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cessful partnership with the Florida Association of Counties (FAC) and the Small County Coalition. With the support of Commissioner Bill Wil-liams, FAC First Vice President, FEPA is developing an Emergency Man-agement Module for the FAC Certi-fied County Commissioner Training Program. FAC recognizes the impor-tant role that local emergency man-agers play in community safety and is committed to educating elected officials on the importance of the emergency management function in their jurisdictions.

Further recognizing the impor-tant role that training plays in our professional effectiveness, in my closing remarks, I re-asserted FEPA’s commitment to the Florida Divi-sion of Emergency Management to establish a training course for county emergency management directors. At FEPA’s July 2010 Mid Year Work Session, DEM agreed that FEPA, through its membership, had the

appropriate experience and exper-tise to develop, pilot and implement a Florida-specific training program for county directors and DEM offered resources to support this initiative. FEPA remains committed to this project and looks forward to col-laborating with DEM to bring it to completion.

Finally, I pledged to continue FEPA’s leadership role in tracking implementation of the Governor’s Transition Team Emergency Man-agement Work Group recommenda-tions and other policy initiatives affecting emergency management. To accomplish this, FEPA will main-tain its strong partnership with allied agencies and organizations. I have already mentioned our effec-tive relationship with FAC and the Small County Coalition, but through our member liaisons, FEPA maintains formal ties with many other groups and associations such as the Florida Sheriffs Association, the Florida Fire

Chiefs Association, the Florida City and County Managers Association, the Florida School Board Associa-tion, and the Florida School Super-intendents Association. Perhaps more importantly, through you, our members, FEPA has direct participa-tion and access to a vast network of professional and personal associa-tions to advance our collective vision for Florida’s emergency manage-ment system.

I look forward to working with each of you through the year and welcome your suggestions and comments. For those of you that do not know me I hope to meet you and earn your friendship and respect. For those who I do know, I plan to count on your support, counsel and active participation in FEPA.

FEPA forwarded letters to Legislative leaders urging continuation of the EMPA Trust Fund as well as the segregated account for the Hazardous Materials Planning Program’s facility fees. FEPA extends its thanks to members who contacted their Legisla-tive delegations regarding the EMPA Trust Fund and the importance of County Base Grant funding.

The House and Senate budget committees have held hearings on the Governor’s proposed budget but have not yet released their preliminary budget documents for con-sideration during the 2011 Legislative Session.

FEPA Legislative Day is scheduled for Wednesday, March 23, 2011. Information on Legislative Day was distrib-uted through your Area Governors and is available on the FEPA Web Site under Governmental Affairs.

President’s Message continued

2011 Legislative Session continued

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DOUBLETREE HOTEL TAMPA WESTSHORE

AIRPORT4800 West Cypress Street

Tampa, FL 336071-800-222-TREE (8733)

or 813-879-4800

Room Rate is $95.00

Cutoff to Receive the FEPA Room Rate is: July 12, 2011

Ask for Group Name: FEPA

Room Block is Open and Avail-able for Reservations

SAVE THE DATES!!!!

FEPA MID-YEAR WORK SESSIONAUGUST 3-5, 2011 • Tampa

Details on the Mid Year Work Session Program and Agenda will be Posted to the FEPA Web Site www.fepa.org

FEPA 2012 ANNUAL MEETING AND WORK SESSION

FEBRUARY 6-10, 2012HILTON DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA

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On February 2, 2011 FEPA President Jerry Smith attended a meeting with Pasco County Emergency Management Director

Jim Martin and Congressman Gus M. Bilirakis and his key staff regarding federal issues. Congressman Bilirakis serves as the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications. This subcommittee has jurisdiction over private and public sector mitigation, prevention, preparedness and response efforts in response to acts of terrorism, natural disasters, or other emergencies. This includes oversight of issues related to Federal Emergency Management Agency and Department of Homeland

Security administered grants. The Subcommittee also works with the Office of Health Affairs, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center and emergency communications including interoperability, operability and the activities of the Office of Emergency Communications.

