Colorado Emergency Management: September 2010

Course Announcement - HSEEP Training - Nov 2-4 - Denver, CO

FEMA Region VIII will host a Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) Training Course (EMI L-146) from November 2-4, 2010 in Denver, CO. The course is intended for Federal, State, local, trust territory and tribal nation emergency managment/response personnel who have the responsibility for exercise planning and evaluation. Nongovernmental and private-sector partners who have a direct mission in homeland security exercises may also attend on a case-by-case basis. For details on the course, for registration/contact information, download the HSEEP Training Course - Denver, CO flyer.

2010 Mountain Weather Workshop - Colorado Avalanche Information Center

The Colorado Avalance Information Center (CAIC), the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE), and the Colorado Mountain College - Leadville are sponsoring a three day workshop on Mountain Meteorology. The workshop will be held in Leadville, Nov 10-12, 2010. Morning sessions will provide a basic understanding of meteorological principles applied to weather in mountainous areas. Afternoon sessions will focus on using publically available weather information to create a local forecast. Participants will interact with experienced weather forecasters and work in small groups to generate and present their own forecasts. The workshop is designed for avalanche practitioners and avid recreationalists. Anyone interested in mountain weather phenomena is welcome and no previous meteorological education is required. Dr. John Snook, Mountain Weather and Avalanche Forecaster, CAIC-Boulder is the lead instructor for the workshop. Other instructors include National Weather Service forecasters. You can register online at the Colorado Geogolical Survey Fall of 2010 Mountain Weather Workshop Page

Job Announcement - City of Colorado Springs Fire Department - Emergency Management Coordinator

This is a "do not miss" opportunity. The City of Colorado Springs has announced it is looking to hire an Emergency Management Coordinator.

According to the City of Colorado Springs - Fire Department - Emergency Management Coordinator Job Announcement, the position willl assist the Emergency Management Division Manager during real emergencies, disasters, and exercises in coordination with City of Colorado Springs (City) departments/agencies, mutual aid jurisdictions, state and federal departments/agencies, private agencies, volunteer and nonprofit organizations, and the media.

Specifically, the position will assist the Emergency Management Division Manager with developing goals, objectives, resource allocations, procedures, and priorities of the organization. The Emergency Management Coordinator performs on-call functions on a rotating basis, evaluates emergency or disaster incidents to coordinate Office of Emergency Management (OEM) responses and operations, monitors the preparation and updates emergency operation and supplemental emergency plans, leads/directs special projects, and may perform operational duties at emergency or disaster locations. The position will also make presentations and participate in emergency preparedness activities involving community groups, City or other governmental agencies, nonprofit agencies, volunteer agencies, and committees as well as serve as a liaison/representative for the OEM.

The City of Colorado Springs application is online at www.springsgov.com. City employees should log into Employee Self Service (ESS) to submit an application for this position. All fields in the application must be completed, including the Work Experience section, or your application may not be considered. An application must be received no later than 11:59 PM on 10/18/2010.

DEM Mitigation Office Update: Colorado Association of Stormwater and Floodplain Managers Conference

This past week three members of the State Hazard Mitigation team attended the 2010 Colorado Association of Stormwater and Floodplain Managers (CASFM) Conference in Snowmass, Colorado. There the team was able to speak with local floodplain managers about potential projects which would harden their communities against the effects of flood events. Further, Iain Hyde and Deanna Butterbaugh took the exam to become Certified Floodplain Managers. This will increase the State’s capabilities as their knowledge will help communities recognize the risks residential and commercial development will inevitably have on their floodplains.

This certification process ensures all floodplain managers have a base level of familiarity with floodplains as well as gives credibility to this discipline. Throughout the year additional training and conferences are provided by CASFM which further knowledge of members and play an important part in recognizing challenges and improvements which have been made in floodplain management. The Colorado Division of Emergency Management is always excited to increase our abilities and provide better service and knowledge to our local partners. CDEM recognizes the state must stay on the cutting edge in all Emergency Management concentrations to ensure the best outcomes in the event of a disaster and maintain viable partnerships with local communities.

