Governor Carney Activates Emergency Management Assistance Compact to Support Emergency Response to Barge Fire

WILMINGTON, Del. — Governor John Carney on Tuesday issued a limited State of Emergency in Kent County due to the barge fire occurring in the Delaware Bay.

The Governor requested additional resources to support local emergency management agencies – including the Bowers Fire Company and the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control – through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) to continue combatting the fire.

“Emergency response crews have been actively fighting the barge fire for more than 24 hours,” said Governor Carney. “This local State of Emergency will help support their efforts to continue to fight the burn and assess the possible impact on the environment, the bay, and wildlife. Thank you to all the first responders keeping our community and our environment safe.”

This State of Emergency took effect at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 24, and will remain in effect until terminated.

Click here for a PDF of the full State of Emergency Declaration.

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Related News:
Crews Work to Contain Fire on Barge in Delaware Bay


Nonprofit Security Grant Applications Due June 1, 2022

 

SMYRNA, DE: Do you know a nonprofit organization in Delaware that may be interested in grant funding for security enhancements? Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status may be eligible to receive funding through the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP). This federal grant program provides funding for physical and cyber security enhancements and other security-related activities to nonprofits that are at risk of a potential terrorist attack. The NSGP also seeks to integrate the preparedness activities of nonprofit organizations with broader state and local preparedness activities.

Application details

Eligible nonprofit organizations must apply through the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA), who then applies to FEMA on behalf of the nonprofits. All application materials must be submitted to Mark Dworkin of DEMA at Mark.Dworkin@delaware.gov by 5pm on June 1, 2022. No applications will be accepted by DEMA after 5pm on June 1, 2022.

The application packet for NSGP must include the following documents:

  1. a completed Investment Justification
  2. a Mission Statement on letterhead
  3. a Vulnerability Assessment specific to the location/facility for which they are applying for funding
  4. Optional: Nonprofits may also submit supporting documentation with their application packet that further demonstrates the organization’s risk

Award details

Nonprofit organizations with one site may apply for up to $150,000 for that site. Nonprofit organizations with multiple sites may apply for up to $150,000 per site for up to three sites, for a maximum of $450,000 per nonprofit. The maximum award is $150,000.00 per project application. If a nonprofit organization applies for projects at multiple sites, regardless of whether the projects are similar in nature, they must submit a separate Investment Justification (IJ) and vulnerability assessment unique to each site.

DEMA Application assistance

FY22 NSGP information and resources, such as the FY22 NSGP Program Guide and Investment Justification, can be found under Nonprofit Security Grant Program in the Resources tab on DEMA’s website (dema.delaware.gov). Additionally, self-assessment resources from the Delaware Information and Analysis Center (DIAC) and Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) are available on DEMA’s website to assist nonprofits with the completion of their vulnerability risk assessments.

FEMA Application assistance

FEMA is hosting an Informational Webinar Series for FY22 NSGP technical assistance. Additional NSGP information like the Notice of Funding Opportunity, resources, and registration for upcoming webinars can be found on the FEMA website (https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/nonprofit-security).

For questions regarding the NSGP, contact Mark Dworkin (mark.dworkin@delaware.gov).


Delaware Emergency Management Agency Earns Accreditation

(Smyrna, Delaware) – On December 13, 2019, the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) officially earned accreditation by the Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP). Only nine programs nationwide completed the rigorous assessment process in 2019 to achieve either initial accreditation or reaccreditation. This is the initial accreditation for DEMA and the State’s emergency management program.

“Congratulations to those programs that have maintained their accredited status as well as those who have joined the elite leaders in emergency management having earned accreditation through the Emergency Management Accreditation Program. Through their commitment and leadership, they have proven to their communities and stakeholders that their programs are sustainable and that they continue to focus on their communities’ best interests,” stated Nick Crossley, Director of the Hamilton County Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency and the EMAP Commission Chair.

Providing emergency management programs the opportunity to be evaluated and recognized for compliance with standards certified by the American National Standard Institute (ANSI) and recognized by the industry complies with EMAP’s mission to build safer communities through credible standards of excellence. These programs demonstrate accountability and focus attention on areas and issues where resources are needed to heighten their preparedness efforts to address any technical or natural disaster that may affect their communities.

To achieve accreditation, applicants must demonstrate through self-assessment, documentation and peer assessment verification that its program meets the Emergency Management Standard set forth by EMAP. The emergency management program uses the accreditation to prove the capabilities of their disaster preparedness and response systems. Accreditation is valid for five years and the program must maintain compliance with the Emergency Management Standard and is reassessed to maintain accredited status.

Through standardization EMAP revolutionizes emergency management programs that coordinate preparedness and response activities for disasters. In addition to obtaining the ability to measure those capabilities, EMAP recognizes the ability of emergency management programs to bring together personnel, resources and communications from a variety of agencies and organizations in preparation for and in response to an emergency. The Emergency Management Standard is flexible in design so that programs of differing sizes, populations, risks and resources can use it as a blueprint for improvement and can attain compliance with those standards in an accreditation process. The accreditation process evaluates emergency management programs on compliance with requirements in sixteen areas, including: planning; resource management; training; exercises, evaluations, and corrective actions; communications and warning; and administration. EMAP is the only accreditation process for emergency management programs.

