KAMM Updates

Please note that our website is undergoing some redesign work, so please let us know if there is missing content that you need access to or if you are having difficulty locating anything!

Contact us at help@kymitigation.org.

 

 

Kentucky Watches, Warnings or Advisories Weather Alerts  Follow the alerts, link here.

Link to our Quick Links.

Contact us if you have questions or want to join our newsletter e-mail list help@kymitigation.org.

 


Join KAMM – 2023

KAMM offers three membership levels: Individual ($25), Student ($10); and Agency/Organization ($250). Membership is based on the calendar year (January 1 – December 31). 

Link to Join KAMM.  Pay by Check or by Credit Card. 

 


2023 KAMM Regional Trainings

KAMM Regional Trainings — Registration Now Open!

Registration is now open for KAMM regional trainings! Regional trainings are free to KAMM members and $25 for non-members.  Check this list to see if you are a member: 2023 KAMM Members as of 3.9.23.

If not, Join KAMM, Pay by Check or by Credit Card.

Get more information and register for trainings here: KAMM 2023 Regional Training Registration


New gear at the KAMM store — check it out at Kamm eStore !

 


NEWS


 

Join the Kentucky Emergency Management Association (KEMA) or renew. 

Memberships are available as Individual, Group, Associate, and Corporate.

You can register and pay online or you can print the invoice and mail in your payment.   

We encourage everyone to join and be a part of our association.  We also encourage our associate and cooperate partners to join as well.  The associate membership is for individuals interested in emergency management but is not otherwise affiliated with an emergency management program. Memberships are based on the January-to-December calendar year.

Corporate membership is for an individual representing a business or organization whose interests include emergency management. Memberships are based on the January-to-December calendar year. 

Any current members that have any issues logging into their account let me know and I can reset your password. I hope this helps and if I can be of any assistance please don’t hesitate to give me a call. 

For more information about the Kentucky Emergency Management Association (KEMA) click the links below.

 KEMA: https://kyema.org/

 JOIN KEMA:  https://kyema.org/content.aspx?page_id=60&club_id=786250


FEMA Seeks National Resilience Guidance Input

FEMA is spearheading an effort to create national resilience guidance and resources for the whole community to help everyone understand and fulfil their critical roles related to increasing national resilience. With the goal of increasing community and national resilience, the guidance and resources will:

  • Promote a common understanding of resilience.
  • Incorporate the relationship between chronic community stressors and shocks.
  • Address the critical roles of all stakeholders.
  • Inspire an equitable approach to planning.

National resilience is a complex topic and requires whole community effort to increase resilience. FEMA will engage a broad range of stakeholders to inform the development of resilience guidance and resources. The agency seeks input from across disciplines, sectors, levels of government, communities and individuals on a range of topics, including:

  • Actions and partnerships needed to increase national resilience.
  • The roles and responsibilities of whole community stakeholders.
  • Innovative approaches for successful resilience planning.
  • The resources needed to help the whole community understand and execute their roles.

FEMA will gather input from across the whole community to aid in the development of resilience guidance and resources by hosting six 60-minute listening sessions in April, May and June. Based on the input from the listening sessions, FEMA will draft national disaster resilience guidance that incorporates stakeholder feedback.

FEMA will post and distribute the draft national disaster resilience guidance in fall 2023 for national review to ensure the guidance meets stakeholder needs. After the review period, the guidance will be updated to reflect comments received during the national engagement period, with the target publishing date in the spring of 2024.

To learn more about national resilience, including the listening sessions, visit FEMA.gov.


USDA Offers Disaster Assistance to Kentucky Farmers Impacted by the Recent Severe Storms and Related Weather Events

March 21, 2023 – Agricultural operations in Kentucky have been significantly impacted by a severe storm with straight-line winds that caused wide-spread, extensive destruction across the state. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has technical and financial assistance available to help farmers and livestock producers recover. Impacted producers should contact their local USDA Service Center to report losses and learn more about program options available to assist in their recovery from crop, land, infrastructure and livestock losses and damages.

More Information

On farmers.gov, the Disaster Assistance Discovery ToolDisaster Assistance-at-a-Glance fact sheet, and Loan Assistance Tool can help producers and landowners determine program or loan options. For assistance with a crop insurance claim, producers and landowners should contact their crop insurance agent. For FSA and NRCS programs, they should contact their local USDA Service Center.


Weather-Ready Nation Ambassadors:

 
Welcome to climatological spring! We have seen a wild winter across the country with record snowfalls, big precipitation totals in places out West, an early spin up of severe weather, and even hot weather across the Southeast. Another good reminder that whatever the season, it is important to keep that 24/7/365 preparedness mindset.
 
