Just had a memo shared from #DHS, signed on 3/25/25 mentioning that disaster grants for NGOs and for Non-congregate sheltering are going to be reviewed. Disaster grants and non-disaster mitigation will be unaffected. There is at least a 45 day backlog for the 1200+ pending payments.

'Sanctuary Jurisdictions' are being targeted for blocking payments for EMPG (Emergency Management Preparedness Grants) and HSGP (Homeland Security Grant Program).

They are 'ensuring' that the grants 'do not touch on immigration', their words..

EMPG is a big kicker, that pays for most of my state's EM professionals. Granted it's only about $10m/yr, that's still a lot of capacity we will now have to find. I recommend that we get a refund on the taxes we paid into this.

Firefighting #rotorcraft shortfall prompts Bell’s 214ST reboot: https://aviationweek.com/aerospace/aircraft-propulsion/firefighting-rotorcraft-shortfall-prompts-bells-214st-reboot. Aerial #firefighting is an #aerospace niche but it is a critical one. Within that niche, #VTOL aircraft bring unique capabilities. They deliver water and retardant precisely, transport firefighters to remote areas, and perform aerial reconnaissance. VTOLs are essential assets for rapid response and effective wildfire management. #aircraft #aviation #emergencymanagement #engineering #verticalflight

Hellooooo #KingCounty WA
Tap. Tap. Is this thing on?
Anyone here?

Yesterday I traded email with county #EmergencyManagement staff. Up until now the county has not had a good system in place to use the county's experts and resources to produce interactive GIS evacuation maps that are color coded to show the ready-set-go levels of evacuation.

That has now changed. A process for producing those maps is being put in place and will be ready to go for this fire season.

To be notified of any evacuation you need to sign up:
https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/executive-services/health-safety/safety-injury-prevention/emergency-preparedness/alert-king-county

Be sure to include your email so you will get a link to any evacuation map that affects you.
#PNW #Seattle #Wildfire

Fair warning about fire risks in Australia.

The only thing I don’t like about the comments here is the focus on fires that had a direct impact on livelihoods.

There have been several recent fires that didn’t directly affect communities. But it proved that regions that have never experienced fires for tens and hundreds of years are now at risk.
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/what-the-hell-is-going-on-top-firefighters-warning-for-australian-cities-after-la-fires/7az9gydpj
#AusPol #QldPol #NSWPol #VicPol #TasPol #SAPol #WAPol #NTPol #ACTPol #ClimateCrisis #EmergencyManagement #FireFighting

Just had a fun welcome to the area with a semi-annual siren test from the local #nuclear plant. Glad to know that I would not be able to miss the discordant sound anywhere in my house.

"The sirens are tested regularly to ensure that they function properly during an emergency. There are two types of siren tests conducted in communities surrounding #Limerick Generating Station:

Semi-Annual Test: This full volume two-minute sounding of the siren occurs at 2:00 p.m. on the first Monday in June and first Monday in December."

https://www.montgomerycountypa.gov/3316/Limerick-Generating-Station

#emergencymanagement

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2024-10-30/disaster-misinformation-is-part-of-the-us-political-landscape-now

Chronic lurker. #knitting enthusiast. Former professional #baking witch, always happy to provide #bakinghelp. Caretaker of a #dogsofmastodon and a local #labor #union. Accidental #emergencymanagement professional. Also I love #trains.

The 2PM (ET) 10/8/24 #WaffleHouseIndex shows 24 of 29 Tampa area Waffle Houses closed ahead of Hurricane #Milton, and 8 of 15 closed in the Fort Myers area.

Source: Waffle House post on X

#EmergencyManagement nerds:
What's the deal on helping people who ask you to find their loved ones, in a disaster context?

I ask because my CERT program (we call it NET) is very clear that we must not do that.

Cuz: Perps use disaster chaos to locate and/or contact people they are enjoined from contacting, and people who built new lives away from the perps.

I see #HamRadio in the Southeast after #Helene, connecting 1000s of relatives w each other. Any concern?
Thanks for any perspective.

Tampa Hospital, the only Level 1 Trauma Center in the area, built an "Aquawall" to keep out the storm surge.

https://www.tampabay.com/hurricane/2024/09/25/tampa-general-hospital-hurricane-helene-emergency-room-preparations/

AND IT WORKED!

https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2024/09/27/tampa-hospital-floodwall-hurricane-helene/

From Craig Fugate, Former Director of FEMA: In light of the preparations for Hurricane Helene, I thought I would ask ChatGPT for a humous response , Does Ham Radio still play a role in disaster response.

"Does ham radio still play a role in disasters? You bet! When the Wi-Fi goes down and your cell phone’s as useful as a brick, ham radio operators come in like, "Step aside, amateurs; we’ve been doing this since before the internet was cool."

#HamRadio #AmateurRadio #EmergencyManagement #EmergencyPreparedness

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For those of you who have never met me....... I work in Emergency Management, Public Safety, Disaster Preparedness, and Business Continuity. I am a Hazmatician. Amateur Radio: N3FUD, GMRS: WRTY997.
Photographer. Communicator. Educator. Computer Geek, Creator, Music lover. IEMBot Weather Feed publisher. 3D printing novice.

Thoughts and opinions are mine and do not reflect any policies or procedures of my employers.

#EmergencyManagement
#EmergencyPreparedness
#DisasterPreparedness
#PublicSafety
#BusinessContinuity
#HamRadio
#AmateurRadio
#GMRS
#Photographer
#Photography
#Linux
#Music
#Computer
#Weather
#3DPrinting

Reposting my #Introduction post to my new handle:

I'm Scott, I live in #PortMoody, #BritishColumbia, #Canada and work in #Telecom & IT.

I go #Hiking every weekend and #Camping most weekends (yes, #Tenting, yes even #WinterCamping). In the #Winter you'll find me #NordicSkiing ( #CrossCountrySkiing ) and #Snowshoeing.

I also volunteer with #SAR (#SearchAndRescue), #Adventuresmart, and #EmergencyManagement organizations as a #Preparedness instructor.