COEmergency Pages
South Metro Fire Rescue - "Tornados? In Colorado? Yes!"
Colorado Wildfire & Insurance Guides Now Available
Colorado Wildfire & Insurance Guides link: http://www.rmiia.org/downloads/2011_co_wildfire_brochure.pdf
Foot-and-Mouth Disease Tabletop Exercise - 8/17-18 - Denver
SAVE THE DATES - August 17-18, 2011 - for a foot-and-mouth disease tabletop exercise to be held in Denver by the Western Dairy Association and Dairy Management, Inc. For nearly 10 years, the dairy industry has been working closely with state and federal government leaders to prepare for a coordinated response in the event of a national food safety recall, food bioterrorism or a U.S. outbreak of foot-and-mouth (FMD) disease.
In 2011, the industry's crisis trainings will focus on FMD preparedness and response and a part of that training will be taking place in Denver. A U.S. outbreak of FMD will significantly impact milk processing and manufacturing, and consumers are likely to have concerns and questions about the safety of milk and dairy products.
This Colorado-located training will be a great opportunity to share private sector, government and partner agency response plans, to work closely with peers to strategize the industry's response, and hone communication planning and coordination.
Attendance will be accomplished through formal invitation and registration information will be available soon. Anyone interested in participating should contact Angel Aguilar, Ph.D., Western Dairy Association, Director, Producer and Industry Relations at (720) 356-3180.
New Leadership for Colorado VOAD
Thanks! to Jen Poitras (poitras_consulting@me.com) for the COVOAD update!
Access and Functional Needs Tabletop/Workshop - 7/15 - Denver, CO
The workshop/tabletop will be held on Friday, July 15, 2011 from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm at the Red Lion Hotel, 4040 Quebec Street, Denver CO 80216.
Register on CO.Train at http://co.train.org/ (Course ID: 1027873).
Course Notes:
- The location is accessible by RTD Route 44
- Hotel rooms will be provided the night before for those travelling over 50 miles to attend. Contact Lori Hodges (lori.hodges@state.co.us) if a hotel room is needed.
- If you need accommodations (interpreters, service animal needs, etc.), let us know
For any questions, contact Lori Hodges (lori.hodges@state.co.us) or at (303) 656-5023.
Colorado Flood Preparedness
Colorado Alerts and Tornado Safety
Colorado Tornado and Hail Safety
Funnel cloud outside Hasty, CO, from April 2010 |
As with all weather-related advisories, watches and warnings, the central info source for Colorado severe weather watches, warnings, reports of hail and tornado warnings is the National Weather Service Colorado Page . For the latest weather developments, be sure to check with the National Weather Service - Colorado Watches, Warnings and Advisories page.
Too, the best way to get alerted about emergencies in your area is by monitoring a number of local Colorado alert systems/sources, including NWS Colorado Weather page, listening to your local NOAA Weather Radio station (you can even listen to some of the stations online or with your mobile phone if you do not have a receiver capable of receiving NOAA stations), following local media sources or signing up for your community's local alert systems.
While systems exist to identify conditions likely to produce tornadoes (which are often also accompanied by hail), tornadoes can strike with very little warning. As a result, it is paramount to be aware of advisories, watches and warnings, but it is also imperative that you maintain a good awareness of weather conditions in your immediate area.
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Tornado Safety Tips
- When a tornado watch is announced, it means conditions are present for a tornado.
- Keep a radio/TV tuned for further information, and gather emergency supplies.
- When a Tornado Warning is issued, it means a tornado has been sighted or is imminent. Take shelter immediately.
- Go to your basement. If you have no basement, go to an interior hallway or small interior room on the the lowest floor.
- Avoid windows.
- Do not remain in a trailer or mobile home if a tornado is approaching. Take cover elsewhere.
- Go to an interior hallway on the lowest floor, or a designated shelter.
- Avoid windows.
- Follow instructions of authorities/teachers.
- Stay out of structures with wide free-span roofs like auditoriums and gyms.
- Seek cover in a nearby building, or lie flat in a ditch or ravine.
Hail Safety Tips
Hail stone - Hasty, CO - April 2010 |
- Stop driving. If you can see a safe place close by (like inside a garage, under a highway overpass, or under a service station awning), drive there as soon as you can. Make sure you pull completely off the highway.
- Do NOT leave the vehicle until it stops hailing. Your car will furnish reasonable protection.