For questions regarding DEM's Mitigation Office and more on their participation in the CASFM Conference, contact Scott Baldwin.

Fourmile Canyon Fire - U.S. Small Business Administration Assistance Information and Factsheet

The United States Small Business Administration has approved Governor Ritter's Sep 20 request for a Disaster Declaration following the Fourmile Canyon Fire in Boulder County. You can view/download a copy of the SBA Fourmile Canyon Fire Assistance Factsheet which provides information and guidance on assistance available to those affected by the fire.

COFireBan.info - Your Source for Colorado Fire Restrictions and Information

Since fire bans and restrictions in Colorado are the purview of local jurisdictions and may vary widely across the state, it can be time-consuming and difficult to track down the specific restrictions in effect where you live or play. In an effort to fill that gap, Chris Sorensen, the Emergency Manager in Kiowa County, is leading a voluntary effort to consolidate and provide this information online at COFireBan.info. Too, Chris is maintaining a great Twitter feed to complement the site at twitter.com/cofireban.

COFireBan.info is a critical, free listing service for fire ban statuses across Colorado. Any county, tribal government, municipality or fire district is welcome to submit status changes at any time. Links to fire ban ordinances, local status or agency pages, and other contact information can also be posted. Many entities are already listed, but COFireBan.info welcomes submissions from any agency that isn't currently on the list.

Information can be sent to cofireban@gmail.com or chris@kiowaoem.com.

Don't forget to check the current status listed for your agency, and send updates!!!

Peewink Mtn Fire - Nederland, CO

For official information regarding new fire activity, including evacuated areas/road closures and evacuation centers associated with the Peewink Mountain Fire near Nederland, Colorado, please go to the Boulder Office of Emergency Management Website at http://boulderoem.com. Boulder County officials are also posting updates on the Boulder Sheriff's Office Twitter Feed at http://www.twitter.com/boulderpolice.

Sheriff orders a fire ban for all areas of unincorporated Jefferson County

According to a Press Release by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, Effective on Tuesday, September 14, 2010 at 9 a.m., a fire ban will be implemented for all areas of unincorporated Jefferson County. These restrictions are intended to reduce the likelihood of human caused wildfires.

This temporary fire ban applies to all lands in unincorporated Jefferson County, to include all federal lands and is in response to the continuing high fire danger conditions is Jefferson County. The ban prohibits a number of actions, including:

Anything which produces an open flame or has the potential to create an uncontrolled fire.
Building, maintaining, attending, or using any fire to burn trash, debris, fence rows or vegetation, or any campfire or warming fire.
Use of charcoal or other open fires on any public or private lands.
Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, or while stopped in an area of at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all combustible material.
Operating a chain saw without a USDA or SAE approved spark arresting device properly installed and in effective working order, and having a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher of not less than eight (8) ounces capacity by weight, and possessing one large size pointed shovel with an overall length of at least thirty-six (36) inches. The extinguisher shall be with the chain saw operator. The shovel may be kept with the fueling supplies, but readily available for quick use.
Welding or operating an acetylene or other torch with an open flame, except within an area that is barren or cleared of all combustible material at least ten feet on all sides from the equipment.
Use of an explosive initiation system requiring a burning fuse line.
Permissible fireworks, as defined by Colorado Revised Statutes, 12-28-101.

Exemptions to this temporary fire ban are listed below:

Persons with a valid written permit from the Sheriff and/or the local fire department which specifically authorizes the prohibited act.
Any federal, state, or local law enforcement officer, or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.
Any fires contained within liquid fueled or gas fueled stoves.

NOTE: Burn permits issued and not executed prior to the effective date of this temporary fire
ban shall not be authorized unless one of the exemptions listed above applies.