Here are a handful of opportunities for your organization to get active this spring to help build a Weather-Ready Nation. Stay informed on the latest WRN news by:
  • Following @WRNAmbassadors on Twitter
  • Subscribing to WRN Aware newsletter
  • Visiting the WRN homepage
 
We encourage you to share content from our safety campaign this spring. New infographics are easy to download and post over social media or print out for displays.
 
(2) SafePlaceSelfie Day is coming up on April 5
Get your employees, family, and social networks involved too. Knowing your safe place from weather hazards is one of the most important preparedness steps you can take. Be a hero by encouraging others. You could help save a life.
 
Participating is easy. Pick a hazard. Identify your safe place. Take a selfie and post over social media using the hashtag #SafePlaceSelfie.
 
(3) Spotlight: The Great Outdoors Safety Campaign
If you haven’t seen it, there is new winter hazard content in our “Great Outdoors” website geared for the outdoor enthusiast. Late winter hazards, like avalanches and thin ice, can ruin your adventure if you aren’t prepared for what could happen.
 

 
Restoring healthy and productive forests on formerly mined lands in Appalachia and beyond.

 

SPRING 2023

 

Radford University students gathered after a tree planting event on TNC’s Cumberland Forest Ataya property in eastern Kentucky, on Monday, March 6, 2023.

 

Tree planting season has begun

Kentucky       
 
On Monday, March 6, a group of faculty and students from Radford University helped us to reforest a former surface mine on The Nature Conservancy’s Cumberland Forest Ataya property in Leslie and Harlan counties. On Tuesday, March 7, a group from the University of Kentucky’s Lewis Honors College and College of Food, Agriculture, and Environment joined us to continue the restoration efforts. The students and staff planted 2,600 native trees and shrubs during the two days. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Arbor Day Foundation, Beam Suntory, the Sheldon and Audrey Katz Foundation, The American Chestnut Foundation, and The Nature Conservancy helped to make this 94-acre reforestation project possible.

 


UL/UK Disaster Preparedness Survey for KY Residents

 

The University of Louisville’s Center for Integrative Environmental Health Sciences (UL-CIEHS) and the University of Kentucky’s Center for Appalachian Research in Environmental Sciences (UK-CARES) want to learn more about disaster preparedness from individuals who live in Kentucky.  We would greatly appreciate hearing from you!

 

We invite you to be part of our research study (IRB # 22.0459) by completing an anonymous survey that takes about 15 minutes to finish. There are no questions that identify you. Participants will be eligible to enter a raffle for a free disaster preparedness kit or weather radio. The odds of winning are 1 out of 50. No additional compensation is provided.

 

Take the survey here.

 

Please feel free to share the survey link and or the  Disaster Preparedness Survey Flyer with others who live in Kentucky. To learn more about UL-CIEHS and UK-CARES, visit our websites: https://louisville.edu/ciehs and https://ukcares.med.uky.edu/.

 

If you have questions about the survey, please contact  luz.huntingtonmoskos@louisville.edu

 

“This publication or project was supported in part by UK-CARES through Grant P30 ES026529. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the NIEHS.”


KY GIS Conference 2023 – Call for Presentations – KAMP

You are invited to submit proposals for presentations, demonstrations, panel/round table sessions and more at the 2023 Kentucky GIS Conference at the Owensboro Convention Center in Owensboro, KY. We are pleased to have two days of sessions: Wednesday, October 11th and Thursday, October 12th, 2023. This is a great opportunity for our GIS, mapping, and geospatial community to showcase its work, educate others, and share professional experiences.

Presentations should be 30 minutes, including questions at the end. To submit a presentation, be prepared with an Abstract and Bio. Abstracts are limited to 1000 characters and Bios to 600 characters, and will be evaluated for Technical Content, Interest, Originality, and Quality. The deadline for submissions is end of business May 26th, 2023.

For questions about presenting, please contact Andrew McKinney – Andrew.McKinney@louisvilleky.gov and Joyia Williams Joyiarw@gmail.com.


KAMM Spring Newsletter 

Spring is just around the corner with its transitions and promises of new growth, and KAMM is definitely moving in alignment with those concepts in Spring 2023! The latest edition of our newsletter brings you up to date on some of our transitions as well as upcoming opportunities to grow your mitigation knowledge and expertise. Get the newsletter here: KAMM 2023 Spring Newsletter.


KAMM Community Mitigation Grant Fund Application Period Opening Soon!

