1) Natural Hazards Center Seeks Editor
The Natural Hazards Center invites applications for the position of Editor located at the University of Colorado at Boulder. The Editor will be responsible for the publication of the Natural Hazards Observer, a 24-page newsletter produced every two months with a circulation of over 16,000 domestic and international subscribers.
The Editor's duties will include:
-Research, write, and edit content, including reports on recent legislation, grant awards, publications, research findings, and other news of interest to the hazards community
-Solicit articles and illustrations from and maintain relationships with outside authors and illustrators
-Be responsible for all aspects of Observer production including digital formatting and layout
-Manage the Observer's printing and distribution processes
-Work closely with the Program Manager and other Center staff on financial planning, subscriber outreach, content development, and Web distribution to ensure the Observer's continued success
-Ensure that the Observer is tightly integrated into the Center's overall knowledge clearinghouse activities
-Edit other Center publications (both print and electronic forms) to improve clarity, consistency, and accuracy and to ensure publications meet the needs of targeted audiences
-Provide mentoring to junior staff and students
-Assist the Program Manager in the planning and implementation of outreach initiatives and strategies for the Center and its programs
To apply, please send a letter of application, resume, writing sample, and contact information for three references in Microsoft Word or PDF format to Ezekiel Peters, Program Manager, at ezekiel.peters@colorado.edu. Review of materials will begin on March 24, 2008, and continue until the position is filled. The University of Colorado at Boulder is committed to diversity and equality in education and employment.
The complete job announcement is available at http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/Editor.pdf.
2) Reminder: Annual Hazards and Disasters Student Paper Competition Deadline Friday
The Natural Hazards Center is pleased to announce its fifth annual Hazards and Disasters Student Paper Competition.
Papers may present current research, literature reviews, theoretical arguments, or case studies. Subject matter may include, but is not limited to, floods/floodplain management, Hurricane Katrina, earthquakes, climate change, warning systems, hazard mitigation, emergency management, vulnerability, or other topics relevant to the social/behavioral aspects of hazards and disasters.
Papers will be judged on their originality, organization, and demonstrated knowledge of the topic. One undergraduate and one graduate winner each will receive $100; mention in the Natural Hazards Observer; publication on the Natural Hazards Center Web site; and an invitation to the Annual Hazards Workshop in Boulder, Colorado, registration fees included.
The deadline for submission is March 14, 2008. Additional information is available at: http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/awards/paper-competition.html.
3) New National Science Foundation (NSF) Solicitation: Communicating Hurricane Information
In a joint announcement, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and NSF call for proposals focusing on advancing fundamental understanding of the communication of hurricane outlooks, forecasts, watches, and warnings both to decision makers (e.g., emergency managers, elected officials) and to the general public.
NOAA and NSF anticipate making approximately a total of 6-12 awards for research projects. These awards will be for one to three years. NOAA and NSF expect to have at least $2,000,000 available to support total award sizes (including indirect costs) not to exceed $400,000. This maximum is the total for the project, not a yearly maximum. Projects that exceed this maximum amount of $400,000 will be returned without review.
Full proposals are due by 5 p.m. on June 3, 2008.
The solicitation is available here, http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503246&org=SES&from=home.
4) DHS Announces New Academic Centers of Excellence
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced the selection of 11 universities to serve as important partners for conducting multi-disciplinary research and creating innovative learning environments for critical homeland security missions. These universities will partner to lead one of five new Centers of Excellence and receive a multi-year grant of up to $2 million per year, over a period of four to six years.
The five new Centers of Excellence, located across the country, will study border security and immigration; explosives detection, mitigation, and response; maritime, island and port security; natural disasters, coastal infrastructure, and emergency management; and transportation security.
- Center of Excellence for Border Security and Immigration: The University of Arizona at Tucson and University of Texas at El Paso will co-lead a new center responsible for conducting research and developing technologies, tools, and advanced methods to balance immigration and commerce with effective border security.