Exemptions to this temporary fire ban shall be granted within non-federal land only by the Sheriff, and/or the local fire department only if the proposed action is deemed by the Sheriff and/or the local fire department or district to be safe and mitigable. Individuals operating under any of the above exemptions shall take adequate measures to prevent uncontrolled fires. Possible measures include, but are not limited to:

Containers of adequate water or dry soil nearby.
Shovels, fire extinguishers, or other extinguishing agents nearby.
Coordination with the local fire department or district to be on scene or standby during the activity.

Pursuant to County Resolution CC 97-433, violations of these prohibitions, upon conviction, is punishable by a fine of not more than $600.00. Such act(s) violate section(s) 102.8 and 308.2.1 of the International Fire Code.

This temporary fire ban becomes effective at 9 a.m. on September 14, 2010, and shall remain in effect until superseded or rescinded.

For more information regarding this release, contact the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer, Jacki Kelley at (303) 271-5697 or Mark Techmeyer at (303) 271-5602. Be sure to check both the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office page for the latest regarding fire ban status or check the Colorado Fire Ban page at http://cofireban.info.

Loveland Fire Information

INCIWEB Fire Information - http://www.inciweb.org/incident/2123/

City of Loveland Info Line: (970) 262-2020
City of Loveland - Incident Information - http://cityofloveland.org/
City of Loveland Emergency Contact #/Sources - http://cityofloveland.org/beinformed.htm
Safe and Well Contact Information - 211 or (866) 485-0211
Emergency Notification - Phone/Emal/Txt Alert System for Larimer County - http://www.leta911.org/
City of Loveland Twitter - http://twitter.com/cityofloveland
Loveland PIO email - hillea@ci.loveland.co.us

Larimer County Emergency Info - http://www.larimer.org/emergency/emergency_detail.cfm?nam_id=66

Course Announcement - Disaster Preparedness for Water/Wastewater Facilities - 10/5-6 - Windsor, CO

Windsor Colorado is sponsoring the TEEX MGT 343 Disaster Preparedness for Water/Wastewater Facilities October 5 & 6th. There are positions still available in this course. If interested or if you have personnel who may be interested please have them contact Mark Herrick at 970-686-2144 or email Mark at:   mherrick@windsorgov.com

MGT343- Course Overview
The Disaster Management for Water and Wastewater Utilities course is designed to provide training to water and wastewater professionals on issues concerning preparing for, responding to, and recovering from incidents affecting water and/or wastewater facilities.

This course introduces the various natural and man-made (accidental or intentional) hazards to which water and wastewater systems may be vulnerable and the potential effects the hazards may induce. Legislation that serves to aid in the planning and response to a natural or man-made incident is discussed along with measures that can mitigate threats to the water and wastewater systems. Participants are guided through portions of the Environmental Protection Agencies Response Protocol Toolbox to identify steps in the response and recovery processes.

Course Topics
Module 1: Threats to Water and Wastewater Facilities and Systems
Module 2: Major Legislative Requirements
Module 3: Mitigating Threats to Water and Wastewater Facilities and Systems
Module 4: Responding to Threats Against Water and Wastewater Facilities and Systems
Module 5: Recovery from Disasters

CEUs for Water and Wastewater licenses may be earned through this course. When you call, ask if your state will issue credit for this course. Participants are encouraged to complete the following online courses provided by the Department of Homeland Security before attending this course.

    * IS 100 - Introduction to Incident Command System
    * IS 700.a - National Incident Management System (NIMS), an Introduction
    * IS 800.b - National Response Framework, an Introduction

View additional information on TEEX and DHS Online Training.

Boulder OEM - Fourmile Canyon Fire Residential Access Pass Registration

Boulder OEM notes tonight that residents will be able to register, starting Sunday (9/12/10) for passes that will provide access into their neighborhoods when conditions allow for re-entry. The Fourmile Canyon Fire Residential Access Pass Registration is available for download online and, according to Boulder OEM, residents "may go to the Boulder County Justice Center at 1777 Sixth Street (Sixth and Canyon) beginning at 10 am on Sunday.

For details of the process and for information regarding areas to be re-opened see the Boulder OEM website. Also be sure to check out the great factsheet on Returning to Your Residence issued by Boulder OEM.

Boulder OEM - Xcel Energy Hotline - (800) 545-0677

Boulder County Emergency Management and Xcel Energy-Colorado have established a hotline to help keep residents informed (800)-545-0677 of the status of power in their area associated with the Fourmile Canyon Fire. Customers may call this number to hear a recorded message with current information on the restoration progress.

For more information regarding recovery coordination efforts, check out the Recovery Task Force resource page.

Behavioral Health Resources for the Fourmile Canyon Fire

Elizabeth Roome, with the Colorado Division of Behavioral Health Disaster Preparedness and Response, has brought together some outstanding resources to help those affected by disaster cope with the stress. As we go forward in recovery of the Fourmile Canyon Fire, the Division will be an integral part of working with local Boulder County Public Health partners to provide direct assistance and support to survivors, first responders and aid workers.

Below are just some of the resources Beth and the Behavioral Health team are bringing to assist in the response and recovery effort:

Children
Coping with Children's Reaction to Trauma
Tips for Talking to Children After a Disaster: A Guide for Parents and Teachers
Tips for Talking to Children in Trauma: Interventions at Home For Preschool to Adolescence
How Families Can help Children Cope with Fear and Anxiety
"My Fire Story": A Guided Activity Workbook for Children, Families and Teachers

General Population
How to Deal with Grief
Self-Care Tips for Survivors of a Traumatic Event: What to Expect in Your Personal, Family, Work and Financial Life

Disaster Response Workers
Tips for Managing and Preventing Stress: A Guide for emergency and Disaster Response Workers

Boulder County Public Health - Fourmile Canyon Wildfire Health Page

Many agencies are supporting Fourmile Canyon response and recovery operation and on the frontline of these are Boulder County Public Health. The Boulder County Public Health Department has established a website specific for the Fourmile Fire at http://www.bouldercounty.org/health/fireresources.htm. On this page, you will find the Daily Health Advisory (English and Spanish) and specific information for residents regarding Food Safety, such as food exposure to fire resources, general food safety after a fire information and spoiled food disposal collection sites.

You will also find specific Environmental Health information, including information related to the use of fire suppressants and relative to the safe cleanup of fire ash.

As we go forward in the recovery effort, these and resources which will be posted on the Boulder County Health Fourmile Canyon Wildfire Page will be a great help. For the latest information on the Fourmile fire activity, check the Fourmile Canyon Fire Inciweb Page and for the latest regarding Boulder County actions, check out the Boulder Office of Emergency Management and Boulder County's site. For information from other agencies involved in the recovery effort, check out the Fourmile Fire - Recovery Task Force Page

Boulder OEM - Passes to Allow Residents to Return to Burn Area to Assess Damage

Per Boulder County Emergency Management post at 3:45 pm on Sep 11 - ""The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office is working on a plan to allow residents to register for a pass to go back into the burn area when specific areas are open for residents to visit their properties. At this time, no decisions have been made about where and when residents should go to register for this purpose, but we will post that information here and send a release to the media immediately when that information is available."

According to the note, "the primary concern at this time is the safety and security of residents going into an area that has experienced devastating impacts from the fire. While the active fire conditions have improved, there remain many obstacles and dangers within the burned area. These include: downed power lines and poles, hot fire spots, infrastructure damage to roads, lack of working utilities, and exposed mine shafts. We also need to make sure we keep open access for emergency personnel and firefighters still working in the area."

Continue to check the Boulder Office of Emergency Management Site for the latest information.

Colorado Volunteer Orgs Active in Disaster - How You Can Help Survivors of the Fourmile Canyon Fire in Boulder

From the Colorado Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster

How to Help

Financial gifts are the best way to help!
Furthermore, financial support to voluntary agencies responding to this disaster is the most effective way to help
Cash allows disaster agencies to purchase exactly what is needed.
To make a financial gift relative to the Fourmile Canyon Fire in Boulder County, call 2-1-1 or 866-760-6489.

More How to Help Tips....

First.... DO NOT GO TO THE SCENE OF A DISASTER!

The arrival of unexpected volunteers will interfere with response efforts. Stay safe by staying out of the way!
Volunteers will be most needed during the recovery phase. Please be patient and WAIT until relief agencies are ready to use your help.
If you want to volunteer, call 2-1-1 or 866-760-6489.

Second... DO NOT DONATE ITEMS WITHOUT KNOWING NEEDS!

DO NOT donate used clothing or used household items. These items will likely go to waste and get in the way.
Bulk/palletized donations, requested by relief agencies, are best.
If you want to make a donation or find out what the current needs in response to the Fourmile Canyon Fire are right now, call 2-1-1 or 866-760-6489.

Third... OTHER WAYS TO HELP

Hold a yard sale, put on a fund-raising event, and donate money raised to a voluntary organization responding to this disaster.
Have you already collected goods but can’t find an agency that needs them? Donate items to a local charitable agency.

Emergency Management Exercise Development Basics

by Tony Reidell, State Exercise Training Coordinator

A recent request of information and support on exercise planning, design and development from a Local Emergency Manager prompted some thought on the current process, local needs and requirements. There is no short answer, but there are a few things to keep in mind when engaged in exercise planning.

If you are just looking for a workable format for injects, our State exercise team can certainly help. We can also probably provide a number of workable injects or even complete Master Scenario Event List (MSEL), depending on the actual scenario. Unfortunately, these templates may not drive the specific "Outcomes" you are looking to attain.

With respect to the planning and development process one of the strengths of the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Planning (HSEEP), at least in my mind, is its' linear organizational structure. If you have already projected a date for the exercise, such as "this fall", you may have subjected yourself to a bit of a time compression. That should not be a major handicap, but it will require some additional management and attention to detail in the short term.

The greatest challenge in the development process is always the Goals & Objectives (G&O) meeting, or Concept & Objectives (C&O) at it is also known. During your G&O meeting the Target Capabilities List (TCL) and the Universal Task List (UTL) are boiled down to those 3 or 4 items you intend to focus on during the exercise. An Initial Planning Conference (IPC) would normally follow within 2 to 3 weeks, but can be rolled-up into the G&O. If this is done, you should allow a minimum of 3 hour to as much as 6 to ensure all meeting objective are met.

A Common mistake is in broadening the exercise evaluation criteria to the point that valid finding and observations from the exercise are lost in the play of the scenario. Drills are intended to work out the grass-root issues. Tabletop Exercises (TTX) are focused on policy and decision-making processes and should be limited in identified scope to prevention, response or recovery. Not all 3 in a single event, the transition within the scenario can all too often be blurred and confusing to participants.

If you are dealing with staff that has never really worked together in a disaster event, you may want to take a look at conducting a seminar. The seminar could be based on the simple question, "How would we come together and work together in an emergency", with the stated purpose of promoting awareness. Seminars are a recognized and often overlooked form of Discussion-Base exercise. Their documentation is little different than any other form of exercise. Seminars are the basic building block of a solid exercise development plan.

A key consideration in the grant and reimbursement process is whether or not you've published a Training and Exercise Calendar. If not, I would highly recommend it and forward that calendar to your Regional Administrator. With Regional and State Training and Planning Workshops (T&EPW) just around the corner the timing is perfect.

You addressed the constraints imposed by the "part-time" status of yourself and your associates. The calendar is probably one of the most under utilized time management tools we have. If we put these events in a multi-year calendar, it forces us to take action. Even if that action is to postpone or cancel the event, it forces us to answer the "Why" question. The many cases the honest answer to why can be as revealing as the exercise itself.

Bottom Line! It's really not all that hard, just take the first step, identify your Goals & Objectives!