We are pleased to announce that we will be accepting applications for the KAMM 2023 Community Mitigation Grant Program soon! KAMM promotes natural hazard mitigation and disaster recovery as well as public awareness of floodplain, stormwater, and emergency management.

The KAMM Community Mitigation Grant is ideal for financial assistance with smaller mitigation projects or to complement funding for a larger project. The program allocates funds for projects that promote natural hazard mitigation and management or mitigation awareness in your community.

Below is a list of project examples; however, any project that promotes the Purpose of KAMM is acceptable. Please be creative! What are your community mitigation actions?

  • Flood Hazard Mitigation
    • Upgrade undersized drainage systems
    • Flood barriers, flood awareness equipment, and flood warning systems
  • Stormwater Management Mitigation
    • Detention or retention basins
    • Stream or wetland restoration
    • Green infrastructure practices
  • Conservation of Natural Features and Resources
    • Reforestation projects
    • Parks or open green space
  • Educational Awareness
    • Field trips/public outreach
    • Signage to promote natural hazard mitigation and management
    • Community mitigation library
  • Local match funding for a larger mitigation grant

Proceeds from donations to KAMM throughout the year and raised via the Community Grant fundraisers at our annual KAMM conference are used to fund our annual grant. Our 2022 conference fundraiser helped bring the grant fund balance to $2,000 for the 2023 grant opportunity. Applications will be accepted soon, and the Community Mitigation Grant recipients will be announced at the 2023 annual conference in Prestonsburg. 

You can donate to the KAMM Community Mitigation Grant Fund

by scanning the QR code or here: KAMM Community Fundraiser

 

Stay tuned for updates on grant application deadlines!

 


SIGN UP FOR KROGER COMMUNITY REWARDS AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE KAMM COMMUNITY MITIGATION GRANT FUND!

We are excited to be partnering with Kroger to raise funds for our community grant fund! When you enroll in the Kroger Community Rewards program and select Kentucky Association of Mitigation Managers as your organization, each purchase you make using your Kroger Rewards card will make a contribution toward KAMM’s Community Mitigation Grant Fund.

Visit http://www.kroger.com to get started. Once you have logged into your Kroger account,
select Community Rewards from the left page menu. Search for Kentucky Association of Mitigation Managers either by name or XF099 and then click Enroll. New users will need to create an account which requires some basic information, a valid email address and a rewards card.

Participants must swipe their registered Kroger rewards card or use the phone number that is related to their registered Kroger rewards card when shopping for each purchase to count.

Let’s raise money together to help communities across the Commonwealth grow stronger!


2023 KAMM Conference: Mitigation in the Mountains

SAVE THE DATE

2023 KAMM Conference

Prestonsburg, Mountain Arts Center

September 18, preconference

September 19-21, annual conference

Call for Abstracts: April 28, 2023


KAMM Executive Director Announces Retirement

After 18 years of service ranging from founding member to Executive Director,
Pam Moore announced her retirement from her roles in KAMM leadership in December 2022.

Pam helped lead KAMM from a small group
of mitigation professionals looking to share
resources in 2004 to a statewide
organization 300 members strong in 2022.
Organizing 18 annual conferences,
developing and maintaining the KAMM
website, publishing monthly eNews and
semi-annual newsletters, overseeing
membership rolls and training registrations,
and providing immeasurable support for the
KAMM Executive Board of Directors, Pam
has been KAMM’s #1 Fan every step of the
way.

We cannot possibly thank Pam enough for
her role in raising KAMM from infancy to
adulthood. Although Pam is stepping back
from “official” leadership, she will still be a very active member and supporter of the organization, and we will still see her smile and hear that one-of-a-kind laugh when we get together!

 

The KAMM Board shared a farewell lunch with Pam
in January. 

 

 


Educational Opportunities


 

 
Please join us for a conversation with journalist and author Dan Egan to discuss his new book: “The Devil’s Element: Phosphorus and a World Out of Balance.” 

Phosphorus is at the center of an increasingly dire environmental crisis poisoning freshwater sources all over the globe. The abundance of phosphorus from many sources causes toxic algae blooms and “dead zones” in waterways from coast to coast including the Great Lakes.
April 12, 2023
12:00 CT
         
REGISTER HERE
ELPC Executive Director Howard Learner will moderate this webinar.

 


Tune In to the Inaugural Partners and Users Heat Webinar

The National Weather Service Public Weather Services Program will be hosting its inaugural NWS Partners and Users Heat Webinar on April 20, 2023 from 2 – 3 PM EDT / 12 – 1 PM MDT. The webinar will provide information on NWS heat-related products and services issued across the agency, covering a continuum of timescales. This will include products from the Climate Prediction Center, Weather Prediction Center, and local Weather Forecast Offices. Our objective is to ensure that all of our partners and users know how to find and use the necessary weather information to proactively make informed decisions.