- Center of Excellence for Explosives Detection, Mitigation, and Response: Northeastern University and the University of Rhode Island will co-lead a new center responsible for conducting research to evaluate the risks, costs, and consequences of terrorism, and develop new means and methods to protect the nation.
- Center of Excellence for Maritime, Island, and Port Security: The University of Hawaii and Stevens Institute of Technology will co-lead a new center responsible for conducting research and developing new ways to strengthen maritime domain awareness and safeguard populations and properties unique to U.S. islands, and remote and extreme environments.
- Center of Excellence for Natural Disasters, Coastal Infrastructure, and Emergency Management: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Jackson State University will co-lead a new center responsible for conducting research and enhance the nation's ability to safeguard populations, properties, and economies as it relates to the consequences of catastrophic natural disasters, including hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, droughts, and wildfires.
- Center of Excellence for Transportation Security: Texas Southern University, Tougaloo College, and the University of Connecticut will co-lead a new center responsible for conducting research and developing new technologies, tools and advanced methods to defend, protect, and increase the resilience of the nation's multi-modal transportation infrastructure.
The Centers of Excellence program is managed by the Science and Technology Directorate's Office of University Programs. For more information about University Programs and current Centers of Excellence, visit www.dhs.gov/universityprograms.
5) Call for Nominations: Canadian Centre for Emergency Preparedness Awards
The Canadian Centre for Emergency Preparedness (CCEP) is inviting nominations for the annual Emergency Management and Business Continuity Awards. The awards recognize one individual in emergency management and one in business continuity who have made extraordinary contributions to emergency management or business continuity in Canada. The program is an opportunity for Canadians to honor individuals who have raised the bar and set standards for others to emulate.
The 2008 awards will be presented at the 18th World Conference on Disaster Management (WCDM), to be held in Toronto, Ontario, from June 15-18, 2008. Recipients will also be profiled on CCEP's Web site and quarterly newsletter.
Nominations recognize individuals who have made a lasting contribution in the fields of emergency management or business continuity in at least one of the following areas: community preparedness; national preparedness; or private sector preparedness.
Nominations must be submitted online before April 30, 2008.
More information can be found here, http://www.ccep.ca/awards/ccepawards.html.
6) Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) Application Available For Free
The International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) has eliminated the enrollment fee that used to be required to download the application for the Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) program. This move allows anyone to download the CEM application booklet electronically without first paying an enrollment fee.
Originally, participants paid an enrollment fee prior to receiving the application booklet. Then, the enrolled participant paid an application fee when submitting their application booklet for review.
IAEM’s new certification program procedure will allow interested emergency managers to see the application in order to self-assess and determine their qualifications without first paying a fee.
CEM application forms may be downloaded for free at http://iaem.networkats.com/members_online/members/app_fee.asp.
For more information on the CEM program, visit http://www.iaem.com/certification/generalinfo/intro.htm.
7) Some New Web Resources
[Below are some new or updated Internet resources we have discovered. For an extensive list of useful Internet sites dealing with hazards, see www.colorado.edu/hazards/resources/.]
National Response Framework Resource Center
The National Response Framework (NRF) Resource Center provides information about the NRF, an overview of the National Incident Management System, links to training courses, and numerous reference documents that supplement the NRF. In addition, the site features briefings about the NRF that are geared toward specific stakeholders:
-National Response Framework Overview for Local, Tribal and State Audiences
-National Response Framework Overview for Nongovernmental Organizations
-National Response Framework Overview for Private Sector Audiences
Academia Crosses Disciplinary Lines to Address Global Warming
This International Herald Tribune article explains that the politics of academia has always encouraged competition more than collaboration, among universities, among departments, and among individual researchers. Cross-disciplinary work has traditionally been rare. “But the push to stop global warming may just change all that,” the article reads. The article describes numerous cross-disciplinary sustainability centers.
Social Problems Perspectives, Disaster Research and Emergency Management: Intellectual Contexts, Theoretical Extensions, and Policy Implications
This paper, hosted by FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute, is a revision and expansion of Thomas E. Drabek’s 2006 E.L. Quarantelli Theory Award Lecture, presented at the American Sociological Association meeting in 2007. Drabek is an emeritus professor at the University of Denver.
