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Volume 03 Issue 2 EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT NEWS April 15, 2003 Comments from Capt. John Ort, Deputy State Director of Emergency Management As the events of September 11, 2001, showed, terrorists can cause enormous damage to our country by attacking infrastructure essential to our economy and jeopardizing public health and safety. Chemical facilities may be attractive targets for terrorist intent on causing economic harm and loss of life. Experts agree that chemical facilities present an attractive target for terrorists intent on causing massive damage because many facilities house toxic chemicals that could become airborne and drift to surrounding areas if released. Alternatively, terrorists could steal chemicals, which could be used to create a weapon capable of causing harm. No specific data exists on the actual effects of successful terrorist attacks on chemical facilities. However, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 123 chemical facilities located throughout the nation have accidental toxic release “worstcase” scenarios where more than one million people in the surrounding area could be at risk of exposure to a cloud of toxic gas. Approximately 700 facilities could each potentially threaten at least 100,000 people in the surrounding area, and about 3,000 facilities could each potentially threaten at least 10,000 people. Even before September 11, 2001, protecting chemical facilities was the shared responsibility of federal, state, and local governments in partnership with the private sector. However, attention was focused largely on the risks of accidental, rather than intentional, chemical releases. From industrial chemicals and toxic waste to household detergents and air fresheners, hazardous materials are part of our everyday lives. That’s why the need to make people better aware of the role that chemicals play in their lives is so important. The need to foster better cooperation between Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs) and their local businesses, industrial, retail, service and farming sectors is also critical. The need to improve the awareness of LEPCs and local communities about the chemicals manufactured, used or sold in the factories, companies, retail stores and farms in their area is essential. For these reasons, the Michigan Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Commission supports “Chemical Awareness Week” in Michigan, May 4-10, 2003, and encourages LEPCs to be involved in this worthwhile campaign of education and awareness. The goal of this year’s campaign is to focus attention on Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs) and the facilities which either manufacture, store, use or transport hazardous materials to work cooperatively to make our communities safer. In light of the challenges facing the industry, the communities in which they are located, and the gravity of the potential threat, identifying and reducing our vulnerabilities to these hazards is essential. Take the opportunity of the increased awareness during Chemical Awareness Week to work with chemical facilities and develop preparedness and response plans and procedures. Whether terrorism or an accidental release causes an event, your community will be better prepared and better able to protect its residents. Questions regarding Chemical Awareness Week can be directed to Bonnie Fighter of the Planning/Operations Section at 517-336-2042 or fighterb@michigan.gov. MEMP Revision Proceeding Ahead Grant Application Process for Firefighter Assistance Grants New EMD Staff and Promotions State Donations Management 2003 Homeland Security Training Conference Mitigation News Also In This Issue 2 Project North Star April Ice Storm 2 EMD/SEOC GIS/E-Team Project 3 Project Impact Update 3 Upcoming Training and Exercises 3 4,5 MICHIGAN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT NEWS 1 6 6 6 6 7 MEMP Revision Proceeding Ahead Doran Duckworth, State Planner As indicated in EMD/MSP Informational Letter 02-03, issued July 8, 2002, the format of the Michigan Emergency Management Plan (MEMP) is being revised from a primarily departmental annex format to an Emergency Support Function (ESF) format. The new ESF format will be similar to that used in our EMD/MSP Publication 201 (Local Emergency Planning Workbook) and the Federal Response Plan (FRP). Although the MEMP will not exactly mirror these other documents, there will be many similarities in content and format. This revision marks the first major format change in the MEMP in over 20 years. The revision has been slowed somewhat in recent months by numerous other competing priorities, but we continue