DEMA Director A.J. Schall said “The team at DEMA started on this journey in 2018. Over the last eighteen months we have worked diligently to review our processes, plans, and relationships. Over that time, we learned a tremendous amount and modernized procedures.  This was a division-wide project and everyone on the team had an important part. I couldn’t be more proud for their dedication to the State.”

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Emergency Sirens To Be Tested

(Smyrna) – The Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) and Delaware State Police will conduct a quarterly test of the Salem/Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Stations Alert and notification system on Tuesday, January 12, 2016.  Sirens will sound between 10:30 AM and 11:30 AM.

The 37 sirens located within ten miles of the Salem/Hope Creek (New Jersey) plants will be activated for three to five minutes.  The siren tests will be followed by a test message of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) on local radio stations.

Sirens that will be tested are the same sirens that would alert the public in the event of an actual emergency at either the Salem or Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Stations.  In such an emergency, the public would be alerted by the sirens to tune radios to one of the local EAS stations for important emergency instructions.


Storm Report #2 Friday, October 2, 2015 (9:50pm)

(Smyrna) – Governor Jack Markell declared a Limited State of Emergency in Sussex County, Delaware, as of 12noon, Friday, October 2.  State offices remained open and no driving restrictions were implemented.  Drivers should remain aware of localized road closures caused by high winds and flooding.

In his Limited State of Emergency declaration, Governor Markell noted that state and local officials are taking the necessary steps to prepare for possible evacuations.

Assets of the Delaware National Guard were deployed to Kent and Sussex Counties in support of local efforts.  Residents of flood-prone areas were reminded by Governor Markell to prepare for possible evacuations, though none have been ordered at this time, and to continue monitoring local media and state and local agencies for updates.

The Delaware Emergency Operations Center remains activated with a reduced staff overnight; however additional staff are on standby and can be called in if needed.

A Coastal Flood Warning remains in effect until 6:00 PM, Sunday, October 4.

 

The National Weather Service says that widespread tidal flooding will occur through multiple successive high tide cycles through the weekend.  Tides over the weekend are likely to be near or at the Friday high tide levels.  A building surge into Saturday, combined with 6 to 10 foot breaking waves and periods of moderate or heavy rain will contribute to the tidal inundation flooding.

The next high tide will occur near midnight Friday night.  The Saturday high tide will occur in the early afternoon.  High tide on the back bays occurs later than the high tide on the oceanfront.

More roadway flooding is possible, especially during the daytime high tide cycle through the weekend.  Minor to moderate property damage is possible.  The tides and wave action will probably result in moderate beach erosion.

The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) says its crews have been working during the past 24 hours to remove debris along roadways, clear storm drains and grates to reduce the potential for flooding, and have placed portable signs in areas where roads are flooded.

DelDOT reports these roads are closed due to flooding:

New Castle County:

Woodland Beach Rd. east of Rt.9

Nonesuch Creek at Airport Rd.

Old State Rd. at Old Corbitt Rd.

Pyles Lane at Pigeon Rd.

Rt. 9 at Fleming Landing Bridge

Rt. 9 between Paddock Rd. and Woodland Beach Rd.

 

Kent County

North Market Street in Frederica

South Bowers Beach Rd. at Webbs Cut-off

Rt. 9 between Paddock Rd. and Woodland Beach Rd.

Port Mahon Rd. at Rt. 9

Rt. 6 between Rt. 9 and Woodland Beach Rd.

 

Sussex County – Rt. 1 southbound is now OPEN between Fred Hudson (Rd.360) and Dewey Beach

Rt. 1 northbound is CLOSED between Fred Hudson (Rd.360) and Dewey Beach

Primehook Rd.

Rt. 16 eastbound from Rt. 1 to BRd.kill Beach

Front St. in Milton

River Rd. between Rd. 297 and Rd. 312A

Longneck Rd.

 

Many roads have water on the roadway, but are passable.  Motorists should use caution.

 

For information on current road closures and restrictions, log onto http://www.deldot.gov/information/travel_advisory/#trafficBox2

 

Motorists should remember that conditions may change quickly and other roadways could flood or contain water.  Use caution on all roadways and watch for standing water.

 

The speed limit on I-495 has been lowered to 55 MPH.

DART First State buses operated on normal schedules statewide Friday.  Riders should check the DART website for weekend operation notices.

No large areas of power outages have been reported.

Officials from NASCAR and Dover International Speedway cancelled Friday activities at the track.  NASCAR fans who are wondering about the status of the remainder of the weekend events should log onto http://www.doverspeedway.com/news_content/friday-oct-2-events-at-dover-international-speedway-postponed/.