Boulder County/OEM Resources - Fourmile Canyon Fire

Fire Information (size, containment status, structures, agencies involved)

U.S. Incident Information Site - INCIWEB - http://inciweb.org/incident/2119/

Incident Map - http://www.bouldercounty.org/bocc/FourMileFireWebPerimeter.pdf

Local Information (shelters/housing, volunteers/donations and local gov response)

Boulder Emergency Management - http://boulderoem.com/emergency-status

Boulder County (and City) Government - http://www.bouldercounty.org

Updated one-pager of Fourmile Canyon Fire/Boulder Resources

Boulder Call Center for public inquiries - (303) 413-7730

Boulder County is asking all evacuated residents to contact the County at: edonaghey@bouldercounty.org with full name, address of affected residence, primary or secondary residence, whether they received notification that residence is damage or destroyed, phone number where they can be immediately reached and if they require long-term housing (non-shelter) assistance

Boulder Fire Assistance Center is established at 3482 North Broadway in Boulder

Note: The fire assistance center is not a shelter. It offers services, including mental health, food and basic needs assistance, longer-term housing options, insurance claim advice, medical case management, senior services and coordination with local nonprofits for clothing/special needs. Boulder Fire Assistance Center Number is: (303) 441-3560

Boulder Red Cross Shelter is established at Boulder YMCA, 2850 Mapleton Ave

Volunteer/Donation Management (time/goods/cash) contacts: 211 or (866) 760-6489

Front Range Emergency Management Forum Meeting - 9/8 - CANCELLED

Per Lori Hodges, NCR DEM Manager, the Front Range Emergency Management Forum Meeting scheduled for today, 9/8/10, is CANCELLED.

RMIIA Offers Sound Advice to Help Residents Prepare and Respond to Disasters

Some important information from Carole Walker, Executive Director of the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Agency (carole@rmiia.org, 303-790-0216/ Cell: 303-601-8437) regarding actions that residents can take now to help get through a disaster, be it the Fourmile Canyon Wildire, or another incident.

You can read the full release on RMIIA's website at Insurance Advice for Residents in the Path of Boulder County’s Fourmile Canyon Wildfire. You also get more information on RMIIA's Facebook and YouTube pages.

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September 7, 2010 –As the devastating Fourmile Canyon Fire continues to burn out of control this morning near Boulder, residents evacuated as a result of the blaze need to contact their insurance agents or company representatives immediately to provide them with emergency contact information. For homeowners or renters who are under a mandatory evacuation order they likely have insurance coverage for “additional living expenses” which provides them with a certain amount of out-of-pocket money under their insurance policy while they are forced out of their homes.

“Evacuated residents should contact their insurance agent or company representative immediately to let their company know how they can be reached and if they need additional living expenses while they are forced out of their home,” says Carole Walker, Executive Director of the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association. “As residents are allowed to return to their homes, document damage and take photographs to provide to your insurance adjuster. Be aware that serious losses will take priority over homes that suffered only minor damage.”

An insurance/evacuation checklist and wildfire information:
http://www.rmiia.org/Catastrophes_and_Statistics/Wildfire.asp

Download RMIIA’s free Wildfire & Insurance Guide with homeowner disaster preparedness tips:
http://www.rmiia.org/Catastrophes_and_Statistics/Wildfire_and_insurance.asp

RMIIA has this insurance advice for homeowners affected by wildfire:

Residents evacuated from their homes should contact their insurance agents or companies immediately and let them know where they can be reached. As adjusters are allowed into the burned-out areas they will want to go in with their policyholders to assess the damage.

Contact your agent or company if you need additional living expenses while you are out of your home.
Keep receipts. Out-of-pocket expenses during a mandatory evacuation are reimbursable under most standard homeowner policies.

Be prepared to give your agent or insurance representative a description of your damage. Your agent will report the loss immediately to your insurance company or a qualified adjuster who will contact you as soon as possible to inspect the damage. Again, be sure to give your agent a number where you can be reached.
Take photos of the damaged areas. These will help with your claims process and will assist the adjuster in the investigation.

