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Natural Disasters, Preparedness, Training

Spring Power Hour Series is Under Way

Join the Office of Emergency Management and Planning (OEMP) for its upcoming March Power Hour.  This one hour bring-your-own-lunch training session will be offered at the Alexandria, Manassas, and Medical Education campuses.  As with all Power Hours, this session is open to all faculty, staff, and students.

  • Topic:  On March 6th, OEMP staff will train faculty, staff, and students about Earthquake Response.  Come learn what you and others need to do when everything around you begins to shake and what to do when it stops.
  • Time:  Noon to 1:00 pm.
  • Locations for the March 6th Power Hour are as follows:                               

                                Alexandria – AA 417

                                Manassas – MH 110G

                                Medical Education – 352

  • Registration:  The training is open to all but, due to space limitations, we ask that you please register in advance.  Faculty and staff can register through the NOVA Academy.  Once logged in, click on the Learning Center, click on Course Catalog, type OEMP into the Search Text box, and then click Search.   Select NOVA – OEMP:  Earthquake Response, click on the campus session you would like to attend, and then click register.  Students can register by sending an email to oemp@nvcc.edu  If you have any questions, you may also contact the office at 703-764-5043.
Preparedness, Training

2013 Spring C-CERT Classes to Being in February

Are you interested in learning more about emergency preparedness?  Have you ever wanted to do more to help others on campus or in your community during an emergency?  Would you like to be involved with helping evacuate a building on campus during a drill and/or an actual fire alarm or assisting others during a Shelter-in-Place event? 

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, you may be interested in a College-wide opportunity led by the Office of Emergency Management and Planning (OEMP) to recruit and train faculty and staff to become Campus – Community Emergency Response Team (C-CERT) volunteers (C-CERT is in addition to the College’s current building and floor warden programs).  Per Executive Order 41, Governor McDonnell approved twenty hours of work time for any state employees who wish to become C-CERT volunteers.  http://www.governor.virginia.gov/PolicyOffice/ExecutiveOrders/viewEO.cfm?eo=41

The C-CERT program will cover topics such as:  disaster preparedness, fire safety, disaster medical operations, light search and rescue, terrorism awareness, and more.  At the end of the training, each person will receive a backpack filled with items to help assist in an emergency and will become part of the growing C-CERT’s on his/her campus.

C-CERT classes will be held from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM on the following three Fridays:  February 15th, February 22nd, and March 1st.  This semester, the classes will be held at the Medical Education Campus in room 356.  If you are interested in signing up to become a C-CERT volunteer you must first get your supervisor’s permission.  Also, you must commit to attending all three sessions. 

Below is the C-CERT job description.  If you are interested in taking part in the College’s C-CERT training program, please contact oemp@nvcc.edu for more information on how to sign up. 

Job Title: Campus Community and Emergency Response Team (C-C.E.R.T.) Member
 
Service Area: NOVA Campuses
 
Goal or Purpose of the C-CERT Team Member:
This position provides non-emergency and emergency evacuation and shelter-in-place support within NOVA’s Emergency Operations Plan to faculty, staff, students, and visitors affected by disasters on NOVA’s campuses and centers.
 
Major Responsibilities:
  • Assist with special needs evacuation
  • Assist building and floor wardens with general evacuation & shelter-in-place processes
  • Provide assistance at State Shelter and State Transfer Point if necessary
  • Community relations/distribution of emergency information to the public
  • Participate in drills and exercises
  • Participate in training and preparedness activities
  • Support for Emergency Management at College events
  • Emergency preparedness
 Qualifications:
  • Excellent listening skills
  • Reliable with the ability to remain calm during a crisis
  • Successful completion of mandatory training
 Training and/or Preparation Required:  C-C.E.R.T. Volunteer Training Curriculum – Mandatory
 
Time Commitment: Three – eight hour classes held on on Friday February 15th, February 22nd, and March 1st.
 
Benefits to the Volunteer:
  • Gain emergency management skills/experience
  • Achieve a great sense of personal accomplishment
Preparedness

New Emergency Preparedness Mobile App

Virginia launches free emergency preparedness mobile app

RICHMOND – Governor Bob McDonnell announced today a way for Virginians to become “mobile ready” for disasters. The Ready Virginia mobile app, developed by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, gives Virginians a new way to prepare for disasters and also to stay informed during emergencies with the latest information.

The free Ready Virginia app for iPhone® and Android™ mobile devices provides emergency planning and preparedness guidance along with several other important features, including:

  • Location- specific weather watches and warnings as well as flood information issued by the National Weather Service
  • Disaster news from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management
  • Maps with open American Red Cross shelters, hurricane evacuation routes, hurricane storm surge zones and stream gauges
  • A template for creating a customized family emergency plan that can be easily shared
  • Local emergency manager contact information
  • Links to register for local emergency alerts

“Mobile phones and tablets quickly have become a primary way for people to stay informed during disasters.  Last year, social media and web-based information were critical to informing the public and keeping individuals updated with important information during the severe derecho wind storm and Hurricane Sandy,” said Governor McDonnell.  “The new Ready Virginia mobile app gives people another way to stay informed and quickly identify services and other valuable resources regardless of their location.

The Ready Virginia app is available for download in the App Store SM and in Google Play™ for Android™.

In addition to the mobile app, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management launched a mobile version of its website at m.vaemergency.gov.  The mobile site contains all the information available on VDEM’s regular website, but with easier navigation for those who use smart phones and tablets to access websites.

“This new app is one of the most important ones Virginians can install on their mobile devices. Now our citizens can get ‘mobile ready’ and ensure that their families are prepared for emergencies and stay informed with official disaster information when an emergency occurs,” said Governor McDonnell.

Download:

Find the listing on Apple Store

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id579344082?mt=8 

Find the listing on Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cop.vdem.virginia.gov.viper&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwyLDEsImNvbS5jb3AudmRlbS52aXJnaW5pYS5nb3YudmlwZXIiXQ..

Issued by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management

Uncategorized

NOVA is Open

Faculty and Staff:

NOVA classes and administrative offices will remain open and operate as scheduled this afternoon and evening, Thursday Jan. 17.  Individuals should speak to their supervisor about leave options if personal circumstances require them to leave work early or prohibit them from reporting to work.

Students – Please check with instructors or Blackboard regarding the status of your individual classes. Please determine the best course of action for your personal circumstance.

The College will provide updates, if needed, via NOVA Alert and the website.

Inclement Weather

Inclement weather information

As the weeks go by, we have been wondering if winter would actually hit us here in Northern VA.  After all, even though we didn’t get the 70 degree weather initially forecasted last weekend, we did make it up to 60 – something that is reserved for an early spring day, not an early January day.  However, reality is about to set in with a long stretch of cold weather and, yes, the ‘chance’ for snow. 

In the event we get inclement weather this week or three weeks from now, please visit the OEMP website to find a list of television and radio stations that the College will use for any potential delays or closures.  You can also visit the College’s homepage for up-to-date information about the College’s status.