Chairman Bilirakis was extremely

interested in how issues before his subcommittee affect local jurisdictions in his Congressional district. On February 4, 2011, Congressman Bilirakis visited Pinellas County to receive a briefing from Pinellas County Emergency Management. FEPA President-Elect Anne Miller participated

FEPA Participates in the Interagency Committee on Special Needs Meeting

On March 1, 2011 FEPA attended the Department of Health Special Needs Shelter Interagency Committee meeting in Tallahassee, Florida. The meeting agenda focused on the federal Functional Needs Support Services (FNSS) guidance and its impacts on shelter operations in Florida. As demonstrated by the lively FNSS roundtable at the Annual Meeting, this topic is of great interest to emergency managers given adopted and pending Department of Justice settlement agreements with Florida local governments regarding access to services in shelters. More than thirty counties participated in the meeting either in person on via webinar.

The meeting included multiple presentations regarding the FNSS document and its application to Florida shelter planning and operations. Presenters provided an overview of the guidance, the legal basis and overview of FNSS and their relationship to Americans with Disabilities Act regulations and Department of Justice interpretations and an American Red Cross discussion of shelter procedures in light of the FNSS guidelines.

in this meeting and with Pinellas County Director Sally Bishop, provided the Chairman with talking points of federal issues affecting local emergency

management in Florida. Chairman Bilirakis held a third meeting in Hillsborough County on March 21, 2011 to meet with emergency management officials.In preparation for the meeting, FEPA prepared a “Federal Issues” discussion topic summary. The federal talking points are available on the FEPA web site www.fepa.org.

FEPA Meets with Congressman Bilirakis in Pasco and Pinellas

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2011 FEPA/DEM Emergency Management Academies

Results from the 2010 NOAA Hurricane Conferenceby Dan Noah, Meteorologist, National Weather Service Tampa Bay Area

he FEPA/DEM Basic Academy was held February 16-25, 2011 at Camp Blanding, Florida and included twenty seven cadets. The nine day training offered a unique blend of classroom studies and practical exercises that make the Academy an extremely unique education and professional development experience. The FEPA/DEM Intermediate Academy was held March 6-11 also at Camp Blanding. More than a dozen students participated in the Intermedi-ate Academy curriculum to hone their skills and knowledge of emergency management principles and practices. Many FEPA members contributed their time to serve as speakers and instructors for the Basic and Intermediate Academies. FEPA President Jerry Smith attended both Academy graduation ceremonies to congratulate graduates and recognize them for their achieve-ments. In preparation for the two Academy offerings, members of the FEPA Training and Professional Development Committee and Executive Committee were extremely busy working with the Division of Emergency Management on the 2011 Academy curriculum and procedures. This investment in the 2011 Academy training series is sure to prove beneficial in evaluating the goals and objectives of the unique training venture and for future training of-ferings. FEPA sends its thanks and appreciation to the members listed below who supported the Basic and Intermediate Academies:

Basic EmergencyManagement Academy

Billy AbernathyAlton ScottRon MillsMarty SenterfittJudd WrightDiane SurrattPaul WombleJayson SouthworthJohn Ward

Intermediate EmergencyManagement Academy

Billy AbernathyAlton ScottDianne SurrattJudd WrightJohn WardRobbie Powers

Basic EM Academy

Intermediate EM Academy

high impact on the emergency management and media partners, and a halt on internal NWS software development as we modernize our forecast workstations over the next couple of years (all of our current software must be ported over to the new system). The NWS will internally prototype possible warning formats in both text and GIS formats in 2011. Please keep in mind that emergency management and media input will key to any possible storm surge warning. It is likely We will not see an experimental storm surge warning before the 2013 hurricane season.

There will no longer be separate tropical storm and hurricane warnings for the coast and inland areas. The Inland Hurricane Wind Warning will now be called a Hurricane Warning. This will reduce public confusion and significantly

continued on page 13

The annual NOAA Hurricane Conference was held in December of 2010 and was an opportunity for NOAA agencies to enhance internal operations and customer service to improve hurricane warning and response. Most all of the agenda items this year were related to internal operations and procedures, but there were a few items emergency management will be interested in. The 2011 National Hurricane Conference in April serves as a national forum for federal, state and local officials to exchange ideas and recommend new policies.

