
• Outbound calling and follow-up emails to all Citizen Corps Councils and CERT Programs to encourage participation and serve as a reminder to complete registration process
• Technical assistance will be provided by State Citizen Corps Council Coordinators and State CERT Program Coordinators. State Coordinators should contact FEMA Regional Community Preparedness Program Managers as needed. Technical difficulties and comments regarding the registration forms should be reported to CitizenCorps@dhs.gov or CERT@dhs.gov.

To begin registering and to obtain current information and guidance documents for registration, go to the Citizen Corps and CERT Program websites at


The websites will provide how-guides, recorded instructional tutorials, other resources, and up-to-date information.

Outcome
This effort will provide the public and organizations with accurate information; information which will emphasize the tremendous work accomplished to date and serve as a baseline for future individual and community preparedness and resiliency projects. Information sharing is a critical component of building and sustaining preparedness nationwide.

The data collected will provide needed information to community residents and showcase innovative practices for replicating local achievements.

Data can be also be used to generate reports at the local, state, regional, and federal level, as well as guide FEMA’s mission.





Black Emergency Managers Association 
         International
1231  Good Hope Road  S.E.
Washington, D.C.  20020
Office:   202-618-9097 
bEMA International 
GC_Endorser_BLUE_RGB_GRADIE     









Change without Sacrifice is an Illusion.  Lisa Ellis

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