to move ahead at a fairly regular and steady pace. At this time, approximately 70% of the plan has been converted to the new format. This process will continue until the plan is completed in review draft form – probably sometime in the late summer or early fall of 2003. At that time, state agencies will be convened to review the plan by ESF and make specific recommendations regarding changes in plan content. Once those recommended changes are made, the plan will again be reviewed by all involved parties before being published and distributed in final format. Plan concurrence will occur via written Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) or another appropriate mechanism. The revised MEMP will be distributed on compact disk (CD) to all plan holders on the controlled distribution list. Limited paper copies will be available – most likely in a reduced size so they can be placed in a Franklin Planner or similar notebook for ease of carrying and reference. The new MEMP format should result in a less voluminous document that is easier to read, follow and understand. The electronic (CD) version will also feature color photographs and graphics throughout the document, making it more visually appealing to the reader. Refer to EMD/MSP Informational Letter 02-03 for more detailed information on the new MEMP format and revision process. Department Of Homeland Security Announces Opening Of Grant Application Process For Firefighter Assistance Grants Release No: HQ-03-062 Release Date: March 10, 2003 Washington, DC -- Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge announced today that the application process opened for fire departments to apply for the approximately $750 million in money available through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. These monies help rural, urban and suburban fire departments better train, prepare and equip themselves. "Effective firefighters in every community are critical to America's homeland security," said Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge. "We want to help the fire service to move quickly to develop and acquire the necessary knowledge, skills and equipment to respond to all emergencies, large and small." Secretary Ridge wrote to the Governors of the states and territories on Monday, March 3 to provide program guidelines and offer instructions for filing the grant applications. The on-line application form will be available on the web at www.usfa.fema.gov on Monday, March 10 and fire departments will have until April 11, 2003, at 5 p.m., to complete and submit their applications. Once the application period is closed, a peer review process will be started in April, and run through May. The distribution of the funds to successful applicants will begin no later than July 2003. As of March 1, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) became part of the Department of Homeland Security. The U.S. Fire Administration, which administers the grant program, is a component of FEMA's Preparedness Division. The Assistance to Firefighters Grants Program is one of the principal ways FEMA meets its mission to help the nation prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from all emergencies - natural or man-made. In 2002 alone, FEMA distributed more than $334 million through 5,316 grants to help America's firefighters get better prepared, trained and equipped to effectively respond to fires and other disasters including incidents involving hazardous materials. Thanks to President Bush's leadership, funding for this program doubled from FY02 to FY03. MICHIGAN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT NEWS 2 NEW EMD STAFF AND PROMOTIONS With the early-out retirements of 2002, the Emergency Management Division experienced a 25% loss in staff. Slowly we have begun to fill vacant positions and hire staff in new positions to assist with the major task of ensuring Michigan’s public safety through emergency management and homeland security initiatives. Pictured below are new employees hired into the Emergency Management Division. Pictured left to right: Laurie Raines Tammy Shilling Matt Opsommer Phyllis Barker June Martin Karen Welsh Jonathan Marsch Derek Dowdell Astra Malins Sgt. Kevin Mark Sgt. Chris Kelenske Training/Exercise Homeland Security Mitigation/Recovery Preparedness Mitigation/Recovery Administrative Mitigation/Recovery Planning/Operations Planning/Operations Homeland Security Homeland Security State Donations Management Recently, staff from the Emergency Management Division, attended the State Donations Management Course at the Emergency Management Institute located in Emmitsburg, Maryland. The purpose of the course is to provide personnel with the capability