The discussion of a possible storm surge warning took up a considerable amount of time during the conference. Social science studies with the general public and emergency management have been underway since the summer of 2010. The development of a possible storm surge warning will be a slow process due to the

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Commission Meets for Much Needed Workshop

From February 22 – 24, 2011, the FEPA Certification Commission held its first ever workshop.

Thirteen Commissioners gathered in Tampa to accomplish some much needed updates to improve the Certifi-cation Program.

The Certification Commission is pleased to report that the time spent together was intense, professional and very successful. The following items were accomplished:• Revised the FEPA Certification

Program Recognized Courses, Credit Hours and Type of

Credit List• Revised the FEPA Certification Ap-

plication• Revised the FEPA Re-Certification

Application• Revised the Certification Commis-

sion ManualThe FEPA Certification Commission

also took the time to go through the

Florida Professional Emergency Manager

Mark Barker .................................................. City Holly Hill PDThomas Boyles ................................................................ USCGSid Busick ................................................................Bay Co. EMPedro Carrasquillo .......................................... Osceola Co. EMCharles Carter ................................................................ CFRPCAshley Davis ..................................................................... FDOTShannon Davis ........................................................Lee Co. EMShirley Exner ................................................. Seminole Co. PSMichael Faulkner .......................................... Okeechobee EMGilbert Fernandez ........................................ Sarasota Co. PWScott Garner ......................................................... Dixie Co. EMSteven Graff ..............................................................Stuart PDDavid Halstead ............................................................... FDEMMaria Haney ........................................................... Clay Co. EMDenise Heady ................................................................. FDOHLilian R. Ivey .................................................... Indian River ESKen Jones .......................................................................... USCGTodd Kerkering ............................................. Sarasota Co. EMSteven LeCroy............................................ ............. St Pete FRStephen Lewis........................................... Boynton Beach FD

FEPA Certification Commission UpdateBy Angela Allen, Certification Commission Secretary

Florida Senate Committee on Military Affairs and Domestic Security Report, Certification of Emergency Manage-ment Officials, page by page, during our workshop. All Commissioners are in agreement that the FEPA Certifica-tion Program meets the intent of the report and stands on its own merit.

The results of the workshop will be submitted to the FEPA Board of Directors for review and approval at its March meeting. If approved the new application criteria will become effective December 2, 2011. This date follows the December 1 deadline for the 2012 graduating class, giving 2013 applicants sufficient time before the December 1, 2012 deadline. There have been some significant changes made to both the Florida Associate and the Florida Professional Emergen-cy Manager Certifications. Members that plan to submit an application for either are encouraged to do so prior to December 1. Further details on the specific changes will be made avail-able via the FEPA web site and future

newsletters, once the updated ap-plications have been approved by the FEPA Board of Directors.

As you can see, a lot was accom-plished in just a few short days. The time the commissioners took from their busy schedules to meet together and carry out the goals of the work-shop is very much appreciated.

Certification Corner Class of 2011

Congratulations to the following FEPA members who met the rigorous standards of the FEPA Certification Program during the Class of 2011 review cycle. This is the highest honor of professional achievement available from the Florida Emergency Prepared-ness Association, which has in its membership more than 600 emer-gency management officials. Formal recognition and conferral of Certifi-cation certificates and pins for the Certification Class of 2011 took place at the FEPA Annual Awards Ceremony in January 2011.

Ronnie McCardle ..........................................Columbia Co. EMAngus D. McPhaul. .................................................FL 4 DMATScott Montgomery ....................................... Sarasota Co. EMShayne Morgan ............................................Columbia Co. EMPaul Morrison .................................................... Manatee CHDWanda Mosley ........................................................ Clay Co. EMJodie Muenz................................................ ...... GRD SolutionsRichard H. Nicorvo ........................................Broward CollegeDan A. Niederman .......................................................... FDEMJames Olds ..................................................... City of LakelandDeborah Peck............................................. .... Pinellas Co. EMKevin Peters ......................................................... Leon Co. EMInaki A. Rezola............................................ .. ARC SW FL ChapKatie Ritchie............................................... ... Manatee Co. EMJosh Roberts ............................................................Lee Co. EMAlton Scott ...................................................Lafayette Co. EMJudy Scribner ...................................................... Collier Co. EMDaniel Simpson.......................................... ............... Polk CHDRyan Simpson ................................................. Putnam Co. EMJA Stakenburg .........................................................Lee Co. EMCharles Tear............................................... ....... GRD SolutionsKeila Walker................................................ .... Osceola Co. EM

