Employee News and Announcements

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FEMA Weekly Bulletin - March 7

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Sequestration Update: Memo from Rafael Borras (March 2)
Champions of Change: Preparing for the Costly Impacts of Climate Change – Community Resilience Leaders - The White House Champions of Change program highlights the stories and examples of citizens across the country who are “Winning the Future” with projects and initiatives that move their communities forward.
Hurricane Sandy Innovative Response and Recovery Efforts – Deadline for Nominations: March 8. Memo from FEMA Administrator W. Craig Fugate.
Telework questionnaire– By completing the questionnaire, we can begin to identify strengths, gaps, and lessons learned as we move forward towards a more mobile workforce. Please send completed survey to FEMA-HC-WorkLifePrograms by Monday, March 11.
Information Week's article "10 Helpful Apps from Uncle Sam".  App number 3 is from FEMA!
Please submit story ideas to FEMA-Weekly@fema.dhs.gov.

From the Field

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• ·Car enthusiast records Public Service Announcement for FEMA – Bruce Larson, a legendary National Hot Rod Association world champion drag race driver, recorded a 30-second public service announcement for radio broadcast in support of National Severe Weather Preparedness Week, March 3-9.
• Hundreds of coach evaluators trained to support FEMA Qualification System - The Disaster Field Training unit located in the New Jersey Joint Field Office recently trained more than 300 coach evaluators to support the new FEMA Qualification System, otherwise known as FQS.
• Just before passing away, Derek Jensen was participating of the prestigious DHS Fellows program. Jensen was posthumously graduated as a DHS Fellow at the graduation ceremony Dec. 14, 2012.
• ·In Memory - The family of Thomas Kendrick "Ken" Medernach wishes to commemorate a life lived wholly. The Savannah born raconteur, dedicated adventurer and self-proclaimed President of the Atlantic Ocean, sailed on to higher seas, suddenly, Feb. 15.

Employee News and Announcements

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• Region IX goes Green! - Region IX is a prime example of how embracing mobile work that allows for increased productivity and higher morale, while greatly benefiting the environment.
• Region VI Mitigation presents “You Rock!” award - Diana Herrera, Floodplain Management and Insurance Specialist was presented the “You ROCK” award at the most recent Region VI All Hands meeting.
• Pledge to be ready for severe weather - We’re getting ready for National Severe Weather Preparedness Week - coming up on March 3-9.  Much of the emergency management community will be getting the word out about staying safe from the kinds of severe weather that impact their communities.
• Long Beach Police Train for Hazardous Threats, Expand Knowledge for Department - Five police Preparedness, in Anniston, Ala.
• Ten helpful Apps from Uncle Sam - Disaster Preparedness - The Federal Emergency Management Agency has created an app that provides disaster-preparedness safety tips and, for victims, the ability to apply for assistance. Available in English and Spanish, the FEMA App is designed to be helpful in the event of floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, terrorism and other disasters. Users can pull up a map and get directions to shelters and FEMA Disaster Recovery Center locations. There's also a checklist for emergency kits. Available for Android, BlackBerry, iPad and iPhone and in a mobile Web version, too.
• Department of Homeland Security celebrates ten years of unification - the U.S. Department of Homeland Security began its operations, unifying 22 legacy agencies within a single department with a common mission: to safeguard America and integrate our Nation’s capabilities to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from threats and disasters of all kinds.
• Community Relations transfers to Recovery Directorate - Community Relations has once again proven to be a critical function of disaster response and recovery by supporting disaster survivors and providing essential information to disaster operations. As noted in Deputy Administrator Serino’s Feb. 12 memorandum.
• FedTraveler will be replaced by a new travel management system called ETS2 by the end of the year.
• Disaster Book Club Discussion of “The Worst Hard Time” March 13: Join us for a brown bag discussion of The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl. Following a dozen families and their communities through the rise and fall of the region, author Timothy Eagan tells of their desperate attempts to carry on through blinding black dust blizzards, crop failure and the death of loved ones. We will meet from 12 to 1 p.m. in the Orange Room (6^th Floor) of 500 C Street, or via conference line. Email Erin Clark to let her know if you are interested in participating by conference line.

FEMA Blog Stories and Photos

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• What We're Watching: 2/15/13  - At the end of each week, we post a "What We’re Watching" blog as we look ahead to the weekend and recap events from the week. We encourage you to share it with your friends and family, and have a safe weekend.
• Help FEMA Prevent Fraud, Waste and Abuse.  If you have information about instances of fraud, waste, abuse, or mismanagement involving FEMA programs or operations, you should contact the DHS OIG Hotline at: 1-800-323-8603; by fax at 202-254-4297; or e-mail DHSOIGHOTLlNE@dhs.gov.
  

   

Deployment Tools and Resources
 

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• How To Prepare a Travel Voucher – For the Individual Traveler
• FEMA Travel Toolbox - The Travel Toolbox is intended to support FEMA travelers (FEMA Intranet)
• Travel Voucher Checklist - Reference Guide for Travelers and Approvers (FEMA Intranet)
• Deployment Guidance – ADD Check-In/Check-Out Procedures
• Time and Attendance Guidance for Hurricane Sandy
• Hurricane Sandy Lessons Learned Resources Available at LLIS.gov
• Reservist Program Federal Employees Health Benefits Program Health Care Coverage - Frequently Asked Questions

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Help FEMA Prevent Fraud, Waste and Abuse.  If you have information about instances of fraud, waste, abuse, or mismanagement involving FEMA programs or operations, you should contact the DHS OIG Hotline at: 1-800-323-8603; by fax at 202-254-4297.

