FEMA Think Tank - March 22nd, 2012 - 3:00pm to 5:00pm

Last November, I launched the FEMA Think Tank - a forum to engage our partners, promote innovation, and facilitate discussions in the field of emergency management. There are two components to the FEMA Think Tank: 1) An online forum that encourages discussion on a variety of emergency management issues, which can be found at www.fema.gov/thinktank; and 2) monthly conference calls to further discuss submissions to the online forum.

During February’s FEMA Think Tank conference call, over 500 individuals participated in a discussion on technology in emergency management with featured topics on smart phone apps and amateur radio.  Participants on the call ranged from State, Local, Tribal, and Federal emergency managers, first responders, and others concerned about helping our communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. It was a productive and informative discussion of ideas, which reinforced the importance of bringing the whole community together to develop ideas and best practices.

I am pleased to announce the next FEMA Think Tank conference call will take place on March 22^nd, 2012 and I would like to invite you to join me as I conduct the call from the Centergy Building - 3^rd Floor, Hodges Room, 75 Fifth Street, NW, Atlanta, GA  30308. The call will take place from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm and it will be open to a national audience of State, Local and Tribal government officials, and all members of the public including the private sector, the functional needs community, and volunteer community, who share an interest in emergency management.

The focus of this month’s conference call will be on Strategies and Approaches for Incorporating and Integrating Disability Related Access and Functional Needs Issues and Concerns into Emergency Management Actions/Activities.  Please check the Think Tank website for more information on the specific ideas to be discussed.

Kindly RSVP by Wednesday, March 21^st, 2012, to Nancy Mize at FEMA Region IV

External Affairs on (770)-220-5211 or by email: nancy.mize@dhs.gov.  Should you require disability accommodations, please let us know your specific needs when you RSVP.

If you cannot attend in person but wish to join the discussion, please see conference information below:

Call-In Number: 800-593-0692

Pass Code: Think Tank March

Individuals who would like to access the captioning for this event may do so by clicking the following link at the start of the event: http://www.fedrcc.us//Enter.aspx?EventID=1920179&CustomerID=321.

Until then, I encourage you to visit the online forum at www.fema.gov/thinktank to comment on the ideas we will be discussing this month or submit your own ideas and comment on others.

See you in Atlanta!

Sincerely,

Rich Serino

Deputy Administrator

Federal Emergency Management Agency

New FEMA, CNCS Partnership Strengthens Response, Recovery Efforts Following Disasters

The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) with the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) today announced an innovative new partnership designed to strengthen the nation’s ability to respond to and recover from disasters.

 

FEMA Corps is an historic collaboration between a federal agency and a national service organization and will create a new unit of AmeriCorps’ National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) whose members will be devoted solely to FEMA disaster response and recovery efforts. The five-year agreement provides for a full service corps of 1,600 members annually who will be an additional workforce in support of FEMA’s current disaster reserve workforce.

This new partnership is important for many reasons but none more important than the positive impact it will have on disaster survivors.  NCCC FEMA Corps will strengthen the nation’s disaster response by providing a dedicated, trained and reliable workforce to support disaster survivors and impacted communities during their greatest time of need.  

The NCCC members will increase diversity of the disaster workforce, while providing educational and economic opportunities for young people as they consider their future careers. The FEMA Corps members will serve for a 10 month term with an option to extend for a second year. The program will prepare thousands of young people for careers in emergency management and related fields. During their service, they will gain significant training and experience in disaster services and will provide important support to disaster survivors. 

This new effort will promote an ethos of national service and civic engagement by mobilizing corps members and community volunteers to provide critical disaster services. Once trained by FEMA and, CNCS,  members will provide support in areas ranging from Community Relations to Disaster Recovery Centers . The first members will begin serving in September 2012 and the program will reach full capacity within 18 months.

To learn more about FEMA Corps please see the AmeriCorps website http://www.americorps.gov/about/programs/nccc.asp or FEMA’s website at www.fema.gov.