- Stay away from car windows. Cover your eyes with something (like a piece of clothing). If possible, get onto the floor face down, or lie down on the seat with your back to the windows. Put very small children under you, and cover their eyes.
- Stay inside until the hail stops.
- Stay away from the windows, especially those being struck by hail.
- Account for all family members, building occupants, pets, etc.
- Do not go outside for any reason. Large hail can cause serious or even fatal injuries.
- Avoid using phones and electrical appliances during a severe storm to avoid the danger of electrocution from lightning.
- If you are caught outdoors, seek shelter immediately. If you can't find something to protect your entire body, at least find something to protect your head.
- Stay out of culverts and lowland areas that might fill suddenly with water.
- Trees are a last resort. It is common during severe storms for trees to lose branches. Also, large isolated trees attract lightning.
ICS-300 - 6/9-10 - Huerfano County
Does Your Fire Department Need Money?
FEMA Region 8 Fire Program Specialist Ted Young will present training sessions about the Assistance to Firefighter Grant Program. Session participants will learn about how this program can help fire departments get money for needed resources including: equipment, protective gear, apparatus, training, and more. FEMA reps indicate the training lasts a couple of hours and there will be ample time for questions.
The training is free.
Attendees do not need to pre-register.
Golden CO – Monday May 23
6:30 PM Fairmount Fire Station 1, 4755 Isabell Street.
Westminster CO – Wednesday May 25
9:00 AM Westminster Fire Department Public Safety Building, 9110 Yates Street.
Berthoud CO – Wednesday May 25
6:30 PM Berthoud Fire Department Community Center Building, 275 Mountain Ave.
Grand Junction CO - Wednesday June 1
6:30 PM Grand Junction Police Department, 625 Ute Ave
Pueblo CO- Thursday June 2
6:30 PM Pueblo Fire Department, 425 W 7th
The primary goal of the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) is to meet the firefighting and emergency response needs of fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical services organizations. Since 2001, AFG has helped firefighters and other first responders to obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training, and other resources needed to protect the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards. The Grant Programs Directorate of the Federal Emergency Management Agency administers the grants in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration. Visit http://www.fema.gov/firegrants or call the FEMA Help Desk at 1-866-274-0960.
Job Announcement - Emergency Manager - Baca County
Applications available and to be returned - no later than 4:30 p.m. on Friday May 27, 2011 - to:
Baca County Commissioners Office
741 Main Street, Suite 1
Springfield, CO 81073
Baca County is an equal opportunity employer.
Anyone with questions is encouraged to call the Baca County Commissioner's Office at 719-523-6532.
Mitigation Planning Workshop for Local Governments - 6/21-22 - Durango
The class will be held in Durango Recreation Center, Windom Room, 2700 Main Avenue
Durango, CO 81301. Registration is being handled through CO.Train at http://co.train.org - search for Course ID: 1026644. The target audience is any persons whose jobs require mitigation activity or planning or those seeking Advanced Professional Series certification.
Recommended prerequisites: NIMS IS 700, NIMS IS 800, ICS 100, ICS 200
For more information, contact Robyn Knappe - robyn.knappe@state.co.us - (720) 852-6617.
ICS-300 - 6/29-30-7/1 - Routt County
The class will be held at the Historic Routt County Courthouse, Board of County Commissioners Hearing Room, 522 Lincoln Avenue, Third Floor, Steamboat Springs, CO
Class times will be from 8:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. on the first two days and from 8:00 A.M. until Noon on the third day. Attendance for the entire class is required for certification. You must register for this class online using CO.Train at http://www.co.train.org.
Note: ICS-200 and IS-700 are prerequisites for this course.
ICS-400 Course - 8/4-5 - Routt County
The class will be held at the Historic Routt County Courthouse, Board of County Commissioners Hearing Room, 522 Lincoln Avenue, Third Floor, Steamboat Springs.
The class will be held from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm both days. Attendance for the entire class is required for certification. NOTE: ICS-300 is a prerequisite for this course. Registration is being handled through CO.Train at http://www.co.train.org.
Information Tech/Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief Workshop - 5/25-26
JOB ANNOUNCEMENT - Emergency Manager - Bent County
Colorado Wildfire & Insurance Guide
Course Announcement - Warning Coordination - 6/28 - Denver
Every year the United States experiences more severe weather than any other country in the world. In order to reduce deaths, injuries, and property losses, emergency managers must work closely with the NWS and the news media to provide effective warnings that can be received and understood by people at risk. This course is intended to help facilitate that process.
