Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Training: Search & Rescue (SAR). Anne Arundel County, MD. June 2019

Search and Rescue Tech III / CERT SAR Class Announcement

Anne Arundel – Annapolis CERT is sponsoring an Introduction to Search and Rescue which will be taught by DELMARVA Search & Rescue. The SARTECH III certification exam will be given upon completion of the class (note the class IS NOT required to take the SARTECH III class online).

The class will be held on 
   a. Friday, 21 June from 1800 – 2000, 
   b. Saturday, 22 June from 0800 – 1700 and 
         Friday and Saturday will be held at the Anne Arundel County Fire Academy in Millersville
   c. Sunday 23 June from 0800 – 1700. 
         Sunday’s class will be held at a local park

The cost for the class, including instructional fees, exam and book is $205 plus Eventbrite processing fees. If you have the book or will purchase from Amazon prior to the class use ISARBook discount code during registration.

The cost for the class will include the instruction by DELMARVA SAR, NASAR testing fee for SARTECH III and the REQUIRED book “Introduction to Search and Rescue”. 

Attendees who already have the book may use the code ISARBook at check out and save $35.95. 

If you would like to order Introduction to Search and Rescue from Amazon now use this link: https://amzn.to/2PDfbyB (AAACERT is an Affiliate and will earn a small percentage on purchases). 

To register for the class visit: https://aaacert-isar19.eventbrite.com
Questions may be directed to President@AAACERT.org or Training@AAACERT.org

Tuesday, April 30, 2019

FREE....May 13-14, 2019. DC HOMELEAND SECURITY AND PREPAREDNESS SYMPOSIUM.


DC HomEleand Security and Preparedness Symposium

Session 2:  State Panel Facilitated Discussion: Accommodating the Whole Community

Presenters:
§  Dennis Boyd, New York City Office of Emergency Management
§  Dawn Brantley, Virginia Department of Emergency Management
§  Christine Heyser, Department of Human Services, Harrisburg, PA
§  Beth MacDonald, Delaware Department of Health and Social Services

Moderator:
Delores Scott, DC Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA)

This session will address how disability rights laws apply to emergency management, legal trends and promising practices for accommodating the whole community.

 Registration:  Registration is free, but space is limited. I encourage you to register as soon as you can.  Here is the link: https://attendify.co/symposium-day-one-9am-530pm-YZdUUFF.  




Thursday, April 25, 2019

GAO Report: DHS, FEMA Disaster Recovery Contracting Process Needs Major Fixes


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GAO Report: DHS, FEMA Disaster Recovery Contracting Process Needs Major Fixes

April 25, 2019 (WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, announced the release of a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report he requested on the DHS and FEMA contracting process for disaster recovery efforts.

The report, entitled “Actions Needed to Improve the Use of Post-Disaster Contracts to Support Response and Recovery” found that:

  • The contracting process for post-disaster recovery efforts lacks transparency due to “inconsistent implementation of the criteria for” tracking data related to post-disaster Federal procurement.
  • FEMA did not consistently justify awards to vendors outside the disaster area, meaning the agency may have missed opportunities to award contracts to local businesses, which could help jump-start the local economy.
  • FEMA’s contracting workforce has dozens of vacancies, including contracting specialists and other critical leadership positions.

Chairman Thompson released the following statement on the report:
   
“This GAO report makes clear that the federal government still has work to do when it comes to contracting for disaster recovery and response efforts. Spending on disaster contracts lacks much-needed transparency – taxpayers need to know what they’re funding to provide survivors assistance in the aftermath of a disaster.  The GAO also found that disaster recovery contracting is not locally focused, so businesses feeling the pain of loss after a disaster are often not given the chance to help rehabilitate their community and restart their business.

“The GAO report also highlights how FEMA is still undergoing serious staffing challenges that need to be addressed by the Administration.  As we are about to enter the 2019 hurricane season, I urge DHS and FEMA to promptly fill these important vacancies and follow through on the GAO’s recommendations that will increase productivity and transparency in the disaster response and recovery process.”

Following the release of the report, Chairman Thompson sent a letter to Acting FEMA Administrator Peter Gaynor to demand answers about the large slate of vacancies in FEMA’s contracting workforce.

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Media contact: Adam Comis at (202) 225-9978


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