This webinar will cover:
• Current operational heat-related products issued by the Climate Prediction Center, Weather       Prediction Center, and local Weather Forecast Offices
• Future plans and initiatives related to heat from the Public Weather Services Program and   National Centers
• Time for questions and answers

The webinar is open to all NWS partners and users, including Weather-Ready Nation Ambassadors, media, emergency management, and federal, state, tribal, and local governments. If you would like to attend, please register here.

For more information please contact the NWS Public Weather Services Program Manager, Kim McMahon, at kimberly.mcmahon@noaa.gov.


You’re invited to join The Nature Conservancy in Kentucky for our upcoming event!

Lunch & Learn: Urban Conservation

Thursday, April 6
12 – 12:45 ET

Register here for this Zoom presentation!


Tools for Source Water Protection – Watershed Academy Webinar

Registration is now open for EPA’s Watershed Academy webinar on Tools for Source Water Protection, which will take place on March 21, 2023. This webcast will present examples of communities, states, and regions turning discrete water quality data into live public information.  This webinar will feature EPA’s Office of Water’s Source Water Protection (SWP) team presenting on two tools: The Drinking Water Mapping Application to Protect Source Waters (DWMAPS) and the Funding Integration Tool for Source Water (FITS). In addition, there will be a brief overview of the background and concepts of source water protection. Both tools were developed by the SWP Program and can be used either independently or in tandem by many stakeholders for their source water protection needs.

 

For more information on this webinar and to register visit: https://www.epa.gov/watershedacademy/tools-source-water-protection-webcast.

 

For more information on the Watershed Academy, visit: https://www.epa.gov/watershedacademy.


2023 Louisville Virtual Skywarn Schedule

The NWS Louisville online virtual Skywarn training schedule has been finalized here: https://www.weather.gov/lmk/skywarn

There will be 3 basic spotter classes and 1 advanced spotter class. Registration information is available on the website link. Classes are always free and open to all!


New NFIP 101: Introduction to Floodplain Management from FEMA & ASFPM

Want to learn floodplain management basics? Don’t have the ability to attend a four-day training? Maybe you just want to brush up on one or two floodplain management topics?
In partnership with the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM), FEMA’s Floodplain Management Division is thrilled to announce that our new online, self-paced course NFIP 101: Introduction to Floodplain Management is live! The course is free and available to the general public. You may start, stop, and return to the course as your schedule permits, and you may take it as many times as you’d like. ASFPM is hosting the course and you can find it on their Training and Knowledge page under the “On-Demand Learning” heading, or link to NFIP101 (floods.org).

Two Ways to Use the Course:
Obtain a certificate of completion from FEMA’s Floodplain Management Division as well as 12 continuing education credits from ASFPM, both of which are earned after completing the course and passing the final exam.

As a reference guide on fundamental floodplain management concepts. No need to take the course all over again, just jump to the Chapter or Section you need a refresher on.

This course is intended for those just beginning a career in floodplain management.
It provides:

Local, state, tribal, territorial, and federal officials with the knowledge and skills to administer and enforce floodplain management regulations;

New floodplain administrators with information and communication techniques to explain the impact of floodplain management decisions on insurance, public safety, and health; and

An overview of NFIP minimum floodplain management regulations based on the types of flood hazards identified as well as Substantial Improvement (SI) and Substantial Damage (SD), and describes the use of a permitting process as a floodplain management oversight and compliance tool.

While the content of this course is congruent with EMI’s EL-0273: Managing Floodplain Development Through the NFIP, successful completion of this course does not confer credit from EMI. Interested parties should visit https://training.fema.gov/netc_online_admissions/  to inquire about in-person E-273 courses or reach out to their State Coordinators to inquire about the locally offered, in-person L-273 course. However, students need not choose between the in-person, classroom experience versus the online course. Both are useful, and can meet differing scheduling/topic needs.

Registration: https://www.floods.org/training-center/online-training/asfpm-on-demand-learning/nfip101/

 


New Hazard Mitigation Planning and Water Resource Management Module

We are excited to announce that the Watershed Academy’s new Hazard Mitigation Planning and Water Resource Management Module is now available.  

This module is intended for water quality and hazard mitigation professionals that are interested in integrating water quality issues and/or nature-based solutions into state or local Hazard Mitigation Plans (HMPs), and highlights the benefits of working across water quality and hazard mitigation programs. Modules in this series can be used as training tools to help planners from both worlds explore activities of mutual interest and benefit. Case studies and examples are provided to assist hazard mitigation planners with integrating water resource programs into HMPs and help watershed planners understand the synergies between water resource plans and HMPs.

