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Monday, July 18, 2016
FREE...Educational Opportunities. COURSERA. July 17, 2016
Thursday, July 14, 2016
2016 Leave No One Behind. TRN.TV, Five Points Youth Foundation, BEMA.
“LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND”
TRN International News (TRN.tv) and Black Emergency Managers Association
(BEMA) are joining Five Points Youth Foundation to get our messaging out, pull
together and organize our advisors, supporters and network into a team to
empower youth worldwide as our leaders of tomorrow with the first big push from
2015 International Day of Peace
September 21, 2015 through December 31, 2020.
Our objective: recruit 4,000+ non-profits, ngos, labor organizations,
business associations, educational institutions and cities (free to register)
to join the United Nations Global Compact and 1,000 business CEOS to sign and
send in a commitment letter to support Caring 4 Climate Campaign. Achieving
that milestone would kick off the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030 by
establishing a Worldwide Community Resiliency Network to “Leave No One Behind”
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Friday, July 8, 2016
2016. FEMA Releases Findings on Individual and Community Preparedness
FEMA
Releases Findings on Individual and Community Preparedness
Findings from a newly-released survey indicate that
there are specific levers that government and private sector partners can use
to influence and increase overall individual and community preparedness.
The Federal Emergency Management
Agency’s (FEMA) Individual and Community Preparedness Division (ICPD)
released the findings from its 2015 National Household Survey of 5,000
Americans in June. The survey is designed to measure household and individual
preparedness and awareness.
Among
the most significant findings, the survey found a positive relationship
between awareness of preparedness information and the action of taking steps
to prepare for a disaster.
The
survey also notes a relationship between experience and action, finding that
individuals living in areas with a history of a specific hazard and who have
experienced the impact of that hazard are significantly more likely to report
they had taken basic steps to prepare themselves and their household.
“These
are positive results and really help validate the work that FEMA and our
partners across the country have been doing,” said ICPD Director Helen
Lowman, upon release of the survey. “Going forward, we will be able to use
this data to include all populations as we continue to build a culture of preparedness.”
When it comes to awareness of
preparedness information, 66 percent of Americans living in areas with a
history of hurricanes reported that they had read, seen, or heard information
on how to better prepare for a hurricane within the past six months, the
survey said.
Individuals
living in areas with a history of tornadoes were the next most aware of the
pertinent preparedness information for their relevant hazard with 53 percent
of respondents in those areas saying they had read, seen, or heard
information on how to prepare for a tornado in the last six months.
The survey included a series of
oversamples in U.S. counties where specific hazards, including: earthquakes,
extreme heat, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, and winter storms,
present a risk to those populations.
ICPD
will be going back into the field later this summer to administer the 2016
National Household Survey.
For more information and to review a
summary of the 2015 findings, click here.
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2016. Emergency Preparedness Training Options for Houses of Worship
Emergency Preparedness Training
Options for Houses of Worship
FEMA’s Individual and Community
Preparedness Division (ICPD) invites
you to a webinar on Tuesday, July 19, which will feature
ways houses of worship and emergency managers can use training programs like
Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) to increase community
preparedness. The webinar will also highlight how these partnerships improve
engagements with diverse communities and populations.
Click the Following Link to
Register: Emergency
Response Training Options for Houses of Worship
Date: Tuesday, July 19, 2016
Time: 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. EDT
How to Join the Webinar:
- Please
register for the event using the Adobe
Connect registration web link.
- Be
sure to test your Adobe Connect connection prior
to the meeting.
2016 DHS Funding Opportunities. COUNTERING VIOLENT EXTREMISM GRANT PROGRAM
Last year, Secretary Johnson and the DHS Office
for Community Partnerships identified the need to make direct awards to
non-governmental organizations for community-based countering violent extremism
(CVE) programs. Congress has also been supportive of this effort by
appropriating $10 million specifically to support local CVE efforts.
Today, DHS announced the FY 2016 CVE grant
program. For the first time, non-governmental organizations will be eligible
for DHS funding to promote community resilience against the threat of violent
extremism.
The DHS Office for Community Partnerships is
working closely with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to ensure funding
is awarded to community-based programs that draw from a range of local
partners—for example, educators, social service and mental health providers,
faith leaders and public safety officials.
