Texas Emergency Management Briefs, Tips and Links

2012 TEXAS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE PHOTOS & SURVEY RESULTS
View photos and survey results from this year’s Texas Emergency Management Conference. Also please take a moment to view the TDEM Organizational PowerPoint presentation and TDEM Organizational Chart, both of which are listed on the TDEM Staff Directory page. Thank you again to all who attended and participated in this year’s conference.

VIEW ARCHIVED ISSUES OF TEXAS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ONLINE
Missed an issue of Texas Emergency Management Online? You’re in luck. You can view each past issue in the online archives. And, if you have a story idea, email it to TDEM.WEB@dps.texas.gov.

3RD ANNUAL TEXAS UNITES CONFERENCE: JUNE 13-15, 2012
The Texas Citizen Corps Program and the Texas VOAD announce the 3rd Annual Texas Unites Conference. The conference will be held June 13 – 15, 2012 at the Hyatt Regency Riverwalk in San Antonio, Texas. Visit the conference website for more information. Online Registration is now available. Please note the deadline to make reservations at the special rate of $99 at the Hyatt Regency is May 24, 2012.

AUSTIN HSEM ACHIEVES NATIONAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACCREDITATION
The City of Austin’s emergency management program is the first and only program in the State of Texas to join the elite class of jurisdictions to receive national accreditation. The Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP) announced in April that the City of Austin Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) achieved full accreditation and exhibits “best practices” in the management of emergencies. EMAP, a national non-profit organization and an affiliate of The Council of State Governments, was designed to evaluate and improve the nation’s emergency management capabilities and provides the country’s only accreditation process for emergency management programs.

To earn accreditation, HSEM had to comply with 104 criteria that were established as best practices by a national group of emergency management experts. Organizations that contributed to the program receiving accreditation incluce: the Travis County Office of Emergency Management, the Austin Fire Department, Austin Police Department, Austin/Travis County Emergency Medical Services and Health and Human Services, City of Austin Watershed Protection, the University of Texas, the Capital Area Council of Governments, and others. Otis J. Latin, Sr., HSEM Director, said, “Austin citizens benefit in a number of ways from our achieving accreditation. Citizens now have a much better idea of where their Homeland Security and Emergency Management program stands in relation to our ability to prepare and protect them from emergencies and disasters. Accreditation provides a sense of pride in knowing that their city has received national recognition and exhibits best practices. Accreditation also provides tangible benefits in potential savings for citizens from the National Flood Insurance Program. As a program, we have a much better idea of our own strengths and needs -- and where funds and resources should be applied in the future.” For more information visit www.austinhsem.com.

TDEM / DSHS DISASTER RESPONSE WORKSHOPS
The Texas Division of Emergency Management, along with the Texas Department of State Health Services, will visit each DPS Region this spring to discuss state capabilities and initiatives that are pertinent to your local communities, and to hear your feedback and expectations for the coming year. The regional workshops will aid in the effort to streamline coordination of local and state response, providing a prime opportunity for you, the members of the emergency management community, and our partners to come together to discuss the topics that matter most to your region. Exercise credit will be awarded and staff will be on hand to ensure that your questions and concerns are addressed. The remaining workshops will be held on the following dates and locations. the Region 3 workshop will be held May 7-9; the Region 2 workshop will be held May 21-23; the Region 5 workshop will be held June 11-13; and the Region 4 workshop will be held June 20-22. Contact your District Coordinator for more information.

TEXAS FOREST SERVICE OFFERS INCIDENT RESPONSE TRAINING FOR PIOs
Interested in becoming an all-hazards public information officer? The Texas Forest Service offers two courses on the subject. Both courses may be taken without commitment to the full course load required to acquire qualifications as a Typed incident responder. Please see details below and contact Linda Moon lmoon@tfs.tamu.edu for more information.

• L-952 ALL-HAZARDS PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER COURSE
  This course is designed for a PIO assigned to an incident as a member of an All-Hazards Incident Management Team (AHIMT), Local IMT, as well as for a PIO assigned to an incident as an assistant PIO in a variety of capacities. This course will help students develop a strong set of core PIO skills and ability to apply them within the context of an AHIMT. This course is distinct from other information function courses in that it combines elements from both the basic and advanced function to concentrate training on the fundamental duties and responsibilities of PIO in an all-hazard environment. The course material does not assume or require experience as a PIO, but also is not a basic PIO course. Exercises, simulations, discussions, and a final exam enable students to process and apply their new knowledge. This is the main course required to become a Public Information Officer (PIO3)-All-hazard incidents. A Public Information Officer (Type 3) is responsible for interfacing with the public and media or with other agencies with incident-related information requirements. Texas Forest Service will offer the L-952 course this summer. Dates and location are TBD. Please contact Linda Moon lmoon@tfs.tamu.edu if interested in attending.
• S-203 INTRODUCTION TO INCIDENT INFORMATION
  This course provides students with the knowledge and skills they need to serve as public information officer (PIO). It touches on all aspects of establishing and maintaining an incident information operation, communicating with internal and external audiences, to handling special situations. **Prerequisite(s): Successful completion of pre-course work (provided in your confirmation packet upon registration for the course). This is the main course required to become a Public Information Officer (PIOF) - Wildland fire. This course offered at the East Texas Interagency Wildfire & Incident Management Academy, May 15 – 25, 2012. For more information visit the Texas Interagency Coordination Center

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