National Disaster Life Support Foundation
The National Disaster Life Support Foundation (NDLSF) aims to extend the educational and networking activities in disaster medicine. This site presents information about the organization and its partner institutions, and also explains the seven courses offered by the NDLSF.
2007 FEMA Disaster Declaration Maps
Major Disaster Declarations per State
All Declarations per State
Declarations by Incident Type per State
Emergency Declarations per State
Fire Management Declaration per State
Tornadoes Expose Lack of Alert System
This Washington Times investigation, sparked by the “Super Tuesday” tornadoes, found that nearly two years after President Bush ordered an overhaul of the country's early warning systems for natural disasters and terrorist attacks, the new system has not been implemented. “Without the new technologies, large populations in the United States have been forced to rely on a hodgepodge system of warnings and have received little public education on the best tools to receive warnings. The consequences of inaction were clear earlier this month: At least 38 of the tornado deaths reported on Feb. 5 and 6 occurred in areas that lacked even basic civil defense sirens,” The Times' review found. This major piece also includes audio and video.
National Disaster Response: FEMA Should Take Action to Improve Capacity and Coordination between Government and Voluntary Sectors
The Government Accountability Office released this report, which uses lessons from the 2005 Gulf Coast hurricanes to examine the role of the federal government in disaster. The report found that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), rather than the Red Cross, should be the primary agency to oversee mass care during disasters because of its resources and its contact with other federal agencies. The report also concludes that FEMA should take a more active role in supporting NVOAD and coordinating between the government and voluntary organizations to improve communication and information sharing during response efforts.
HFA-Pedia: Encyclopedia of the Hyogo Framework for Action
The regional unit for the Americas at the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction has developed HFA-Pedia, a new online information tool that fosters the exchange of information about the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA). HFA-Pedia is an online “wiki”-based site with an interactive encyclopedia database relating to the implementation of the HFA. It is available in English and Spanish.
Science and the Storms: The USGS Response to the Hurricanes of 2005
This report looks at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) response to the four major hurricanes of 2005—Dennis, Katrina, Rita, and Wilma. The report notes that the Department of the Interior “quickly brought together a diverse array of its scientists and technologies to assess and analyze many hurricane effects.”
8) Conferences, Training, and Events
[Below are some recent announcements received by the Natural Hazards Center. For a comprehensive list of upcoming hazards-related meetings, visit our Web site at www.colorado.edu/hazards/resources/conferences.html.]
4th Annual WebEOC User Conference: The Power of Community…Realized— Boston, Massachusetts: April 15-18, 2008. This fourth annual user conference brings together WebEOC users, developers, and gurus to share how-to information, what-if scenarios, and WebEOC dreams for the future. This conference provides an opportunity to network and share experiences with WebEOC users, and participate in open table discussions with users across a wide range of operational topics and industry focus. Visit http://esi911.com.
Regional Conference on Global Climate Change and Sustainable Development: Wisconsin and the Great Lakes—Milwaukee, Wisconsin: April 24-25, 2008. This conference is developed to address the global issues of climate change and focuses on the regional context of Wisconsin, the Great Lakes, and other midwestern states. The goal is to examine observations regarding climate change, their implications, and potential solutions to enhance and extend awareness of the issues. This conference aims to reach businesses and other community members, as well as academic communities in the region that are involved in activities relevant to global climate change. See http://www.gccsdi.uwm.edu.
4th International i-Rec Conference—Christchurch, New Zealand: April 30-May 2, 2008. Following the success of previous conferences in Montreal 2002, Coventry 2004, and Florence 2006, the 4th International i-Rec Conference theme will be "Building Resilience: Achieving Effective Post-Disaster Reconstruction.” The i-Rec Conference brings together researchers and practitioners from a diverse range of professional disciplines, including civil engineering, architecture, urban planning, international development, humanitarian aid, and sociology. Visit http://www.resorgs.org.nz/irec2008/.
