Wednesday, May 22, 2019

FEMA New Recipients Disaster Grants Guide 2019

FEMA has released the ‘FEMA New Recipients of Disaster Grants Guide’, May 2019.

The FEMA New Recipients of Disaster Grants Guide describes Recipient requirements for the three FEMA categories of disaster grant assistance available to Recipients following a Presidential emergency or major disaster declaration: PA, IA, and HMGP.

FEMA provides specific guidance for state-led PA and is developing state-led housing options to allow Recipients to manage greater portions of the recovery effort.  Recipients interested in pursuing these options should consult with regional program staff for details and requirements.

Guide can be accessed and downloaded directly from the FEMA website at:


Tuesday, May 21, 2019

American Red Cross Transparency Act. May 2019

For Immediate Release
Tuesday, May 21, 2019

Grassley, Thompson Reintroduce American Red Cross Transparency Act

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi today introduced legislation to give the congressional watchdog arm complete access to American Red Cross records for oversight purposes. The bipartisan, bicameral American Red Cross Transparency Act of 2019 responds to concerns that the Red Cross tried to quash a review by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) of its practices, successfully limiting the scope of the review, and has failed to be as transparent as it should be.

“The American people rely on the Red Cross to respond when tragedy strikes. It is congressionally-chartered and is a federal instrumentality. It receives federal tax dollars for some of its disaster responses, and it receives the financial benefits of tax exemption and tax-deductible donations. For those reasons, Congress has a responsibility to make sure the Red Cross answers questions asked on the public’s behalf and is operating up to the standards required of it during national disasters,” Grassley said. “The Red Cross has shown an unwillingness to answer questions in the past. This legislation strengthens transparency to help make the Red Cross more accountable to the public.”  

“The Red Cross has been a component of disaster response for decades, but that does not put them above Congressional oversight. The public should know how the Red Cross spends both taxpayer dollars and the funds Americans generously donate. With Hurricanes Katrina, Sandy and Harvey and the 2010 Haiti earthquake, we have seen the Red Cross struggle to fulfill its disaster response mission,” Thompson said. “As the demands on our disaster response systems have intensified, and with the frequency and intensity of natural disasters having increased, it is critical that the Red Cross is able to fulfill its mission and that Congress and the American public have a window of transparency into the organization. Our legislation will ensure that the Red Cross’ past attempts to scuttle necessary oversight won’t work again.”

The American Red Cross Transparency Act gives the GAO complete access to the Red Cross’ records when needed to conduct oversight. If the Red Cross refuses to comply, the legislation provides the GAO with the authority to bring an action in court to force compliance.  
More than a decade ago, Congress gave the GAO the broad authority to “review [Red Cross’] involvement in any Federal program or activity the Government carries out under law.” Despite clear legislative intent, the Red Cross essentially stonewalled GAO when it tried to carry out an investigation requested by Thompson in September 2013. After two years of stall tactics, delays and a request from the Red Cross’ president that Thompson cancel his GAO request and conduct future oversight via cell phone, the GAO analyzed information the Red Cross begrudgingly made available to complete its investigation. Grassley explored the GAO access problem as part of his inquiry of problems with the Red Cross’ Haiti earthquake response. He sent the results as a memo to his fellow committee members on both the Judiciary and Finance committees in 2016.

The legislation is available here

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

Wednesday, May 8, 2019

Disaster Victim Volunteers Needed for Exercise on 05.31.19


Keep in mind that every community should exercise their emergency plans, and procedures with a simple walk-thru, drill, table-top, functional, or full-scale exercise.  Check in your local community at your FIRE\EMS, or Emergency Management Office\Agency for exercises being scheduled.
April and May are prime time for exercises.
Get involved.  Participate, observe, and understand the coordination, and who will be doing what when a disaster or crisis strikes your community.  Exercises should be designed as realistic as possible.  Now is a time to use your acting skills and abilities. 
From a real-world event of assisting someone out of a burning car, administering an antidote, each involves keeping a level head to respond accordingly and not panic.  Exercises contribute to keeping calm in a panic situation.
Be safe, be prepared, get involved. 
BEMA International
The Maryland Regional National Life Support (NDLS) Coalition will be conducting a disaster exercise with emergency medical personnel on May 31, 2019 in College Park, Maryland.

The Maryland Responds State Program is requesting volunteers to act as disaster victims during this exercise.

Location:
College Park, MD (Check-in location/address will be provided to confirmed volunteers)

Date:   May 31, 2019
Time:  7:15 AM – 3:00 PM

Volunteer Positions Needed:
Twenty Maryland Responds volunteers are needed to act as disaster victims in a simulated disaster scenario.  This volunteer role will assist participants in the Advanced Disaster Life Support training to practice mass casualty triage during a simulated disaster.  Volunteers will be given instructions such as a script and injuries to act out.

Volunteer Requirements:
Completion of all Road to Readiness requirements.  

See attached checklist and log in to your Responder profile to view your ‘Training’ tab to see where you are on the Road to Readiness.  

Volunteers should be comfortable standing and lying down on the ground outside for periods of time.

Volunteers should also be comfortable with having mock injuries applied (moulage).

Transportation: Volunteers should be able to transport themselves to and from this event.

Additional Information: Lunch and water will be provided.

Parking is free.


Use the link below to sign up:
More information will be shared with the volunteers who are selected to volunteer at this event.

 DO NOT ACTIVATE FOR THIS EVENT IF YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED A CONFIRMATION of your participation from a Maryland Responds State Coordinator.

Thank you,
Maryland Responds Medical Reserve Corps




bEMA International 

“Successful people are always looking for ways to help others. Unsuccessful people are always asking,
‘What’s in it for me?” – Brian Tracy

Monday, May 6, 2019

May 2019. DisasterReady. Managing Sexual Violence Against Aid Workers: Prevention, Preparedness, Response and Aftercare










Managing Sexual Violence Against Aid Workers: Prevention, Preparedness, Response and Aftercare

Material European Interagency Security Forum (EISF) 7 hours
This 134-page document aims to support aid agencies in preventing, being prepared for and responding to incidents of sexual violence against their staff.  This document is intended as a good practice guide to help strengthen existing processes and support organizations as they set up their own protocols.

While there are many competing terms and definitions, this guide refers to sexual violence as any act of a sexual nature that is unwanted or forced.  It covers all incidents from sexual harassment to rape, including stalking, sharing sexual images without consent and sexual assault
This guide is not aimed at survivors of sexual violence.  It is intended to be a good practice guide to help organizations strengthen existing processes and set up their own protocols..
Sexual violence in all its forms violates human rights and organizations have a duty of care to respond to incidents of sexual violence against their staff.



Sunday, May 5, 2019

Part 2: Thurs, May 9, 2019 12:00 Noon. Tackling racial bias and marginalization ( in the USA) through impact investment.


The second in a three part series of webinars on diversity, inclusion and accountability in the investment world will take place on Thursday May 9, 12:00 noon EST. 

Kindly spread the word and book your spot. 

Tackling racial bias and marginalization ( in the USA) through impact investment. 


What's at stake is getting financial capital to do a better job at improving our world. We are having an active dialogue, informed by evidence and focused on solution design. 

The panelists are drawn from the Ford Foundation, specialist impact investing firms, and advocates for racial justice.  

Our discussion promises to be informative and lively. The intention is to consolidate the recommendations and discussions, build community around this issue,  and design a set of implementable interventions.  

Hope you can join us.

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