 

Visit https://www.epa.gov/watershedacademy/hazard-mitigation-module  to begin the course!

 


 

Campbell County Office of Emergency Management, Upcoming Training Weather Spotter Class


G-318 Local Mitigation Planning Workshop

April 24-25, 2023
Scott County Fire Department
2200 Cincinnati Pike
Georgetown, KY 40205

Course Description:
This in-person, 2-day workshop covers the fundamentals of the mitigation planning requirements for communities to develop new or updated local mitigation plans that address community priorities and meet the requirements established in 44 CFR 201.6. This workshop describes the requirements for the planning process, stakeholder involvement, assessing risks, and developing effective mitigation strategies. Finally, the basic elements of the plan review, approval, and update cycle are discussed, including tips for implementing and maintaining an approved plan, tracking performance, keeping stakeholders involved, and preventing plans from lapsing or expiring.

Class will begin at 8:30am EST and end approximately 4:30pm EST on Monday and Tuesday.

Student Criteria:
No prerequisites. Students should have an existing or potential assignment as part of the local government damage assessment or disaster recovery plan.

Special Notes:
Advance student registration is REQUIRED and minimum of (15) registrants must be received by April 15, 2023 in order to participate in this course. You are considered accepted as a student in this class upon receipt of your application by this office so you will not receive a letter acknowledging that acceptance. Meals, lodging, and travel arrangements/expenses are the responsibility of the student and will NOT be reimbursed by KYEM unless otherwise noted.

For more information, contact:
Misty Callahan, KYEM Administrative Specialist III
502-607-3325; Misty.L.Callahan2.nfg@army.mil


 

Barren River ADD TEEX Courses: Infrastructure Disaster Management Certificate

This program provides the emergency management community a deep dive into key sub-sectors of Critical Infrastructure.

MGT317 Disaster Management for Public Services
MGT345 Disaster Management for Electric Power Systems
MGT343 Disaster Management for Water and Wastewater Utilities
MGT341 Disaster Preparedness for Healthcare Organizations

Link to the informational flyer with QR codes: TEEX Courses

3/15/23 – 3/16/23: MGT317 Disaster Management for Public Services 

Register here

6/21/23 -6/22/23: MGT345 Disaster Management for Electric Power Systems

Register here

9/13/23 – 9/14/23: MGT343 Disaster Management for Water and Wastewater Utilities

Register here

12/13/23 – 12/14/23: MGT341 Disaster Preparedness for Healthcare Organizations

Register here

Contact Dajana Crockett for more information.
(270) 306-4061
dajana.crockett@bradd.org

Campbell County Office of Emergency Management, Upcoming Training Disaster Management for Electric Power Systems (MGT-345) 

April 5-6, 2023

The Disaster Management for Electric Power Systems course provides students with information specific to preparing for, protecting against, responding to, recovering from, and mitigating against a threatened or actual natural disaster, an act of terrorism, or other man-made disaster affecting electric power facilities and systems.

During this course, participants will be guided through discussions and exercises that will assist them in: Improving security against physical damage, organizational disruption, and control system vulnerability, Enhancing the electric power system’s ability to plan, prevent, detect, respond, and restore their facilities in emergency situations, and Developing an understanding and appreciation for working with the media.

This workshop is intended for an audience of elected and appointed senior officials from local jurisdictions, but may also include executives from other community entities, both public and private, that are likely to be involved in disaster response. These include:

  • Utility commission personnel: managers, supervisors & foremen
  • Utility disaster coordinators, security personnel & field personnel
  • EMA, Fire, law enforcement & EMS staff from the utility and surrounding jurisdictions

Delivered by National Emergency Response and Rescue Training Center (NERRTC), Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), member of National Domestic Preparedness Consortium (NDPC).

This course is 16 hours (2 days).

Your completion of this course will move you one course closer to receiving your Infrastructure Disaster Management Certification from TEEX. https://teex.org/documentsresources/Infrastructure%20Disaster%20Mgt%20Cert%20Pgm.pdf .

You can register online at: https://tinyurl.com/52zvbn2b 

Link to the training flyer: Training Announcement Disaster Management for Electric Power Systems


   

Making Mitigation Work Webinars

 

The Natural Hazards Center is excited to announce the return of its popular webinar series, Making Mitigation Work. The series—which is produced in partnership with the FEMA—features free one-hour webinars that highlight progress in mitigation policy, practice and research.