Risk Analysis 2008: Sixth International Conference in Computer Simulation Risk Analysis and Hazard Mitigation—Cepalonia, Greece: May 5-7, 2008. Risk Analysis 2008 is the sixth in this conference series on “Computer Simulation in Risk Analysis and Hazard Mitigation.” Covering a series of important topics that are of current research interest and have practical applications, the conference is concerned with all aspects of risk analysis and hazard mitigation, ranging from specific assessment of risk to mitigation associated with both natural and anthropogenic hazards. Engineers, managers involved in the development of simulated risk analysis, and researchers who are concerned with these problems are encouraged to attend. Visit http://www.wessex.ac.uk/conferences/2008/risk08/index.html.
11th AGILE International Conference on Geographic Information Science— Girona, Spain: May 5-8, 2008. Organizer: Servei de Sistemes d'Informació Geográfica i Teledetecció (SIGTE), Universitat de Girona. Titled Taking Geoinformation Science One Step Further, this program will offer paper presentation sessions, plenary roundtable debates, poster sessions, and pre-conference workshops. The goal of the conference is to provide a venue where participants may share ideas; explore on-going research and future developments, including state-of-the-art applications; and network with the professionals from academia, industry, and government who are interested in promoting GI teaching and research activities among GI laboratories at the European level. Session topics will fall within the fields of geo-information, geomatics, and geocomputation. See http:///www.agile2008.es/.
16th Annual VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster) Conference: Pathways to Partnership—Little Rock, Arkansas: May 5-8, 2008. The theme of this year’s conference is “Pathways to Partnership.” Preconference meetings will take place on Monday and Tuesday, and kick-off events begin on Tuesday night. The meeting will include “Talkshops”—facilitated discussions around topics of interest. See http://www.nvoad.org/annualconf1.php.
4th International Symposium on Flood Defense—Toronto, Ontario, Canada: May 14-16, 2008. Organizer: Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction. Entitled Managing Flood Risk, Reliability, and Vulnerability, this conference provides a unique opportunity to bring the interdisciplinary group of flood experts together to share critical knowledge from regional and international perspectives. The focus of the Toronto meeting will be a new perspective of flood risk management and assessment—one that recognizes flood risk reduction as an integral part of water resource management and that aims to maximize the resultant economic and social welfare in an equitable manner without compromising the sustainability of vital systems. See http://www.flood2008.org/flood/.
7th UCLA Conference on Public Health and Disasters—Torrance, California: May 18-21, 2008. This multidisciplinary conference will unite academicians, researchers, practitioners, and policy makers from public health, mental health, community disaster preparedness and response, social sciences, government, media, and non-governmental organizations to study the public health consequences of natural and intentional disasters. The conference seeks to provide an annual forum that promotes a dialogue and exchange of ideas between local health departments and others involved in improving emergency public health preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery. It is designed for public health professionals as well as individuals and organizations from both the public and private sectors involved in emergency public health preparedness and response. Topics will be relevant to public health and medical practitioners, emergency medical services professionals, researchers, and managers involved in the wide range of emergency public health issues resulting from natural and human-generated disasters. Visit http://www.cphd.ucla.edu.
Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) Annual Conference— Reno-Sparks, Nevada: May 18-23, 2008. With the theme, “A Living River Approach to Floodplain Management,” this comprehensive conference will showcase the state-of-the-art in techniques, programs, resources, materials, equipment, accessories, and services to accomplish flood mitigation and other community goals. Non-profit, government, business, and academic sectors will share how they successfully integrate engineering, planning, open space, and environmental protection all over the nation and world to prepare for a better, sustainable future. Visit http://www.floods.org/Reno-Sparks.