to develop and coordinate a State program to manage unsolicited donated goods and unaffiliated volunteer services effectively during a large-scale disaster. Attending the course were F/Lt. David LaRowe, Training Officer, Lt. Mark Martinez, Second District North Coordinator, and Dana Wolverton. Staff will begin work on a Michigan specific Donations Management Course that should be available next fiscal year. Questions regarding this course can be directed to F/Lt. David LaRowe at 517-333-5033 or LaroweD@michigan.gov. 517-336-6355 517-336-6411 517-333-5031 517-333-5025 517-333-4050 517-333-5042 517-333-7776 517-333-7773 517-333-5030 517-336-6429 517-336-6419 RainesLL@michigan.gov ShillinT@michigan.gov OpsommeM@michigan.gov BarkerP@michigan.gov MartinJune@michigan.gov Welshka@michigan.gov MarschJ@michigan.gov DowdellD@michigan.gov MalinsA@michigan.gov MarkK@michigan.gov KelenskC@michigan.gov 2003 Michigan Homeland Security Training Conference The Michigan State Police Emergency Management Division is please to host this year's Michigan Homeland Security Training Conference at the Treetops Sylvan Resort in Gaylord, Michigan. In an attempt to deliver the most current information on the subject of terrorism and homeland security we have established four specialized tracks; Critical Infrastructure Protection, Indications and Warnings, Medical, and Response. There are currently 650 people registered to attend this valuable conference. The Response track is full and closed to additional attendees. If you have not registered yet, please do so quickly as there are only 50 spots left at the writing of this article. You may fax your registration to 517-322-6442 Did you know??? The convergence of mass quantities of unsolicited goods is sometimes referred to as the “second disaster.” MICHIGAN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT NEWS 3 The State is Ready for Hazard Mitigation Planning Mike Sobocinski, Local Mitigation Planner Many preliminary meetings have been held in recent months to organize various local and regional offices and departments to collaborate in creating hazard mitigation plans for counties and selected local communities in Michigan. Funding from the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) is being provided to a number of applicants. To date, 42 communities (mostly counties) are developing plans using HMGP funds. New applicants are also expected to receive funding, and eventually all counties may receive this assistance to develop local hazard mitigation plans. Supplemental funding for hazard mitigation planning is also being provided through the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program (PDMP) for a limited time only. For more information on local hazard mitigation planning or to apply for planning grants for your own community, please contact Mike Sobocinski of the Mitigation Unit at (517) 336-2053 or at sobocinm@michigan.gov. Applications near Completion for 1413 HMGP Projects Matt Schnepp, State Hazard Mitigation Officer The application and project development process is well underway for the 1413-DR-MI Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). These HMGP funds are available as a result of the federally declared disaster caused by the spring of 2002 flooding in the western Upper Peninsula. The Emergency Management Division received 57 applications totaling $12.7 million in project costs. Nineteen (19) of the applications were from the declared area and the remaining 38 from around the state. Approximately $750,000 is available for projects. The applications were reviewed and scored by the Special Projects Committee of the Michigan Hazard Mitigation Coordinating Council (MHMCC) in February. Criteria used to rank the projects was based on the following: • • • • • • • • • • Is the proposed project mitigation? Does it support the Michigan Hazard Mitigation Plan? Is it an eligible project (based on FEMA eligibility criteria)? Is HMGP the most appropriate funding source? Is the project consistent with the MHMCC priorities established for the disaster? Is it a complete solution? Is it a long-term solution? Is it cost effective? Is it environmentally sound? Is it consistent with other initiatives? Of the 57 applications received, nine (9) ranked high enough to go further in the application process. In March, Emergency Management Division staff met with all of the selected applicants to help refine and complete the applications. Application revisions are due to EMD on April 18, 2003. Once the completed applications are received, the selected projects will undergo an environmental review and be submitted, by May 6, 2003, to FEMA for final approval consideration. Once FEMA approves a project, a grant agreement will be generated by the EMD and sent to the applicant. Once signed, the project can begin. Questions about the HMGP should be directed to Matt Schnepp, State Hazard Mitigation Officer, at 517-336-2040 or schneppm1@michigan.gov. Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program Karen Totzke, Mitigation Unit In October 2002, $485,000 in federal funding became available under FEMA’s PreDisaster Mitigation Program (PDMP) to develop hazard mitigation plans for local communities. As stated in Mike Sobocinski’s statewide planning initiative article, eight (8) Wayne County communities are participating in the PDMP during this grant cycle. Those participants include Wayne County, Canton Township, and the cities of Detroit, Livonia, Trenton, Westland, Lincoln Park, and Romulus. The federal share grant amounts range from $21,594 up to $100,000. At this time the communities are developing and finalizing their strategies to complete their draft mitigation plans by September 2003. All MICHIGAN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT NEWS 4 plans developed under the PDMP must meet Disaster Mitigation Act (DMA) of 2000 planning requirements and be submitted to FEMA for final review and approval. Fiscal Year 2003 PDMP planning grant funding ($248,375) will be used to support the statewide hazard mitigation planning project currently underway. PDMP funds will be allocated to local communities to assist in developing a FEMA-approved hazard mitigation plan. If you have questions about the PDMP, please contact Karen Totzke at 517-3362622, or totzkek@michigan.gov. Michigan’s Repetitive Loss Flood Mitigation Project Proceeding Matt Schnepp, State Hazard Mitigation Officer In February 2002 the Emergency Management Division applied for a grant under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) to mitigate flood damages at priority targeted residential structures throughout the state by elevating the homes or removing them from the floodplain. The structures to be targeted are identified on FEMA’s “Repetitive Loss List” for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). A home is placed on this list if more than one insurance claim in the past 10 years has been made against the NFIP for the home. Other properties with similar flood risk, neighboring those on the targeted list, will also be considered. The HMGP grant for $2 million was approved by FEMA in May 2002. After the grant was approved, the planning and engineering firm CDM Associates was hired to help administer the grant. The Village of Estral Beach in Monroe County, with 10 homes on the Repetitive Loss List, was chosen as the pilot community for the project. Two public meetings have been held in Estral Beach and 42 individuals have applied to have their homes elevated. Subsequently, one additional public meeting was held in Erie Township, also in Monroe County, and 24 individuals there have applied to have their homes raised. CDM Associates is in the process of gathering the required data to determine if the homes meet eligibility criteria for the HMGP. Once the eligible homes are identified they will be forwarded to FEMA for concurrence. Once FEMA has approved the individual structures, the homeowners will be able to have their homes elevated. Once grant activities in Estral Beach are sufficiently underway, the project will be extended to other communities with repetitive loss properties. Questions about this project should be directed to Joel Pepper, Project Manager, at (517) 336-2039 or pepperj@michigan.gov. Flood Mitigation Assistance Program Karen Totzke, Mitigation Unit With the Flood Mitigation Assistance Program (FMAP) grants recently being closed out for Fiscal Years 96-99, there are only five (5) communities currently participating in the FMAP. Both the planning and project grants for FY 00 are well on their way to being completed. Allegan County (FY 00 planning grant) is working on the final revisions to their flood mitigation plan and the City of Vassar (FY 00 project grant) is completing phase 2 of a flood elevation project. Marquette County (FY 01 planning grant) is still working on their flood mitigation plan and the City of Vassar is beginning work on a phase 3 flood elevation project using FY 01 project grant funding. Frenchtown Township (FY 02 planning grant) is currently working with the Mannik and Smith Group to develop a flood mitigation plan. In October 2002, a notice of availability of FMAP funds for FY 03 was distributed to all local emergency management programs, along with FMAP planning and project applications. The Emergency Management Division is currently working with two communities to develop flood mitigation projects with the project funding, and two