The notice of funding opportunity and application
process is now open. For more information on how to apply please go here:
www.dhs.gov/cvegrants.
For programmatic questions about the funding
opportunity please reach out to: CommunityPartnerships@hq.dhs.gov.
Thank you.
THE DEPARTMENT OF
HOMELAND SECURITY ANNOUNCES THE COUNTERING VIOLENT EXTREMISM GRANT PROGRAM
WASHINGTON—On Wednesday, July 6, 2016, Secretary
of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson announced the Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 Countering
Violent Extremism (CVE) Grant Program, with $10 million in available funds.
This is the first federal assistance program devoted exclusively to providing
local communities with the resources to counter violent extremism in the
homeland.
“As I have said before, given the nature of the
evolving terrorist threat, building bridges to local communities is as
important as any of our other homeland security missions,” said Secretary
Johnson. “This new grant program is an important step forward in these efforts
and reflects the Department’s continued commitment to protect the homeland and
uphold our values.”
In addition to state, local and tribal
governments, non-profit organizations and institutions of higher education are
eligible to apply. These grants will help scale community-led initiatives
across the country to address the evolving terrorist threat, including
international and domestic terrorism. Specifically, funding will support
training, community engagements, and activities that challenge violent
extremist narratives used to recruit and radicalize individuals to violence.
The Department’s efforts to partner with local
communities are a central part of its CVE mission. These grants will empower
local communities to provide resources to friends, families and peers who may
know someone on the path toward violent extremism, encouraging community-based
solutions to deter an individual well before criminal or terrorist action,
which would require the attention of law enforcement.
This grant program was developed by the DHS Office
for Community Partnerships in conjunction with the Federal Emergency Management
Agency. The Office for Community Partnerships builds relationships with local
communities and leads the Department’s CVE mission, focusing efforts to find
innovative ways to discourage violent extremism and undercut terrorist
narratives.
Sunday, July 3, 2016
Webinar. Thurs, July 7, 2016. FEMA. Combining Climate Adaptation and Hazard Mitigation Plans
PIE to Hold
Webinar on Combining Climate Adaptation and Hazard Mitigation Plans
The Planning Information
Exchange (PIE) will present a free webinar on Thursday, July 7 2016,
12:00 – 1:00 p.m. CT, (Starting at 1pm ET, 11am MT, 10am PT)
entitled “Combining Climate Adaptation and Hazard Mitigation Plans.”
This seventh part in the
eight-part series involves discussions from Kristin Baja, a Climate and
Resilience Planner from the Baltimore City Office of Sustainability, and
Sherrie Collins, the Emergency Manager of Monterey County, California. James
Schwab, Manager of APA’s Hazards Planning Center, will moderate as they discuss:
- The
basic premise of Baltimore’s effort to merge its climate adaptation plan
with the update of its hazard mitigation plan
- Issues
Baltimore has experienced or will experience (e.g., increased nuisance
flooding)
- Nature
and scope of the Monterey County plan
- Challenges
in Monterey County’s multijurisdictional approach
- And
much more
The
PIE is a free eight-part quarterly webinar series presented by the
American Planning Association (APA) and the Association of State Floodplain
Managers (ASFPM). The series is funded through a cooperative agreement
with FEMA through the RiskMAP Cooperating Technical Partners (CTP)
program. The PIE focuses on tools, best practices, and strategies on
the role of hazard mitigation planning and its connections with recovery
planning and preparedness. The PIE webinars provide one continuing maintenance
(CM) credit for the American Institute of Certified Planners and one continuing
education credit (CEC) for Certified Floodplain Managers.
To
register and for additional information visit: https://www.planning.org/nationalcenters/hazards/planninginformationexchange/2016 Small Business Challenge
Announcing the Small Business
Challenge! The 2016 Small Business Challenge from SB Works is a competitive
process investing more than $100,000 in services that support DC’s small
businesses. DEADLINE JULY 31
This summer, SB Works is seeking to fund ambitious applications for projects that will grow your idea, help your business where it hurts, fix your building, share your experience, or highlight your business community.
Apply for either direct services for small business operations or initiatives to improve the local small business environment.
Visit sbworksdc.org/small-business- challenge for eligibility and application details.
