GEMA Holds Bomb Threat Credibility Assessment Training

Bomb threats are a vexing problem for school officials. Mindful of the fact that an act of terrorism or other violence is a very real possibility, authorities take these threats very seriously. Fortunately, they usually turn out to be hoaxes, but not before creating a huge headache for school officials, whose normal course of business is disrupted, and first responders, who bring in expensive resources to investigate the threat.

With the right tools and training, authorities can properly evaluate the threat and determine the best course of action. Therefore, on March 11, the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) presented, "Managing School Bomb Threats," a free class for education and law enforcement professionals at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth. Topics covered planning for a bomb threat, how to identify a credible threat, search techniques, and adjudication of a bomb threat suspect. The seminar concluded with an explosives demonstration provided by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s bomb squad.

GEMA’s School Safety Unit provides services that help schools have a safe and secure school year. GEMA’s school safety coordinators offer training and technical assistance to educators, emergency management and public safety personnel. This includes site surveys, classes on weapons screening, school bus safety, gangs, bullying, exercise design and bomb threat management. They also respond to school crises.

For more information on school safety or GEMA’s School Safety Unit, call GEMA toll-free in Georgia at 1-800-TRY-GEMA or visit www.gema.ga.gov. For more information on specific risks in your area and how to prepare for them, contact your local emergency management agency.

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Governor Perdue Asks President Bush for Major Disaster Declaration

Today Governor Sonny Perdue asked President Bush for a major disaster declaration to assist residents and local governments in Cherokee County with emergency response measures and aid for losses resulting from the severe weather and tornadoes that occurred on Tuesday, May 20, 2008.

“This is the third tornado event this spring that has disrupted the lives of our citizens and devastated one of our communities,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “I am hopeful that our federal partners will recognize the extent of this damage and will render the appropriate assistance to help the residents of Cherokee County recover in the aftermath of this severe weather.”

The disaster declaration is requested as the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) continues to work with local officials to assess and recover from the damages caused by the storms. GEMA officials estimate initial governmental response and clean up efforts will exceed $2.9 million.

The request is for Public Assistance to pay for the cost of emergency protective measures, debris removal and repairs to public buildings. This request also includes Individual Assistance for affected households. Approximately 1,300 homes were impacted statewide. The residents of 1,000 of those homes will need help with repair or replacement costs.

The National Weather Service confirmed that an EF1 rated tornado struck Cherokee County with a path reported to be five miles long and three-fourths to one mile wide. The tornado was a part of a line of storms that marched south through much of north and central Georgia during the evening. At least thirty-five counties reported large hail and wind damage.

For additional information on storm damage and assistance, visit www.gema.ga.gov.

Several County Hazard Mitigation Plans Approved by FEMA in 2008

The Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) announced today (May 23, 2008) the approval of 19 county multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plans by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Today's announcement brings the total number of approved county plans to 117 of the 159 counties in the state. FEMA is currently reviewing 22 county plans for approval; GEMA is scheduled to submit the final 20 county plans to FEMA over the next year. Currently, the approved plans cover approximately 8.2 million people or 88% of the state's population. These approved plans allow the counties to apply for grant assistance to implement mitigation projects.

The newly approved plans are from the following counties: Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Brooks, Candler, Cook, Coweta, Dooly, Echols, Grady, Irwin, Jasper, Macon, Schley, Screven, Seminole, Towns, Turner and Ware.

"I appreciate the hard work of these 19 counties and the proactive measures taken to lessen the risk of natural disasters in their communities, "said GEMA Director Charley English. "Their plans will help to ensure the state's eligibility for assistance in the event of a disaster." So far, FEMA has funded nearly $2.3 million toward county plan development in Georgia.

Counties are required by the federal government to have approved hazard mitigation plans in place in order to be eligible to receive grant funding for mitigation projects. Since 2002, the Hazard Mitigation Division has provided technical assistance to counties throughout the state to develop the plans. FEMA recently approved the state of Georgia's Hazard Mitigation Strategy which enables the state to maintain eligibility for the full range of disaster assistance through the Stafford Act.

Hazard mitigation is any sustained action taken by state or local governments to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to its citizens and property from natural hazards. Examples of mitigation include purchase or development of warning systems, configuration of community shelters and safe rooms, property acquisition, storm water management improvements, and structure elevation or relocation.

For more information on Georgia's hazard mitigation plans or the Georgia Emergency Management Agency, call GEMA toll-free at 1-800-TRY-GEMA or visit www.gema.ga.gov.

GEMA Distributes Hazard Mitigation Funds to the City of Alpharetta

The Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA), on behalf of Governor Sonny Perdue, recently reimbursed the City of Alpharetta $102,385 for the costs associated with the construction of a detention pond to mitigate flooding to residential areas.

"We are pleased that the funding was available to take a common sense approach to mitigate flooding in these areas," said GEMA Director Charley English.

The purpose of the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Program is to provide funds to state agencies and local governments for projects that reduce or eliminate the long-term risk to human life and property from the effects of natural hazards by breaking the repetitive cycle of destruction and reconstruction.