communities to develop mitigation plans with the planning funding. If you have questions about the FMAP, please contact Karen Totzke at 517336-2622, or totzkek@michigan.gov. MICHIGAN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT NEWS 5 U.S. and Canadian Officials Meet to Discuss Project North Star 130 law enforcement officers from the United States and Canada met on March 19 with officials to work on Project North Star. Project North Star seeks to voluntarily coordinate efforts to expand and enhance multi-agency operations and avoid duplication and accidental interference between independent operations. The aim is to promote and improve local, regional and coast-to-coast cross-border networking, intelligence, and targeting, prosecution, training and coordinated planning. Project North Star supports single agency initiatives, but stresses the need for multi-agency coordinated efforts involving local, state and federal agencies to achieve the desired law enforcement impact. The focus of Project North Star has been changed from a singular one of narcotics interdiction, to include antiterrorism, organized crime, drug trafficking, alien/contraband smuggling, money laundering, firearms trafficking, and intelligence in order to prevent organized crime groups from utilizing the border as a "free zone" in which to do their business. Sgt. Kevin Mark of the Homeland Security Section represents the central state/local quad chair of Project North Star, which consists of the Western Ontario Providence, Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin For further information please contact Sgt. Kevin Mark at (517) 336-6411. April Ice Storm Project Impact Update On April 4, the Emergency Management Division started receiving reports from counties in southern Michigan that were being affected by an ice storm. The storm turned out to be a major event for some communities. As trees and power lines fell, some counties suffered from lengthy utility interruptions, physical damages, and burdensome economic costs. Oakland County in particular was very hard-hit, and requested state assistance and a governor's declaration of disaster or emergency. EMD staff assisted with damage assessment activities, and information on the storm's impacts are still being examined to determine whether a governor's declaration is appropriate. Karen Totzke, Mitigation Unit Ingham County was selected in August 2001 to be Michigan’s fourth (and final) Project Impact Community. Since that time, the county has been working diligently in making Project Impact a success at the local level. The Ingham County Emergency Planning Committee formed a temporary Project Impact Steering Committee to identify potential projects and budget for this initiative. The Steering Committee has been meeting every month to discuss current and potential projects. Proposed projects include: • EMD/SEOC GIS/E-Team Project The EMD contractor on the SEOC Geographic Information System Project was tasked in February to integrate the E-Team software in the SEOC GIS application. This integration will involve a number of steps, beginning with a pilot project with a limited number of E-Team licenses that will be used in the SEOC, EMD offices and limited locations outside of the EMD Collins Road Facility. The EMD is working with DIT personnel on various security concerns for non-state computer system access to the SEOC servers. The pilot project will allow the EMD and its contractor to work out any bugs in the system. We hope to complete this phase of the project by this summer and then seek an enterprise license for E-Team that would allow the EMD to provide an E-Team license to local emergency management agencies so that they could communicate with the SEOC and each other. If local EM agencies are considering the purchase of electronic information management software, we suggest that they consider the E-Team application or address interoperability issues if they purchase other software. • • • • • Partnering with the Mid-Michigan Chapter of the American Red Cross to supply “Masters of Disaster” curriculum kits to all elementary and middle schools located in Ingham County. Partnering with the FOX 47 television station to conduct public service announcements about natural disaster preparedness and severe weather periods throughout the year. Conducting Skywarn training for local weatherspotters. Providing disaster kits to Habitat for Humanity homes located in the county. Supplying weather alert radios to all schools in the county. Installing dry fire hydrants in out-county areas. The Ingham County Project Impact Steering Committee will continue to meet in the coming months to implement these and other worthwhile projects designed to