Topics Related to Emergency Management

November not only marks the midpoint for football season, but it is also when the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) kicks off Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Month.

Whether its storm surge along the coast caused by a tropical storm or riverine flooding in the mountains, across North Carolina, no one is immune to threats of flooding. Here are some tips on how to prepare.

Intended to help young women explore careers in emergency management and public safety, HERricane welcomed 26 participants ranging from ninth grade to early college to an action-packed week of career exploration, skill building and networking.

Hurricane Ian struck a devastating blow to southwest Florida before rolling through North Carolina with relatively minor impact. Several N.C. Emergency Management employees and North Carolina responders who originally had braced 
to provide local support, deployed instead to the Sunshine State. 

The work of hazard mitigation is designed so that today’s investment will pay off in the event of a future threat; it’s playing the long game. While the damages done in Western North Carolina by the remnants of Tropical Storm Fred are undeniable, even greater losses would have occurred without the hazard mitigation measures put in place after Hurricane Frances and Tropical Storm Ivan more than a decade ago.

When a disaster strikes, such as a hurricane, tornado, flood event or whatever causes a large amount of destruction, many communities turn to the state and federal governments for assistance. Aid to these communities may come through the Public Assistance Program of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

In the wake of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks the nation developed the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to coordinate a unified national strategy to protect against and respond to terrorism attacks. These efforts create a united front that includes enhancing security efforts at the border, airports and elsewhere, as well as improving cybersecurity and emergency response activities that provide for national security.

After the remnants of Tropical Storm Fred dropped several inches of rain in Western North Carolina, record flooding occurred along the Pigeon River resulting in six fatalities. The storm is estimated to have caused $18.7 million in damage to public infrastructure, and 11 counties have been approved for FEMA Public Assistance.

The North Carolina Emergency Management Association (NCEMA) held its annual meeting recently and presented awards for 2020 and 2021. These awards included the Col. William A. Thompson Award, which is presented to the North Carolina Emergency Management (NCEM) employee who has demonstrated outstanding achievement assisting local emergency management coordinators with programs, incidents and information. The 2020 Thompson Award recipient is Tim Byers, NCEM Area 6 Coordinator in the Central Branch Office and the 2021 recipient is Dennis Hancock, NCEM Central Branch Manager.

N.C. Emergency Management echoes the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) theme for National Fire Prevention Week, which was Oct. 3 - 9, and encourages everyone to Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety.