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National Preparedness Division

Patrick Twiss - National Preparedness Division Director / Federal Preparedness Coordinator

Mission

The mission of FEMA's Region III National Preparedness (NP) Division is to provide leadership in the coordination and facilitation of all federal efforts to assist state and local emergency management and emergency response organizations to build and sustain capability to respond to any emergency or disaster, including a terrorist incident as well as other natural or man-made hazards.

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Federal Preparedness Coordinator (FPC)

Federal Preparedness Coordinators (FPCs) are an important part of FEMA's vision to strengthen regional offices. The FPC works to enhance regional preparedness capabilities and increase planning, assessment, analysis, training and exercise efforts. The FPC is also responsible for strengthening, integrating and institutionalizing the Region's preparedness efforts to prevent, protect against and recover from threatened or actual disasters.

Through the FPCs, FEMA enhances its vital role in information sharing and relationship building. This coordination helps achieve all-hazards preparedness goals and strengthen links among federal, tribal, state and local governments, the private sector and citizen partners across the country.

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Continuity Program

Barry Breslin - Continuity of Operations Program Manager

Continuity of Operations (COOP) planning is an effort to ensure that the capability exists to continue essential agency functions across a wide range of all hazard emergencies. Region III leads COOP outreach efforts throughout the region across the Federal government and also provides technical assistance to its states. Particularly, Region III  chairs COOP Working Groups through the Federal Executive Boards in Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Pittsburgh, and develops and implements COOP training, exercises, and inter-agency coordination.

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Community Preparedness

Through its Community Preparedness Officer and partnerships at the state and local levels, Region III works daily to build a culture of preparedness in the mid-Atlantic region. The Community Preparedness Officer oversees and facilitates the national Citizen Corps Program and other citizen preparedness initiatives and activities.

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Regional Integration Branch

Michael Sharon - Branch Chief

The Regional Integration Branch works in close coordination with the National Preparedness Directorate's National Integration Center to deliver and coordinate homeland security training, education (internal and external), and exercise programs within the Region. These functions include planning support, as well as training on, and implementation of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the National Response Framework (NRF).

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Technological Hazards Branch

Darrell Hammons - Branch Chief

The Technological Hazards Branch administers the Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program (REPP), which conducts and evaluated Radiological Emergency Preparedness (REP) exercises, medical drills, out-of-sequence and remedial drills. These exercises and drills serve to test the radiological emergency response plans and preparedness for the offsite response organizations surrounding nuclear power facilities.

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Preparedness Analysis and Planning Officer

Nicholas DeJesse serves as Region III’s Preparedness Analysis and Planning Officer, supporting the Federal Preparedness Coordinator in fulfilling a broad range of preparedness responsibilities.

Key functions include:

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Resources

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Training

FEMA provides a variety of resident and independent study courses to enhance the preparedness of citizens and emergency personnel. Training opportunities are available at the Emergency Management Institute, Center for Domestic Preparedness and National Fire Academy. For details, visit www.fema.gov/prepared/train.shtm.

State and local jurisdictions also conduct emergency preparedness training to meet the needs of responders in their jurisdictions. Please visit the links below to obtain course schedules for state-sponsored emergency management training in Region III.

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Last Modified: Thursday, 08-Dec-2011 09:38:19 EST