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Florida Professional Emergency Manager (FPEM) Recertification

Veronica Anderson .....................................................SFWMDGregory Bacon ............................................... Manatee Co. EMNiel Batista ...................................................... Miami Dade EMJeff Charles ........................................................Orange Co. PWDoug Christ ........................................................DeSoto Co. EMDavid Donnelly ................................................Alachua Co. EMRoger Hagan ...................................................Washington EMAlan Harris ..................................................... Seminole Co. EMDick Haynes ................................................... Manatee Co. EMJames Judge .................................................Lake-Sumter EMSEtta LoPresti ................................................... Indian River EMSusana Mueller ....................................................TECO EnergyAshley Newsome ..................................................... EREC, Inc.

Calling All Volunteers…. Are You Certifiable?

The Florida Emergency Management Volunteer (FEMV) Certification was added to the program in 2002. This certification recognizes the volunteer partners of the emergency management community who have demonstrated a dedicated effort to their local or state comprehensive emergency manage-ment program within the State of Florida.

Since its inception, only five FEMV’s have been awarded. The Commission is asking all FEPA Members to help us in getting the word out to our volunteer community. This would be a great way for them to receive recognition for their dedication to Emergency Management. If you know a deserving candi-date, tell them “you’re certifiable” and direct them to the certification applica-tion on the FEPA website.

If there are any questions regarding the FEPA Certification Program or the application process, please feel free to contact any of the Certification Com-missioners. A complete listing of Certification Commissioners can be found on the Certification Page on the FEPA website.

William Pecci ............................................................. Stuart PDDennis Reddecliff ....................................................SGS-NASACharlie Roberts ................................................ Brevard Co. EMRichard Shepard ..............................................Hardee Co. EMDonald Shinnamon ....................................... Port St Lucie PDJerry Smith .............................................................Lake Co. EMLinda Stoughton..................................... St. Johns County EMEdwin Ward .......................................................................FDOTEdward Wolf ..................................................................... FEMA

Florida Associate Emergency Manager (FAEM)

Michelle Carter ..............................................Seminole Co. SOMary Ann Cole .................................................... Collier Co. EMEfren Lopez .................................................... Miami Dade EM

Florida Emergency Management Volunteer (FEMV)

Keith Wall ............................................................................. UCF

John Ward .............................................Clay Co. Public SafetyGary Weiss.................................................. ................ ACT, Inc.Avera Ryan Williams ....................................... Volusia Co. EMKelly Wilson................................................ .... St Johns Co. EM

FEPA Certification Application DeadlineCertification applications are accepted at the FEPA office through-

out the year. Applications will not be accepted for review at meetings, work sessions or conferences. To be considered for Certification or Re-Certification by the FEPA Certification Commission at its May 2011 meeting held in conjunction with the Governor’s Hurricane Confer-ence, applications must be received at the FEPA office by Friday, April 15, 2011. The FEPA office mailing address is 400 Capital Circle SE, Suite 18-263, Tallahassee, Florida 32301.

reduce the size of the local National Weather Service (NWS) Hurricane Local Statements.

Low end surge events are much more common across Florida than those shown with in the SLOSH Storm Surge model. As a result, the NWS will now begin the process of developing probabilistic storm surge for tropical storms. This is a bigger project than it seems and may be available on an experimental basis in the 2012 hurricane season.

The pronunciation of storm names can be a challenge at times and this is why the National Hurricane Center (NHC) posts a guide on how to pronounce several of the less common names. All storm names will be spelled phonetically for the 2011 hurricane season. It turns out the accents in the U.S. vary enough to require this. To see the current list of storm names visit

.Finally, the NHC Discussions for

Tropical Storms and Hurricanes that list the forecast position and max winds will include wind speeds in both knots and miles per hour (e.g. 12H 28/1800Z 16.0N 52.7W 60 KT 70 MPH). No more converting knots to MPH on the fly will be needed for those who use this product directly without the aid of Hurrevac.

NOAA continued from page 11

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