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Reservist Program News and Information

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Reservist Program News and Information.
UPDATED!!  Reservist Program Federal Employees Health Benefits Program Health Care Coverage - Frequently Asked Questions

Training, Career Development Opportunities, Rotational and Detail positions for FEMA Full-time Employees

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• Leader Development Program has three workshops available - Great leaders leverage their power and authority to influence others. While authority and power may lead to compliance, a more powerful force - influence - leads to commitment.
• The Office of Personnel Management is sponsoring two free 1-day leadership training seminars for National Security Professionals and Senior Executive Service members.
• Writing Individual Performance Goals and Employee Relations Workshops in the National Capital Region - The Office of the Chief Component Human Capital Officer is offering joint workshops on Writing Individual Performance Goals and Employee Relations at headquarters
• All-Hazards Position Specific Train-the-Trainer Program  - The primary goal of the National Incident Management System   Incident Command System   All-Hazards Position Specific Training Program is to provide additional training that may be needed by personnel responsible for managing incidents of greater complexity than those typically encountered during routine operations.
• E0176 Hazards United States Multi-Hazards for Floodplain Managers - This course provides in-depth instruction and hands-on exercises that develop the skills needed by Certified Floodplain Managers and other Emergency Planners to effectively use the HAZUS tools necessary for modeling the impacts on communities from riverine and coastal flooding. 
• Announcement of the DHS Efficiency Review Fellowship Opportunity - The Office of the Secretary is pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for the 2013 spring session of the DHS Efficiency Review Fellowship.
• Course: B449 Incident Command System Curricula Train-The-Trainer - this course is designed to prepare instructors to deliver Incident Command System related training courses. Course dates: March 4-7.
• The Fundamentals of Leadership is Now Accepting Registrations! - The Fundamentals of Leadership offers new supervisors the chance to learn more about their role within the agency and to develop proficiency in leadership competencies. Several course dates available.
• E910 – Integrated Emergency Management Course, Earthquake: Preparedness and Response Course Dates: July 22-25, 2013 -The E910 IEMC, Earthquake: Preparedness and Response, addresses preparedness and response in emergency situations based on an earthquake. The participants in the "generic" audience represent various communities from throughout the country.

Full descriptions of each of the rotation assignments are available on on.fema.net. Employees interested in applying for these rotations, should click on the link, “Apply for a Rotation Position” located on the upper right-hand side of the Detail & Rotation Opportunities page.
DHS Rotational Opportunities:

• DHS Rotational Opportunities: - Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman. The CISOMB is seeking individuals interested in a rotational assignment as a Program Assistant. Program Assistant’s will assist supervisors with identifying CISOMB database problems and reports problems for resolution. Works with the staff and management to identify and assist with correcting administrative and technical issues concerning office policies and procedures. Collaborates with the clerical personnel to improve inquiry and data collection methods for entry into Intranet Quorum and CAADI databases, and demonstrates knowledge of all office policies and procedures. 

To apply for DHS rotational opportunities visit DHSConnect.dhs.gov.  Employees should review the announcement very carefully for specific instructions on eligibility and how to apply.

• Writing Individual Performance Goals and Employee Relations Workshops in the National Capital Region - The Office of the Chief Component Human Capital Officer is offering joint workshops on Writing Individual Performance Goals and Employee Relations at headquarters
• All-Hazards Position Specific Train-the-Trainer Program  - The primary goal of the National Incident Management System   Incident Command System   All-Hazards Position Specific Training Program is to provide additional training that may be needed by personnel responsible for managing incidents of greater complexity than those typically encountered during routine operations.
• E0176 Hazards United States Multi-Hazards for Floodplain Managers - This course provides in-depth instruction and hands-on exercises that develop the skills needed by Certified Floodplain Managers and other Emergency Planners to effectively use the HAZUS tools necessary for modeling the impacts on communities from riverine and coastal flooding. 
• Announcement of the DHS Efficiency Review Fellowship Opportunity - The Office of the Secretary is pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for the 2013 spring session of the DHS Efficiency Review Fellowship.
• Course: B449 Incident Command System Curricula Train-The-Trainer - this course is designed to prepare instructors to deliver Incident Command System related training courses. Course dates: March 4-7.
• The Fundamentals of Leadership is Now Accepting Registrations! - The Fundamentals of Leadership offers new supervisors the chance to learn more about their role within the agency and to develop proficiency in leadership competencies. Several course dates available.
• Mandatory Training: Fraud Awareness and Prevention Training Module, IS-38  -  This message is a follow-up to an earlier message announcing the launch of a Fraud Awareness and Prevention Training course; designed to enhance our efforts in preventing fraud, waste, and abuse as good stewards of federal tax payer dollars.
• E910 – Integrated Emergency Management Course, Earthquake: Preparedness and Response Course Dates: July 22-25, 2013 -The E910 IEMC, Earthquake: Preparedness and Response, addresses preparedness and response in emergency situations based on an earthquake. The participants in the "generic" audience represent various communities from throughout the country.

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Employee News Online is a news site that highlights the work of FEMA employees and issues related to the FEMA mission. It is produced by the Office of External Affairs, Public Affairs Division at 500 C Street, Washington.

You may submit your articles and announcements to FEMA-Weekly for inclusion to Employee News Online, FEMA Weekly Bulletin. Please allow 24-48 hours for your article or announcement to be posted.