You can access previous sessions of the Making Mitigation Work series on Natural Hazards Center’s website. The collection includes more than 20 videos that discuss topics such as mitigation messaging, building codes, buyout programs, disaster spending and investment, infrastructure resilience, community collaboration and racial and social equity.

Visit Natural Hazards Center || Making Mitigation Work (colorado.edu)

Participants may qualify for continuing education credits from the International Association of Emergency Managers.  Learn more on the Continuing Education Credits webpage.

Making Mitigation Work 2023 webinars. All times Mountain time (TM):

  • March 14, 2023, 11 a.m. to Noon 
  • April 11, 2023, 11 a.m. to Noon 
  • May 16, 2023, 11 a.m. to Noon 
  • June 13, 2023, 11 a.m. to Noon 

Natural Hazards Center || Catch Up on Previously Recorded Webinars (colorado.edu)

 


Community Rating System Webinar Schedule

The CRS Webinar Series provides both live and on-demand training to communities.  The Series includes basic introductory sessions and more advanced topics, most averaging about an hour in length.

For dates and topic, link to CRS Training and Webinars

Link to https://crsresources.org/training/ to register.


SAVE THE DATE: Hazard Mitigation Partners Virtual Workshop is October 16-19, 2023

 

The workshop will be held virtually on Oct. 16-19, 2023, from noon– 4:45 p.m. Eastern Time (ET).

The 2023 HM Partners Workshop theme, All Together for Climate Resilient Communities, will bring stakeholders to together to discuss our focus on partnerships, community-based efforts to prevent and reduce the risk of flooding, expanding access to Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant funding, and simplifying our mitigation programs and processes to help the whole community build climate resilience.

FEMA anticipates opening the Call for Abstracts in March 2023. Visit FEMA.gov for future updates about the 2023 Hazard Mitigation Partners Virtual Workshop.

 


FEMA Releases New Independent Study Course:
Preparing the Nation for Space Weather Events

Space weather – winds and magnetic waves that move through space – can sometimes reach Earth or Earth’s upper atmosphere. When this happens, space weather can adversely affect critical technological systems like satellite-based positioning and navigation, high frequency radio communications, and the electric power grid.

Much of the space weather that reaches Earth is generated by our sun, which goes through solar cycles that are about 11 years long. Each cycle is marked by a solar maximum and a solar minimum. At the solar maximum, the sun’s activity peaks and sun’s magnetic poles reverse. This peak can be measured by the number of sun spots observed on the sun’s surface. This is followed by a solar minimum when the sun is least active, which marks the beginning of the next solar cycle.

We are now in Solar Cycle 25 with the next solar maximum expected in 2025. In 2019, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) initially predicted that Solar Cycle 25 would have average activity. However, since this prediction was made, the Sun has been more active than anticipated, and with more solar activity comes an increased likelihood of disruptive space weather events on Earth, like radio blackouts, geomagnetic storms, or solar radiation storms.

Since space weather has the potential to significantly disrupt critical infrastructure, emergency preparedness for space weather events is important. The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA’s) Emergency Management Institute (EMI) recently launched a new online course: IS-66: Preparing the Nation for Space Weather Events.

This 2-hour independent study course is appropriate for emergency managers at all levels. It covers:

  • The types of events that present potential dangers.
  • The types of systems that may experience disruptions.
  • Case studies with examples of historical space weather events and their impacts.
  • Information on the activities and analysis that go into developing and producing Space Weather Forecast products.

The course builds on FEMA’s 2019 Federal Operating Concept for Impending Space Weather Events, a 65-page guide supporting the National Space Weather Strategy and Action Plan, which was released by the White House in 2019. The 2019 FEMA guide is intended to be used in the development of operational plans to prepare for, protect against, and mitigate the effects of impending space weather events.

After completing this course, emergency managers will better understand how to identify risks to their organization, implement mitigation actions and develop contingency operating plans in the event of a disruptive space weather event.

To learn more and to take the course, visit the course page on EMI’s website.

(Source: FEMANOAA, NASA)


Check out other Online Training

Link to Online Training.

 


FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES


 

Land and Water Conservation Fund Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program
Department of the Interior, National Park Service

Outdoor Recreation – Acquisition and Development

As designed, the purpose of the ORLP Program is to provide new or significantly improved recreation opportunities in economically-disadvantaged communities and that:

  • meet recreation goals as identified in, and align with, at least one priority of, the State’s Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan
  • are located within or abutting an incorporated city (or town) having a population of 30,000 or more, and
  • serve the specific needs of a community(ies) that is (are) severely lacking in walkable, publicly accessible, outdoor recreation (“park deserts”), and that has a poverty rate of at least 20% or that is at least 10 percentage points higher than that of the project city, county, and state rates.