make the county a more disaster-resistant community. Questions on E-Team software should be directed to Tom Newell at the EMD. MICHIGAN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT NEWS 6 UPCOMING TRAINING AND EXERCISES Emergency Management Training Course Name Date Hazard Mitigation Comp. G626 May 14-15, 2003 Disaster Response & Recovery Operations G385 May 20-22, 2003 ICS/EOC Interface G191 May 29, 2003 Location MSP/PTA Collins Rd./2nd Floor Collins Rd./2nd Floor For more information you may contact the Training and Exercise Section at 517-333-5034 or by visiting our website at www.mspemd.org. Hazardous Materials Training Center Course Name Highway Cargo Tank Specialist (NFPA 472, Chapter 10) Rail Tank Car Specialist Emergency Response to Hazardous Materials Incidents (ERTHMI) (EPA 165.15 Rope Rescue II Emergency Response Planning for Hazmat Incidents Confined Space Rescue – MUSAR Task Force Course Name WMD Hands-On Training Department of Justice Location DOJ-Anniston, AL WMD Law Enforcement Protective Measures Train the Trainer DOJ-Anniston, AL WMD Radiological/Nuclear for Hazmat Technicians DOJ-Bechtel, NV Date May 5-6, 2003 May 7-9, 2003 May 12-16, 2003 May 19-21, 2003 May 22-23, 2003 May 28-30, 2003 Date & seats available May 4-7 (3) May 18-21 (3) May 6-9 (unlimited) May 14-17 (unlimited) May 20-23 (unlimited) May 28-31 (unlimited) May 18-22 (4) For more information you may contact the Hazardous Materials Training Center 517-322-1190 or by visiting our website at www.hazmatems.com. State Homeland Security Strategy (SHSS) Development and Assessments Technical Assistance Workshop Date May 13, 2003 May 13, 2003 May 14, 2003 May 14, 2003 May 27, 2003 May 27, 2003 May 29, 2003 May 29, 2003 Place Doubletree Inn, Novi (District 2) Valley Plaza Resort, Midland (District 3) Holiday Inn South, Lansing (District 1) Northfield Hilton, Troy (District 2) Bronson Hospital, Kalamazoo (District 5) Ramada Inn, Marquette (District 8) Comfort Inn, Mt. Pleasant (District 6) Best Western, Gaylord (District 7) Attendance at the above listed workshops is ESSENTIAL for all emergency management programs that would like to participate in the allocation of FY04 to FY06 State Homeland Security Grant Funds. Refer to EMD Informational Letter 03-05 dated April 15, 2003. DEQ 8-Hour Refresher Classes Date May 1, 2003 May 6, 2003 May 8, 2003 Place Bay City Roscommon @ RAM Center Marquette Local Program Exercise Calendar May May May May 3, 6, 6, 8, 2003 2003 2003 2003 May 13, 2003 May 14, 2003 May 30, 2003 Charlevoix County – Full Scale hs Shiawassee County – Orientation hs Baraga County – Table Top hs Iosco County – Functional hs Sanilac County – Table Top Delta Township – Full Scale hs Eaton County – Full Scale hs Midland County – Full Scale hs Oceana County – Table Top hs Lapeer County – Full Scale hs Note – hs denotes a homeland security element. MICHIGAN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT NEWS 7 Upcoming Events 2003 Michigan Homeland Security Training Conference April 30 – May 2, 2003 Treetops Resort, Gaylord, MI For more information visit the Michigan State Police website at www.michigan.gov or call 517-322-6515 for complete conference information and registration application. Michigan Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Commission (SERC) May 6, 2002 Emergency Management Division 1:30 p.m. Questions may be directed to Dana Wolverton, MSP/EMD at 517-333-5032 or E-mail: wolvertd@michigan.gov Michigan Hazard Mitigation Coordinating Council May 21, 2003 Emergency Management Division 1:30 p.m. Questions may be directed to Karen Totzke, MSP/EMD at 517-336-2622 or E-mail: totzkek@michigan.gov MICHIGAN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT NEWS Published by: Michigan Department of State Police Emergency Management Division Col. Tadarial Sturdivant Director, Michigan Department of State Police Captain John Ort Commanding Officer Emergency Management Division Article submittals or comments: Mr. Mark Wesley, Editor Emergency Management Division Emergency Management News 4000 Collins Road P.O. Box 30636 Lansing, MI 48909-8136 (517) 333-5023 E-mail: wesleym@michigan.gov Ms Dana Wolverton, Assistant Editor E-mail: wolvertd@michigan.gov Mr. Ted Nastal, Graphic Design Unit Costs: $.275 Authorization: FEMA/CCA Act 390 of 1976, as amended. Visit the EMD website @ www.MspEMD.org This project has been financed in part by funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The contents do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of FEMA. Michigan Department of State Police Emergency Management Division 4000 Collins Road P.O. Box 30636 Lansing, Michigan 48909-8136 MICHIGAN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT NEWS 8