Course topics include The Social Dimensions of Warning Response; Developing Effective Warning Messages; Developing an Effective Community Warning Process; and Working with the News Media to Create a Weather Warning Partnership. In addition to lecture and discussion, the course includes case studies and exercises.
When
June 28th, 2011 - 9:00 AM- 4:30 PM
Where
North Washington Fire
8055 N. Washington St
Denver, CO 80229
Register
Registration will be through http://www.co.train.org - Course ID: 1027235
This course is first come, first served. No charge.
Target Audience
Individuals who may assume a supervisory role in expanding emergency incidents.
For more information
Robyn Knappe - robyn.knappe@state.co.us - 720-852-6617
Risk Management For Your Volunteer Forces
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Risk Management For Your Volunteer Forces
Few things are as valuable to emergency managers as a cadre of trained, qualified, dedicated, capable volunteers, and few things will deplete those volunteers as quickly as failing to defend them and their agency from risk. Yet typically little thought is given to risk management involving volunteers. The risks involved with volunteers fall into several categories:
Physical risk of harm or death to the volunteer;
- Risk of damage or loss to the volunteer’s personal property;
- Risk of liability by the volunteer and their agency for harms based on the volunteer’s actions, or failure to act;
- Risk of economic harm to the volunteer by loss of salary, employment, benefits or seniority due to their service.
Physical risk to the volunteer
The physical risk of injury to a worker is often the most obvious risk. By the nature of disasters, our response forces are often placed in harm’s way. Day to day emergency workers are protected from exposure by proper training, equipping, supervision, guidance and oversight, but failing that, almost all of them are also protected by worker’s compensation insurance. Few government agencies would consider operating without their employees being covered by worker’s comp, and yet many have no such coverage for volunteers. A worker’s compensation policy serves to assist the injured worker, but it may also serve to protect the agency from liability for the injury beyond the scope of the insurance. (See Colorado Revised Statutes 24-332-2201 to 2221 http://www.michie.com/colorado/lpext.dll/cocode/1/3c208/3dc15/3e358/3e97d/3e97e?fn=document-frame.htm&f=templates&2.0# for example legislation.)
If your jurisdiction has laws allowing such coverage, acquire a policy and fund the premiums to cover your volunteers. It is amazing how inexpensive it can be and it may fund legal defense costs.
Risk of damage to volunteer’s property
Public responsibility for damage to a volunteer’s property is usually limited to personal property they would forseeably use in performing their duties, or which they have been requested to use by the agency. Define and limit personal property used by the volunteer. Wherever possible, provide agency property for them. If they will be using personal motor vehicles, review their insurance to ensure their volunteer service will not disqualify their property damage, bodily injury nor liability insurance. If they must use personal equipment, assure that the agency insurance policy will cover loss or damage or that the volunteer signs assumptions of risks/waivers of liability for personal equipment loss.
The risk of liability for harms based on the volunteer’s actions, or failure to act
Although courts tend to see if they can avoid holding volunteers and governments liable for actions taken in good faith during emergencies, judgments have been handed down in such events. While proper training, equipping, supervision, guidance and oversight can go a long ways towards avoiding liability, many states and localities have enacted some form of sovereign immunity. They then extended that immunity by making acts taken under color of disaster laws the responsibility of the state or other government entity, shielding the volunteer and placing any potential legal burden on an entity with access to government attorneys, i.e. Colorado Revised Statutes 24-32-2301 to 2304 [http://www.michie.com/colorado/lpext.dll/cocode/1/3c208/3dc15/3e358/3ea3f/3ea4f?fn=document-frame.htm&f=templates&2.0#]. If your jurisdiction has such laws, utilize them. If it doesn’t, get some enacted.
The risk of the volunteer to loss of salary, employment, employment benefits or seniority due to their volunteer service
The volunteers on a fire, flood, search and rescue mission, debris clearance, sheltering or any other emergency mission are protecting us, often at risk of their livelihood, health insurance, career position etc. We owe them protection in return. In 2008, Colorado passed (unanimously except one no vote) an act providing protections to those who volunteer their services in a large scale emergency (http://dola.colorado.gov/dem/volunteer/volunteer_leave.htm ). The act provides for 15 days of leave when a volunteer is called to work by a qualified organization for a qualified emergency, paid leave for government workers and unpaid for the private sector. It provides that no such volunteer can lose seniority, rank, benefits, retirement credits etc. so long as they follow certain procedures. Any government entity can certify a volunteer organization they work with for such protection. Volunteers we all depend on no longer risk their livelihood by volunteering.
Conclusion
In order to keep a vibrant, essential corps of volunteers in emergency management, we need to take steps to protect them (and their government agencies) from some of the harms inherent in a disaster emergency situation.
NOTE: This article previously appeared in the IAEM Bulletin and is being reprinted with the permission of the International Association of Emergency Managers, www.iaem.com.
Energy Assurance Emergency Planning
“However, in a major disaster, when the disruption threatens the public health safety or welfare, or when the energy industry turns to a state or local government for assistance, that is when these energy assurance plans are intended to be used. In addition, efforts to protect critical energy infrastructure and build its resilience is the goal of the National Infrastructure Protection Plan” .
Partnerships
Within Colorado, the Governor’s Energy Office (GEO) has partnered with the Public Utility Commission and the Division of Emergency Management in an effort to encompass the energy industry with the emergency management community, who is responsible for dealing with eth consequences when an extended interruption occurs. The overall process has also involved meetings with stakeholders, conducting an intra-state and inter-state tabletop exercises, culminating in a validated energy assurance plan.
As a result of such large-scale incidents as the 1973 Oil Embargo, the 2003 northeast blackout, 2008 Hurricane Gustav, people’s lives are negatively impacted. While the energy industry mobilizes to restore lifelines, the emergency management community responds to mitigate the cascading effects of the interruption. Some of these effects could be: (1) need for temporary sheltering / housing; (2) medical treatment (for example chemotherapy); (3) eight-hour battery life on home care units; (4) non-access to needed drugs; (5) transport of feed for livestock; (6) and many others.
Besides affecting the immediate impact area, disasters can also disrupt individual facilities which can have a regional or national impact. Over the years, many critical facilities have acquired back-up generators to deal with potential electrical disruptions. However, how many times have these generators been tested or have failed when needed? In June 2010, an electrical sub-station exploded. This sub-station was the direct feed for a local hospital. Their back-up generator immediately kicked in and subsequently failed. This resulted in the immediate evacuation of the hospital’s critical-care patients, which was coordinated through the County’s emergency management office.
If a situation like this were more widespread, the GEO partnership has worked to develop a recommended draft prioritization list of critical infrastructure facilities that need to be restored if power can not returned within a reasonable amount of time. (Our definition of reasonable amount of time is 4-6 hours.) Generally, it appears that this floating window is appropriate before Emergency Management gets involved in the prioritization process. Recognizing that government can not dictate to the utilities when and what areas are to be fixed. But, through our mutual partnership, with the goal of serving the public, suggestions / recommendations can be made. The selection of the 4 – 6 hour timeframe was based upon the fact that home life support systems typically have 8 – 12 hours of battery life, so that requires some lead time to get needed power to a particular geographic location before the batteries run out of electrical power. If electricity can not be restored, then maybe a portable generator can be used.
The top ten priorities could be:
- Level I, II, and III Trauma Centers
- Acute care facilities
- 911 Dispatch Centers
- Burn centers
- Surgical Centers and Urgent Care Centers
- Food cold storage warehouses
- Water/Wastewater treatment facilities
- Fueling stations
- Emergency medical transport facilities
- Fire stations
End Result
Ultimately, the planning effort will be twofold: first, the publication of a comprehensive Energy Assurance Emergency Plan that will provide the framework for minimizing the impact of energy disruptions. And second, when a disruption does occur: the roles, responsibilities, and procedures outlined in a Utility Disruption Incident Annex to the State Emergency Operations Plan can be activated to respond to the basic needs of a jurisdiction’s residents while repairs are underway.
NOTE: This article previously appeared in the IAEM Bulletin and is being reprinted with the permission of the International Association of Emergency Managers, www.iaem.com.
Volunteer Capacity Building Workshop - June 2011
This FREE one day volunteer capacity building workshop is for Community Emergency Response Team (CERT); Citizen Corps Council volunteers; VOAD's; Medical Reserve Corp (MRC); Colorado Volunteer Mobilizer (CVM); and Red Cross volunteers. The day long workshop includes more than 25 one-hour training/educational sessions and an opportunity to participate in an exercise. Breakfast and lunch are provided to volunteers participating in the workshop.
If you have any questions, contact Kristen Campos at kristen.c.campos@gmail.com or Koral O'Brien at koral.obrien@gmail.com.
This workshop is sponsored by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, the Colorado Citizen Corps Program, and Denver Paramedics.
A special hotel rate is available for attendees (no direct funding is available) at the Beaver Run Resort and Conference Center. Reservations can be made online at www.beaverrun.com and the password is VCW5SK.
Topics to be offered during the workshop include:
- Training on 800 MHz radios (like our law enforcement and some other emergency services use)
- CPR and AED training
- CERT Animal Response I
- CERT Animal Response II
- Lessons Learned - CSU Meningitis Outbreak
- ICS 100 & 700
- Information Sharing and Social Media
- Citizen's terrorism awareness training
- Lessons Learned - Grand County Hepatitis A Outbreak
- Volunteer Affiliation
- Psychological First Aid
- Boulder County Public Health and Medical Reserve Corps Response to the Fourmile Fire
- Public Information
- Disaster Survival Skills
- Incident Management Teams
- Preparing for Workplace Disasters
- Triage Training
- How to Promote Your Organization
- and more
Hazard Mitigation Program Grant Application Period OPEN
The DEM Mitigation Team has opened the application period for 2011 State Hazard Mitigation Program (SHMP) grants. Awards are subject to the availability of funds through the Colorado Division of Emergency Management.
We encourage jurisdictions without a local hazard mitigation plan or those needing to update a plan to use this opportunity to assist in plan development. All local entities applying for pre- or post-disaster FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance program grants must have a FEMA approved local hazard mitigation plan to be eligible.
Activities that will be considered for this grant program include:
- Local hazard mitigation plans
- Mitigation studies
- Purchase of NOAA weather radios
- Mitigation training materials
- Printing mitigation information and brochures
- Mitigation planning activities
- Risk assessments
- Hazard mapping projects
Activities that are not within the scope of this grant program:
- Structural projects (projects requiring environmental or historical assessments)
- Response-oriented equipment
The Mitigation Team is soliciting Grant Applications for this program until close of business on Friday, June 3, 2011. Grant applications must be filled out by the local emergency manager. Please take a look at the 2011 State Hazard Mitigation Program Announcement Letter for more details on how to apply. For questions or comments, contact Scott Baldwin, Mitigation Assistant, at scott.baldwin@state.co.us or 720-852-6696.
Deep Snowpack = Potential for Powerful Avalanches
Public, fieldworkers, recreationalists cautioned that unusually heavy snowpack could spark larger, stronger avalanches in uncommon locations
Unusually deep snowpack in parts of Colorado’s northern and central mountains has the potential to produce dangerous avalanches in pathways that may not have run in decades, and that may run farther than they have in recent memory, according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center and the Colorado Geological Survey.
Many of the federal government’s snow monitoring sites are recording snowpack levels of more than 160 percent of average, and include some areas with snowpack well over 200 percent of an average year. In many areas snow was still accumulating through the end of April. This may increase the likelihood for major avalanches during the melting season now underway.
The CAIC emphasizes that the public – including local governments and private companies that deploy fieldworkers to outdoor sites - need to be aware of this potential hazard and be prepared for very large events. This warning also applies after an avalanche, as it is important people do not enter debris zones until the area has been evaluated for further avalanche activity potential.
Photo by Terry Onslow - Westside Avalanche Network |
While rapid transition to above freezing temperatures, or a sustained period of warm temperatures could produce very large and destructive avalanches, large spring avalanches are not guaranteed. But the right weather conditions during May and early June could produce avalanches larger than we have seen in 30 to 100 years. Stands of timber, structures, and other assets in avalanche runout areas could be damaged or destroyed.
More information is available here, with a map showing federal Natural Resources Conservation Service SNOTEL data on snowpack levels and here, with photographs showing recent impacts of the Peru Creek drainage avalanche.
The CAIC also wants to remind rescue workers, demolition workers and other people that they should carry proper avalanche rescue equipment and use safe travel protocols. Staff from the Colorado Avalanche Information Center are available to advise on spring conditions and avalanche safety. Backcountry advisories are available at www.colorado.gov/avalanche through May 30th. In an emergency, staff can be reached at 303-204-6027.
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Train-the-Trainer Course
Rapid Needs Assessment Course
When: August 12, 2011 - 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Where: Carbondale & Rural Fire District Station 1, 300 Meadowood Drive, Carbondale, CO 81623
Register: Registration will be through http://www.co.train.org Course ID: 1024910. This course is first come, first served. No charge.
Target Audience: Individuals who may assume a supervisory role in expanding emergency incidents.
For more information contact: Robyn Knappe, robyn.knappe@state.co.us - 720-852-6617