* For the purposes of this competition, for a community to be considered a “park desert,” there must be:

  1. No existing parks within a .5-mile radius of the community(ies) to be served by the park (not the radius of the proposed park); or
  2. one or two small parks within a .5-mile radius of the community(ies) that is/are not large enough to support the size of the population of the service area, or otherwise unable to provide a variety of recreational opportunities; or
  3. one or two existing parks (potentially of adequate size), including the park that is being addressed in this project, that is/are so obsolete or underdeveloped that a major redevelopment or rehabilitation is necessary to be able to significantly increase the number of people or user groups who could be served in a way that would be equivalent to a new park; or
  4. existing parks that are inaccessible to the target community due to physical barriers such as transportation infrastructure, rivers, etc.

Link to Land and Water Conservation Fund Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program .

Apply by May 31, 2023

Estimated Total Program Funding: $192,000,000
Award Ceiling: $10,000,000
Award Floor: $300,000

To apply, visit Grant.gov.  View Opportunity | GRANTS.GOV

 


Finding Funding for Nature-Based Projects Just Got a Little Bit Easier

Announcing a new searchable database for communities interested in funding nature-based infrastructure solutions

The National Wildlife Federation has launched a new microsite FundingNatureBasedSolutions.nwf.org, that aims to easily connect community planners and other stakeholders with sources of federal funding for infrastructure projects that incorporate natural elements. 

The site allows users to search and sort the more than 70 types of federal grants that fund nature-based restoration solutions based on factors such as eligible recipients, project purpose, and the match required.  It also provides information about the typical application cycles, and contact information for each program. 

Recent legislation, including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework and the Inflation Reduction Act, created several new funding streams for nature-based projects and augmented existing programs’ funding for broad purposes such as flood protection, water quality improvement, disaster recovery and transportation resilience.  The website will be updated regularly as the funding sources available evolve. 

Visit the National Wildlife Federation Media Center NWF.org/News.


Green Infrastructure Funding Microsite

The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) launched a new funding microsite for communities interested in pursuing federal funding and/or technical assistance for nature-based solutions and green infrastructure projects. The interactive database allows users to search and sort the more than 70 types of federal grants that fund nature-based solutions based on factors such as eligible recipients, project purpose, and the match required. It also provides information about the typical application cycles, and contact information for each program.

Access the database here: FundingNatureBasedSolutions.nwf.org

 

 


PROGRAM UPDATES


FEMA Releases NFIP Technical Bulletin 10 

FEMA is pleased to announce the release of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Technical Bulletin 10, Reasonably Safe from Flooding Requirement for Building on Filled Land Removed From the Special Flood Hazard Area in Accordance with the National Flood Insurance Program (TB 10). This publication is the latest update to the NFIP Technical Bulletin series.

TB 10 provides guidance on the NFIP requirements related to determining that buildings constructed on filled land will be reasonably safe from flooding. Guidance is provided for the placement of fill and the parameters for the design and construction of buildings on filled land that has been removed from the Special Flood Hazard Area through the flood map revision process managed by FEMA.

The major updates in TB 10 include:

  • The title has been updated. It was previously Ensuring That Structures Built on Fill In or Near Special Flood Hazard Areas Are Reasonably Safe From Flooding in Accordance with the National Flood Insurance Program.
  • The intent of TB 10, and when it is appropriate to use TB 10, has been clarified.
  • Increased emphasis on documentation needed for a local official to make the “reasonably safe from flooding” determination.
  • Additional best practices are provided.
  • Grouped and reorganization of the content discussing the Technical Approaches to Seepage Analysis in Section 9.

To learn more about the eleven NFIP Technical Bulletins, visit the FEMA National Flood Insurance Technical Bulletins.


The National Floodplain Function Alliance Wetland Mapping Consortium Strategies and Action Plan for Protecting and Restoring Wetland
and Floodplain Functions

Final Report Now Available!

Since 2017, the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) Foundation has collaborated with the Association of State Wetland Managers (ASWM), the National Floodplain Functions Alliance, and the Wetland Mapping Consortium to provide funding and active participation in a series of four workshops, the focus of which was to:

 “Improve floodplain mapping integrating geospatial data being developed and used by the wetland mapping community to identify wetland and floodplain functions.”

Each of the first three workshops had a targeted discussion topic, which attendees discussed at length, offering their professional insights and informed opinions. 