18th Annual Nevada State GIS Conference—Las Vegas, Nevada: May 19-21, 2008. This conference will provide an opportunity to tap into the latest developments of the geographic information systems (GIS) field. The 2008 meeting will bring attention to emerging topics such as GIS and healthcare, the use of spatial tools in hazard mapping and mitigation, the role of GIS in protecting critical infrastructure, the role of project management and GIS, issues concerning succession planning for future leaders in the GIS profession, and professional certification. Workshops, panel discussions, and educational sessions will be featured. See http://www.ngis.org/portal/.
9) Jobs, Jobs, Jobs
Coordinator of Emergency Management
Norman Regional Health System; Norman, Oklahoma
Performs duties related to developing and maintaining emergency preparedness initiatives, emergency operations plans, policies and procedures, training, and other duties to maintain a state of emergency and disaster preparedness for Norman Regional Health System. Bachelor's or Associate's Degree in healthcare/safety/science related field. EMT license preferred (basic curriculum). A minimum of 3 years of experience in emergency response, emergency preparedness, hazardous materials, or other emergency management related experience preferred. For more information or to apply online see,
https://www.hrapply.com/nrh/AppJobView.jsp?link=2411&page=AppJobList.jsp&op=reset.
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Emergency Response Specialist
National Disaster Reduction Authority; Islamabad, Pakistan
The overall objective of the assignment is to assist the National and Provincial Disaster Management Authorities in establishing an emergency response system with appropriate technical capacity and clearly defined roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders to undertake response activities effectively and swiftly.
The Emergency Response Specialist will perform duties according to the following Terms of Reference:
-Contribution to development of the Emergency Operations Centers
-Develop Standard Operating Procedures
-Develop National Disaster Response Plan
Excellent technical knowledge and conceptual understanding about the establishment and management of national/provincial/state response systems; Excellent knowledge of disaster management in particular and multi-disciplinary development approaches in general; Highly developed analytical skills; Excellent training and facilitation skills;
Ability to work with government officials and other technical agencies; and Excellent skills in technical writing.
Education: Masters degree in social sciences or any development discipline related to disaster risk management.
Experience: At least 10 years of demonstrated experience in undertaking similar assignments;Minimum of 3 years experience of designing, establishing and /or managing EOCs; Experience in developing response plans for government departments through stakeholder consultations: Experience in preparing SOPs in a participatory manner through stakeholder engagement; Demonstrated experience in technical writing and research especially emergency response management; Experience of working with government officials and with communities desirable; Fluency in writing, speaking and listening English language.
For more information or to apply, see http://www.gdnonline.org/jobs.php.
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Director
Franklin County Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency; Franklin County, Ohio
The Director is appointed by and reports to the Executive Committee and supervises a staff of seven employees - Deputy Director, Planning Manager, Grants/Training Manager, Warning Manager, Public Education/Community Outreach Manager, Finance Manager, and Administrative Assistant.
The Director is responsible for coordinating, organizing, administering, and operating the Agency, pursuant to the countywide agreement, Chapter 5502.26 of the ORC and by the policies established by the Executive Committee. The Director is the liaison with the Executive Committee. All employees of the Agency are Franklin County employees.
The Director is responsible for the overall performance of the Agency; the general responsibilities are summarized below.
The ideal candidate must have a proven background in a senior leadership role in emergency management and have full understanding of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and experience with and be able to manage a major metropolitan EOC. In addition, the next Executive Director will:
* Establish administrative policies, rules, regulations and standard operating procedures in order to perform the duties as outlined by the county-wide agreement and all applicable rules and requirements of the Federal Government as they pertain to emergency management and homeland security.
* Prepare and manage the agency's $2.7 million annual budget.
* Develop the Agency's strategic plan and identify annual objectives to meet the overall strategic plan, in conjunction with staff.
* Manage, plan and facilitate multi-agency, interoperative operations, involving multiple levels of government (townships, municipal, counties, state, federal), including coordinating policy with officials by developing collaborative relationships between the mutual aid jurisdictions.
* Coordinate and provide oversight to grant writing and administration.
* Identify and secure additional revenues to augment the Agency's budget.
* Be the "public face" of the Agency and be comfortable presenting to various groups (e.g., City Councils, Commissioners) and professional associations.