Prepare a detailed inventory of all damaged or destroyed personal property. Be sure to make two copies-one for yourself and one for the adjuster. Your list should be as complete as possible, including a description of the items, dates of purchase or approximate age, cost at time of purchase and estimated replacement cost.
Make whatever temporary repairs you can. Cover broken windows, damaged roofs and walls to prevent further destruction. Save receipts for supplies and materials you purchase. Your company will reimburse you for reasonable expenses in making temporary repairs.

Secure a detailed estimate for permanent repairs to your home from a reliable contractor and give it to the adjuster. The estimate should contain the proposed repairs, repair costs and replacement prices.
Serious losses will be given priority. If your home has been destroyed or seriously damaged, your agent will do everything possible to assure that you are given priority.
In case of possible evacuation - only if you have enough warning - consider packing the following items:

Social Security cards
Driver's licenses
Credit cards
House deed
Vehicle titles
Marriage license
Birth Certificates
Insurance policies
Home inventory list/photos
Health insurance cards
Prescription medications
Important personal computer information downloaded to disk
Valuable jewelry
Photographs
Home videos
Items with sentimental value, such as wedding dress or baby keepsakes
One week ' s worth of clothing
Pets with ID tags, carriers, and pet food
Log on to www.rmiia.org for more information.

Fourmile Canyon Fire - Boulder, CO

For the latest on the Fourmile Canyon Fire activity, visit the Boulder
Office of Emergency Management Status Board at http://boulderoem.com/component/content/article/5

Independent Study Course - EMI - Exercising Continuity Plans for Pandemics

Robyn Knappe, DEM Training Officer, passed along a course flyer for a 1-day Emergency Management Institute IS-522 Exercising Continuity Plans for Pandemics course. The course is an online course you can take through the EMI Independent Study website (http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is522.asp). According to the flyer, the course "covers fundamental continuity principles and processes but is focused on the special requirements for pandemics." It will address strategies for managing pandemics that include telework, social distancing, as well as, special protection strategies for first responders, healthcare professionals and others.

The primary audience for the course are any emergency managers, first responders, healthcare professionals or others involved in continuity planning for pandemics.

If you have questions about the course, contact Stephen Borth at (301) 447-1249 or via email at stephen.borth@dhs.gov. If you have questions about State training activities or scheduling, contact Robyn Knappe at (720) 852-6617 or at robyn.knappe@state.co.us.

Director Kallam to Speak at Denver Emergency Management 2010 All-Hazards/All-Stakeholders Summit - 9/16/10

Check your calendar and make a note - you won't want to miss this... the Denver 2010 Emergency Management Summit: All-Hazards, All-Stakeholders is coming up on September 16, 2010. It will be held at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel and you can register online through the announcement in Emergency Management Magazine - Emergency Management Events - Denver EM Summit 2010: All-Hazards, All-Stakeholders

We are particularly interested here at the Division because one of the featured speakers for the event will be our own Director Hans Kallam. Other featured speakers include Garry Briese, Former Region 8 FEMA Administrator and Marty Pastula, Vice President of the Emergency Management Media Group.

The topics for the summit include exploring innovative solutions and technology for improving community preparedness, examining best practices on collaborative emergency management planning, discussing the challenges and barriers to planning and preparedness integration across disciplines and learning about the latest Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency initiatives.

For more on the summit, contact Anthony Yanez, Registration Coordinator at (800) 940-6039 x1348 or at ayanez@emergencymgmt.com

Colorado Emergency Management "Sources"

Notice a new tab up top right of this page called "Sources"? Check it out. The idea is simple, if a bit long and scroll-inducing. We have attempted to post a consolidated list of Colorado Emergency Management-related County (and City/Town) level sms/txt alerts system, emergency management government website, office/24hr telephone, and email contact information to help you stay informed. While a bit scroll-heavy, the list posted at http://www.coemergency.com/p/sources.html is accessible via your mobile device and is certainly viewable on a larger screen. We hope this helps provide an emergency management resource for you to get local emergency preparedness and response news and information. See something that needs to be updated/changed? Let me know - Brandon Williams - brandon.williams@state.co.us.

COEmergency Pages