  • The first workshop – conducted in 2018 was titled “Exploring Opportunities for Integrated Mapping and Functional Assessment of Riverine and Coastal Floodplains and Wetlands.”
  • The second workshop – conducted in 2019 was titled “Data Needs, GAPS and Interoperability for Integrated Mapping and Functional Assessment of Riverine and Coastal Floodplains and Wetlands.”
  • The third workshop – conducted in 2021 was titled “Federal Program and Policy Changes Needed to Advance Integrated Functional Mapping of Floodplain and Wetlands for Nature – Based Solutions.”

The final workshop, which convened in 2022, was a culmination of discussions during the first three workshops, and resulted in the development of strategies and actions, which were memorialized in the January 2023 final report, titled “Strategies and an Action Plan for Protecting and Restoring Wetland and Floodplain Functions.”  The final report and summary workshops reports are available on the Reports and Publications page of the ASFPM Foundation website.

ASFPM Foundation Mission Statement

Serve as the catalyst for ASFPM, its Chapters, and members to advance research, projects, education and policy initiatives, that promote reduced flood risk and resilient communities.

For more information about the National Floodplain Function Alliance Wetland Mapping Consortium, please visit website or contact Brad Anderson, ASFPM Foundation Projects Chair, at Brad.Anderson@acewater.com.


 

 

 

Answers to Questions about the National Flood Insurance Program

March 2022

An in-depth guide addressing frequently asked questions about the NFIP. This resource includes valuable information about flood insurance policies, what to do before and after a flood, flood maps, flood mitigation actions and more.

Click NFIP Question & Answer to download the publication.

 

 


MOBILE TOOLS  & OTHER RESOURCES


Resilience Matters from Island Press Urban Resilience Project

Island Press e-book offers climate resilient solutions for building a greener, fairer future

For those who care about sustainability and equity, 2022 brought plenty of good news. Through the Inflation Reduction Act, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, American Rescue Plan, and the Biden Administration’s Justice40 initiative, money is—finally—flowing to climate change mitigation and resilience in hard-hit communities.

But the devil, as they say, is in the details. Now that more funding is available, it’s important to make sure it is spent wisely and goes where it’s needed most. In 2022, contributors to the Island Press Urban Resilience Project (URP) dug into the details, devising concrete plans for collective action to build a greener, fairer future. Those ideas—originally published as articles, op-eds, and interviews—have now been collected in the latest edition of our e-book series Resilience Matters, available below at no cost.   

Download Resilience Matters: Resilience Matters: Collective Action for Healthier Communities


USGS Mobile Flood Tool

The U.S. Geological Survey released a mobile tool that provides real-time information on water levels, weather, and flood forecasts all in one place. The new USGS National Water Dashboard will help inform forecasting, response, and recovery efforts for agencies such as the National Weather Service, FEMA, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and other federal, state and local agencies.

 


What is the FEMA App

Take Charge of Disasters The FEMA App is your personalized disaster resource, so you feel empowered and ready to take charge of any disaster life throws your way.   

PLAN: Learn how to prepare for common hazards quickly and easily.

Whether you’re experienced or just starting out, the FEMA App can help you learn basic preparedness strategies like how to create a family emergency communication plan, what to pack in your emergency kit, and what to do immediately after a disaster. 

PROTECT: Knowing when and how to protect yourself, your loved ones and your property during a disaster can make all the difference.

With the FEMA App, you can receive real-time weather and emergency alerts from the National Weather Service for up to five locations nationwide.  It can also help you find a nearby shelter if you need to evacuate to a safe space.

Download the FEMA App

Get it on Google Play 

Download it on Apple Store.

You can also download the app via text messaging. On an Android device, text ANDROID to 43362 (4FEMA); On an Apple Device, text APPLE to 43362 (4FEMA).

Search for shelters near you. Text SHELTER and your Zip Code to 43362.

TEXT FOR HELP

To search for shelters near you, text SHELTER and your ZIP code to 43362 (e.g. Shelter 12345). You may look up shelters any time through the American Red Cross shelter map or by downloading the FEMA App.

Safety Tips – To sign up to receive general information about how to prepare for any type of disaster, text PREPARE to 43362.  To sign up for disaster specific safety tips, text one of the keywords below to 43362:

  • BLACKOUT
  • EARTHQUAKE
  • FIRE
  • FLOOD
  • TORNADO
  • WILDFIRE
  • WINTER

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Mitigation Matters!  

Have questions? Contact us at help@kymitigation.org.

KAMM mailing address: KAMM, PO Box 1016, Frankfort, KY 40602-1016.  

 

Don’t forget to join the KAMM group on LinkedIn and Facebook.

KAMM is a non-profit 501 (c) (3)