* Be knowledgeable to lead the development of training programs designed to meet multiple levels of vocational needs of the jurisdictions.
* Coordinate plans and procedures with local fire, law enforcement, elected officials, prior to, during and after an incident.
Qualifications and Preferences:
The Agency is searching for a Director with a working knowledge in emergency management and demonstrated experience with a major metropolitan area. The minimum qualifications and preferences include:
* Bachelor's degree in administration, political science or emergency management or a related field; or extensive experience (8+ years) in emergency management or disaster preparedness in a senior leadership role.
* Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) or currently enrolled and progressing toward certification.
* Experience with and be able to manage a large EOC and have a full understanding of the NIMS.
* Significant knowledge of homeland security programs, grants and issues, and a proven ability to manage multi-thousand dollar federal grants; experience with the FEMA emergency management preparedness grant program is essential.
* Track record of progressive responsibility in emergency management and administration.
* Experience managing/developing/retaining staff.
* An understanding that the position is a 24/7 commitment.
Personal Characteristics:
The Executive Director must be of the highest integrity, dynamic, and a self-motivated individual with an ability to work in a collaborative environment. As a "mission leader," the successful candidate will demonstrate attributes of:
* Proven leadership style that is visionary, proactive, charismatic, and politically savvy.
* Effective mediating and building consensus among diverse stakeholders.
* Ability to function as a change agent, one who is innovative and an "out of the box" thinker.
* Management style that is empowering (not a micromanager), consensus and team building.
* Understands and anticipates the implications of one's decisions.
* Excellent communication and presentation skills.
S/he must have energy and passion. In addition, the Director must be intellectually sharp, a strategic thinker, a visionary, and one who will:
* Bring new ideas and best practices to advance the emergency management program.
* Provide effective leadership and communicate in a direct, transparent, honest and forthright manner.
* Communicate in terms appropriate to various audiences.
* Motivate and inspire staff and partners.
For additional information or to apply please contact,
Bonnie Scafaro, Senior Consultant or Andrea Chadwick, Senior Consultant
150 W. Wilson Bridge Road, Suite 203
Worthington, OH 43085
614-854-7300
bscafaro@hudepohl.com
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Emergency Management Planner
Town of Hilton Head Island; Hilton Head, South Carolina
The primary function of this position is to support the Emergency Management Coordinator ( EMC) in developing, implementing, and administering the Town’s Emergency Management Program.
The ideal candidate will possess a Bachelor’s Degree in Emergency Management, Business, Public Administration, Planning or closely related field, and some experience in emergency management or public safety. Documented certification for NIMS courses IS100, IS200, I-300, I-400, IS700 and IS800 is required.
Please forward resume and current salary for receipt by March 31.
Email mail to, jobs@hiltonheadislandsc.gov
Fax: (843) 341-3974
Human Resources
One Town Center Court
Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
For more information see, http://www.hiltonheadislandsc.gov.
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Emergency Management Coordinator
Town of Hilton Head Island; Hilton Head, South Carolina
This professional level position manages the planning, organization, and administration of the Town’s Emergency Management Program, insuring the Town’s preparedness for, response to, and recovery from disasters or major emergencies.
The ideal candidate will possess a Bachelor’s Degree in Emergency Management, Business, Public Administration, Planning or closely related field and extensive experience in emergency management or public safety. The equivalent combination of experience and training will be considered. Certified Emergency Manager Designation and documented certification for NIMS courses IS100, IS200, I-300, I-400, IS700 required. Experience managing this type of program in similar environment is desired.
Please forward resume and current salary for receipt by March 31.
Email: jobs@hiltonheadislandsc.gov
Fax: (843) 341-3974
Human Resources
One Town Center Court
Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
For more information see, http://www.hiltonheadislandsc.gov.
If you or your organization would like to add a job posting here in the DR, please feel free to e-mail the information to hazctr@colorado.edu.
Questions for the readership and contributions to this e-newsletter are encouraged. Questions and messages should be indicated as such and sent to hazctr@colorado.edu.