CISA Resources to Help Schools Strengthen Security and Build Resilience​
Schools provide the foundation for our nation’s future success and are an essential component of our everyday lives, providing services to millions of children, families, and communities across the country. K-12 schools are also part of our nation’s critical infrastructure. To ensure the safety and wellbeing of students, educators, and staff, schools must be aware of risks and threats, create and implement actionable security plans, and be able to withstand and recover from incidents. This month marks Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Month, an annual effort led by CISA focused on educating and engaging all levels of government, infrastructure owners and operators, and the American public about the vital role critical infrastructure plays in the nation’s wellbeing and why it is important to strengthen critical infrastructure security and resilience. Recently we have witnessed increased frequency and intensity of threats and hazards facing our critical infrastructure, from natural disasters to targeted violence to cyberattacks. This year, CISA asks everyone, including the education community, to Resolve to be Resilient by preparing for and investing in resilience today, so we can withstand or recover quickly in the event of an incident tomorrow. Learn more on cisa.gov. 


Reminder: COVID-19 Reporting Due into CAAMP
Due January 12, 2024
Data collection is currently under way for the third year of HPP Cooperative Agreement COVID-19 Supplemental Funding. Data collection is taking place in the Cooperative Agreement Accountability and Management Platform (CAAMP). Instructions for accessing CAAMP and completing the online performance measure forms were sent to recipients on Tuesday, October 31 from the HPP CAAMP Support email ([email protected]).   Note that recipients and sub-recipients are required to report regardless of whether they spent funding during the period of performance from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023. Any questions can be directed to the HPP CAAMP Support email ([email protected]) with Jessica, Amber and Capt. Duane Wagner, Field Project Officer (FPO) copied.


Chemical Emergency Surge Annex Templates
Budget Period 5 has a particular focus on chemical incident planning, training and exercise. The coalitions need to complete a Chemical Annex and Exercise before June 30, 2024. Below is the Chemical Emergency Surge Annex planning and exercise resources as provided by ASPR TRACIE.
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Chemical Surge Annex Tabletop Exercise Template
Link to the Healthcare Coalition Chemical Emergency Surge Annex Template


2024 National Healthcare Coalition Preparedness Conference ~ Call for Presentations
Submit By: February 9, 2024
The National Healthcare Coalition Preparedness Conference is looking for presentations for the 2024 conference. Presentations should align with the conference theme: Visions of Progress: Sustainable Strategies for Emergency Preparedness and Resilience. Specifically, healthcare coalition leaders who can share what's working in their community through presentations with tangible takeaways that will equip colleagues to integrate new techniques, develop best practices and increase overall effectiveness. Sessions which highlight effective solutions in rural and frontier communities are in high demand by conference attendees.
Submit Presentation

RISC 2.0 Toolkit Has Finally Been Launched
​The Risk Identification and Site Criticality (RISC) Toolkit is an objective, data-driven all-hazards risk assessment that can be used by public and private organizations within the Healthcare and Public Health (HPH) Sector to inform emergency preparedness planning, risk management activities, and resource investments. The RISC Toolkit provides owners/operators in the HPH Sector with nationally recognized standards-based evaluation criteria in an easy-to-follow, guided format.

The RISC Toolkit contains three self-assessment modules. These allow users to identify external threats and internal hazards specific to their site by using objective national-level data; assess the vulnerability of their site based on industry standards and guidance; and evaluate the criticality of and consequences to their site in the event of an incident. The RISC Toolkit compares multiple facilities across systems, coalitions, and regions to identify dependencies and interdependencies in a consistent and repeatable method to help create a more resilient healthcare system. 
For more information on the Risk Identification and Site Criticality (RISC) Toolkit

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Administration Opens Additional Ordering for COVID-19 Tests
The Biden-Harris Administration and ASPR are committed to ensuring equitable access to COVID-19 tests, especially ahead of the holidays. Beginning November 20, ASPR is refreshing ordering on COVIDTests.gov for every U.S. household to order additional tests at no charge. Households that ordered this fall can order four more tests, and those that have not ordered this fall can submit two orders for a total of eight tests.

Providing over four million free COVID-19 tests per week directly to long-term care facilities, schools, community health centers, and food banks. To date, ASPR has distributed over 1.6 billion free COVID-19 tests to the American people through our testing programs, with a focus on access for at-risk populations.

Your ongoing assistance in reaching the broadest population throughout the country with information about the availability of additional free tests. More information on these efforts and a digital toolkit to share through your social media avenues is available at covidtests.gov.


Preparedness Lunch and Learn
December 19, 2023
The Preparedness Lunch and Learn series continues with Pediatric Readiness on December 19, 2023. Topics will continue to build knowledge for emergency managers in hospitals and other healthcare facilities as well as coalitions, local health departments, tribes and others. This series is the third Tuesday every month from 12 p.m. - 1 p.m. For registration, visit MI-TRAIN, course ID # 1112624 for the entire series. 


Region 5 Hazard Mitigation Announces Webinar Series
Click here for scheduled webinars
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The FEMA Region 5 Hazard Mitigation branch is currently running their Fall Webinar and Office Hours series. Webinars dive deep into specific topics relating to grant applications and are hosted by our subject matter specialists. Upcoming webinars include Project Scoping & Phased Projects, Benefit Cost Analysis, Equity Tools & Non Disaster Narrative Basics, and BRIC Quantitative & Qualitative Overview.
Office Hours take on a more informal structure and are open sessions for questions related to HMA's grant programs and applications. They begin with a short presentation and move into an open Q&A forum. HMA specialists are online to answer all your questions!



Federal Emergency Mangement Agency (FEMA) Launches First-Ever #WinterReady Campaign, urges the Nation to Get Prepared for Extreme Cold and Winter Weather“
​Harsh winters are not only a concern for states in the far north - blizzards, extreme cold and the damage to our critical infrastructure that these conditions can cause today threaten every community, everywhere across our nation,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “An ounce of prevention today is worth a pound of cure tomorrow.  The #WinterReady Campaign, thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will make resources available to help our entire country stand more resilient, more secure, and more prepared in the face of the cold months ahead. I strongly urge every community to take advantage of these resources - including and especially those who have not faced these weather-related challenges before.”  Read the full press release from FEMA.


Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Unveils New "Shields Ready" Campaign to Promote Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience
DHS, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and FEMA launched the new “Shields Ready” campaign to encourage the critical infrastructure community to focus on strengthening resilience. Resilience is the ability to prepare for, adapt to, withstand and rapidly recover from disruptions caused by changing conditions. The new campaign was unveiled during a joint press conference at the Port of Long Beach, alongside speakers from the Long Beach, California, community and members of the U.S. Coast Guard. Read the full press release from FEMA.