Each year, the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Emergency Management Institute (EMI) host Integrated Emergency Management Courses (IEMC) for local Emergency Operations Center (EOC) personnel.
The courses are 4.5 day, exercise-based training activiites that place EOC personnel under realistic crisis situations within a structured learning environment. One of the courses offered is the Community-Specific Integrated Emergency Management Course, which provides an in-depth exercise for participants from a single jurisdiction. The community-specific courses are geared towards the hazards or events facing that jurisdiction, adjust to the type of EOC used by the jurisdiction and use the jurisdiction's emergency plans. These course(s) are encourage involvement from wide range of EOC staff and partner agencies (see who should attend) and is aimed at facilitating a community to train, exercise and learn as a group.
The application process in Colorado starts with the Division of Emergency Management and, for next year's course offerings, is due by January 11, 2010. If you are interested, view the sample application for a Community-Specific IEMC. Too, if your community is selected for this opportunity, your community will be reimbursed for the travel and the cost of the course and lodging is accommodated by EMI (note: EMI does not reimburse for meals).
If your community is interested in pursuing this opportunity, contact DEM's Training Officer, Robyn Knappe via email at robyn.knappe@state.co.us or via telephone at (720) 852-6617.