Columbus, Georgia

Georgia's First Consolidated Government

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Columbus, Georgia, 31902-1340
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Council Members

FEMA And USACE Develop Points Of Distribution Guide, Video And Independent

Study Course For State/Local/Nongovernmental Partners?

Release Date: March 26, 2009

Release Number: HQ-09-032

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency

Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) are

making available several new, user-friendly tools to partners to enhance state

and local capability to stand up and operate Points of Distribution (POD)

during and immediately after disaster events.

The products include a new independent study course, a video and guide. These

products were developed with input from several states, including Florida,

Washington and Texas, and incorporates best practices and lessons learned from

the experiences of recent hurricane seasons.

"This guide, video and training class will assist all the partners and

stakeholders involved in distribution of assets during times of disaster. Best

practices have been compiled and are illustrated in an easy to follow format.

This material will help communities, states and tribes work in even better

coordination with federal and non-governmental partners as they provide needed

supplies to the public, in a timely and consistent manner," said FEMA Logistics

Management Directorate Assistant Administrator Eric Smith.

The independent study training materials provide an overview into the planning,

operations, and demobilization stages needed for a state or local community to

successfully execute a POD mission. The lessons detail the staffing and

procedures any state or locality will need to plan for, execute, and deactivate

POD operations. The guide also includes key operational practices such as how

to address safety, equipment management, and resource accountability and

informs the reader about the innovative "Adopt a POD" program being used by the

state of Washington.

FEMA is using new media techniques to reach state, local and nongovernmental

partners in disasters by offering the video on its multimedia site at

www.fema.gov/medialibrary. The video is downloadable and also easily embedded

on the websites of the state and local partners. The DVD, POD guide and online

test are available at training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is26.asp. Beginning April 1,

the DVD and POD guide may also be ordered, at no cost, for mail delivery

through the FEMA Publications Warehouse (1-800-480-2520).

FEMA is also developing a "Train the Trainer" course that will be held at the

Emergency Management Institute (EMI) to provide detailed hands-on experience to

state and local emergency managers who can then go back to their communities to

train others.

FEMA is reaching out to state and local emergency managers to participate in a

focus group hosted at FEMA's Emergency Management Institute (EMI) to develop

the "Train the Trainer" course. FEMA expects to have this completed by December

2009.

FEMA's multimedia library provides audio, video and photography captured during

disaster federal response and recovery missions, instructional and training

content, as well as preparedness and mitigation stories.

FEMA leads and supports the nation in a risk-based, comprehensive emergency

management system of preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and

mitigation, to reduce the loss of life and property and protect the nation from

all hazards including natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made

disasters.

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