This summer, SB Works is seeking to fund ambitious applications for projects that will grow your idea, help your business where it hurts, fix your building, share your experience, or highlight your business community.
Apply for either direct services for small business operations or initiatives to improve the local small business environment.
Visit sbworksdc.org/small-business- challenge for eligibility and application details.
FEMA Urges Businesses to Use FEMA Smartphone App to Prepare for Disasters
FEMA Urges Businesses to Use FEMA Smartphone
App to Prepare for Disasters
Washington, D.C. – The Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is urging residents across the nation to
download and use the FEMA smartphone app. The app is designed to help
businesses, employees, and their families prepare for a wide array of natural
and man-made disasters, and can help affected Americans recover, should
disaster strike.
According to a recent survey by Pew Research, 40 percent of
Americans have used their smartphone to look up government services or
information. Additionally, a majority of smartphone owners use their devices to
keep up to date with breaking news, and to be informed about what is happening
in their community.
Some key features of the app
include:
- National Weather Service Alerts: The app enables users to receive weather alerts from
the National Weather Service for up to five locations across the nation.
This new feature allows users to receive alerts on severe weather
happening anywhere they select in the country, even if the phone is not
located in the area, making it easy to follow severe weather that may be
threatening family and friends.
- Safety Tips: Tips
on how to stay safe before, during, and after over 20 types of hazards,
including floods, hurricanes, tornadoes and earthquakes.
- Preparation Checklist: Helps users put together emergency kits and
develop family communication plans to determine how they will reunite with
loved ones in the event of a disaster.
- Maps of Disaster Resources: Users can locate and receive driving directions to open
shelters and disaster recovery centers.
- Apply for Assistance: The app provides easy access to apply for federal
disaster assistance.
- Information in Spanish: The app defaults to Spanish-language content for
smartphones that have Spanish set as their default language.
Thursday, June 30, 2016
Training Opportunity. July 2016. Cultural Competency Resource Guide Spotlight Webinar Series: Asian American & Pacific Islanders in the Southeast
|
Are you interested in learning more about cultural competency
and utilizing
The Southeastern Health
Equity Council (SHEC) released their Cultural Competency Resource Guide last
fall 2015. This guide was comprised of resources, trainers, institutions and
publications about cultural and linguistic competency that can be shared with
the 10 Regional Health Equity Councils (RHECs), stakeholders and partners to
help address cultural barriers with health care systems. Additionally, this
guide includes important terms for members of the SHEC to become familiar
with as the SHEC develops a common language around cultural competency. To
view the resource guide, visit: http://region4.npa-rhec.org/in-the-spotlight/resourceguidewhitepaper. |
|
2016 National HBCU Week Conference
- Summary
- 2016 HBCU Program Agenda
- Hotel/Location Information
- Speakers
- Contact Us
2016 National HBCU Week Conference
The Annual National Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Week Conference is planned under the leadership of the White House Initiative on HBCUs and with input from the President’s Board of Advisors on HBCUs and its conference sponsors. It provides a forum to exchange information and share innovations among and between institutions. Stakeholders, which include: federal agencies, private sector companies and philanthropic organizations provide an overview of successful engagements that if replicated could improve instruction, degree completion and the understanding of federal policies that shape and support higher education.
When
- Monday, 10/24/16 - Tuesday, 10/25/16
8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Eastern Time Zone
Where
- Renaissance Arlington Captial View
2800 South Potomac Avenue
Arlington, Virginia 22202
http://www.cvent.com/events/2016-national-hbcu-week-conference-general/event-summary-54abe092d9f2476587bf5c4bdbca134b.aspx?i=209e6250-a36e-4f7a-8a94-0ad84eaf5b26
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Easing drought on the Panama Canal
Easing drought on the Panama Canal
The expanded Panama Canal is reducing water use thanks to its new system of locks and basins, thereby lowering the risks posed by drought (Photo: Panama Canal Authority)
Read more at: http://www.unisdr.org/archive/49408
The Caribbean must prepare for increased drought due to climate change
http://www.preventionweb.net/english/email/url.php?eid=49359
SOURCE(S): FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS - HEADQUARTERS (FAO)
SOURCE(S): FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS - HEADQUARTERS (FAO)
The Caribbean must prepare for increased drought due to climate change
Agriculture is the sector most vulnerable to the seasonal nature of drought.
21st of June 2016, Barbados – Climate change is expected to increase the intensity and frequency of droughts in the Caribbean, so countries must enhance their capabilities to deal with this and other climate related challenges to ensure food security and hunger eradication, FAO said today.
The Caribbean faces significant challenges in terms of drought, a new FAO study says. The region already experiences drought-like events every year, often with low water availability impacting agriculture and water resources, and a significant number of bush fires.
The Caribbean also experiences intense dry seasons particularly in years with El Niño events. The impacts are usually offset by the next wet season, but wet seasons often end early and dry seasons last longer with the result that annual rainfall is less than expected.
The Caribbean accounts for seven of the world’s top 36 water-stressed countries, while Barbados is in the top ten. FAO defines countries like Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, and St. Kitts and Nevis as water-scarce with less than 1000 m3 freshwater resources per capita.
“Drought ranks as the single most common cause of severe food shortages in developing countries, so this is a key issue for Caribbean food security”, said Deep Ford, Regional Coordinator for FAO in the Caribbean.
The impacts of drought on agriculture and food security
With droughts becoming more seasonal in nature in the Caribbean, agriculture is the most likely sector to be impacted, with serious economic and social consequences.
This is particularly important since the majority of Caribbean Agriculture is rainfed. With irrigation use becoming more widespread in the Caribbean, countries’ fresh-water supply will become increasingly important.
Drought can affect the agriculture sector in several ways, by reducing crop yields and productivity, and causing premature death of livestock and poultry. Even a dry spell of 7-10 days can result in a reduction of yields, influencing the livelihoods of farmers.
Farmers, particularly small farmers, are vulnerable to drought as their livelihoods are threatened by low rainfall where crops are rainfed and by low water levels and increased production costs due to increased irrigation.
Livestock grazing areas change in nutritional value, as more low quality, drought tolerant species dominate during extensive droughts, causing the vulnerability of livestock to increase. The potential for livestock diseases also increases.
The poor are vulnerable as food price increases are often associated with drought. Expensive, desalinated water resources are becoming more important in the Caribbean, accounting for as much as 70% in Antigua and Barbuda, and this can impact the poor significantly.
Rural communities are vulnerable since potable water networks are less dense and therefore more heavily impacted during drought, while children are at highest risk from inadequate water supplies during drought.
Climate change poses new challenges
The most frequently occurring natural hazards in the Caribbean are climate related, and their impacts may increase due to climate change. The region's vulnerability to climate related hazards is manifested in loss of life and annual economic and financial losses that result from strong winds, flooding and drought.
Between 1970 and 2000, the Caribbean region suffered direct and indirect losses estimated between US$700 million and US$3.3 billion due to natural disasters associated with weather and climate events.
So far, the Caribbean has focused mainly on floods and storms, and so currently lacks effective governance, human resource capacity, and finance to deal effectively with drought issues.
It also has poor national coordination, policy-making, and planning in place. While many regional and national programmes have initiated responses to build resilience against the impacts of drought; too many of these are still in draft, poorly implemented, or in need of review.
However it was the severity of the 2009-2010 drought that sounded the alarm. The worst in over 40 years that led to significant water shortages across the region and resulted in agricultural and other losses from key economic sectors that affected many livelihoods.
The event forced the region to consider, particularly in light of climate change projections, a drier Caribbean by the end of the century as a disaster that has to be planned for and managed more strategically.
Regional frameworks provide a necessary first step
Three very relevant frameworks for drought management in the region are the Comprehensive Disaster Management Strategic Framework, the CARICOM Regional Framework for Achieving Development Resilient to Climate Change: 2011-2021, and the Jagdeo Initiative. In addition, the Caribbean Drought and Precipitation Monitoring Network (CDPMN) was established in 2009, after the 2009 drought.
However, the most pressing need is for countries to develop strong national initiatives. According to the FAO report, currently policy-making and planning regarding drought is hindered by weak governance, lack of finance and poorly coordinated land management.
“However, these can be overcome by strong political will that encourages participation in policy and planning processes by all actors in the social strata, enabling the sustainable development of water supplies to face the upcoming challenges”, Ford said.