Emergency Coordination Officers Information
In accordance with Executive Order 44, emergency preparedness planning, training and promotion as a core component of all executive branch agencies, including institutions of higher education’s mission. This Executive Order directs the agency’s Emergency Coordination Officer to actively plan, train and act in the interest of the protection of the citizens of the Commonwealth and its infrastructure.
This page will assist the Emergency Coordination Officers in their duties on Preparedness Planning, the Annual Preparedness Assessment, and the Continuity of Operations Plans. We will provide you with important due dates, links to helpful documents, and other information.
2009 Dates and Action Items
- March 17 -- Statewide Tornado Drill (Register at VDEM's website.)
- March 31 to April 3 -- Virginia Emergency Management Conference (Check vemaweb.org for more information. A Higher Education Track has been added.)
- April 1 -- Annual Submission of COOP plan (Agencies being assessed will be notified by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.)
- August 3 -- Governor's Campus Preparedness Conference (Held at Virginia Commonwealth University)
- Mid-September -- Annual Agency Preparedness Assessment
Plans are being developed to provide additional preparedness training throughout the year. OCP will forward information regarding training opportunities once they are scheduled. Please Curtis Brown at curtis.brown@governor.virginia.gov or (804) 692-2597 if you have any questions.
Revised planning templates available
In response to the legislation passed by the General Assembly this year, VDEM Local Planning Assistance has revised the Local Emergency Operations Plan template and the College and University EOP template.
The revisions reflect amendments to the Code of Virginia, §23-9.2:9 and §44-146.18, that require state institutions of higher education and local governments to include a provision in their emergency operations plans that the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services and the Virginia Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund be contacted immediately to deploy assistance when there are victims as defined in §19.2-11.01, as well as current contact information for both agencies.
The amendment will become effective July 1, 2009.
It is VDEM policy that state institutions of higher education and local governments request state resources through the local government’s emergency operations center. Therefore, to be consistent with the above code references and policy:
- Both the institution and local government should include notification of VCICF and VDCJS in their plans.
- Actual notification should be conducted on behalf of the institution when events involve higher education entities by the locality, and
- The institution involved should have a process in place to verify the action was taken.
The revised templates are available at the VDEM Library. If you have any questions or need any additional assistance, please write or call Eileen.Tarr@vdem.virginia.gov, (804) 897-6500, ext. 6529.
Adjunct Emergency Workforce
In November 2007, Governor Kaine announced and encouraged all eligible state employees to support the Commonwealth's continuing efforts to stand at the forefront of a response to any disaster or emergency by participating in Virginia's new Adjunct Emergency Workforce. The Adjunct Emergency Workforce provides opportunities for employees to be assigned to emergency response teams during periods of declared emergencies. The initial effort in a declared emergency will focus on the area of greatest need -- the emergency sheltering of our fellow citizens. In the event of the mass evacuation of a large region of Virginia, state government will assume primary responsibility for sheltering, and there will be a critical need for shelter support staff.
Please visit www.dhrm.state.va.us/AdjunctEmergencyWorkforce.html for more information.