Emergency Management Performance Grant Update

EMPG Update Letter from Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Director


This is an update on the Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) and other
grant contracts and reimbursements for Fiscal Year (FY) 12. To begin, I apologize for the
time taken to get the contracts finalized and your reimbursements processed. I realize
this caused hardship for many jurisdictions.


With the transition to the Department of Public Safety, all the contracts needed to be
revised to reflect the reorganization and undergo a review and approval process through
the State Controller’s Office. In addition, we were unable to issue the EMPG contracts
until we received the actual FY12 Award from FEMA, which happened in August, during a
disastrous fire season, putting us further behind. The Division is making progress on these
issues and refining our processes to be better able to turn the contracts and
reimbursements around in the much shorter time. I assure you that all reimbursement
requests received by November 30, 2012 that have fully executed contracts in place, will
be processed and payment sent to the local jurisdiction prior to December 31, 2012.


I understand we still have work to do and we will improve and streamline our operations
and administrative processes. I appreciate the work you do in your communities and our
partnership in serving the people of Colorado.


If you have any questions, please contact me.


Sincerely,

Kevin R. Klein
Director
kevin.klein@state.co.us

View EMPG letter

OEM Weekly Update ~ November 23

Colorado Office of Emergency Management Weekly Update ~ November 23, 2012


The information included this week includes:
  • Summary of Findings:  Waldo Canyon Fire Forum for People with Disabilities
  • 2013 Colorado Emergency Management Academy
  •  DOLA's New E-Filing Portal Provides Convenience for Local Governments
  • Kudos and Congratulations to OEM's Tony Reidell and San Juan County
  • Open Position Announcements
  • Are Your Preparedness Messages Reaching Your Community Members?
  • Flu Season Safety Messaging from CDC
  • Colorado OEM Social Media Sites
  • READY, SET, GO! Free Webinar on Wildland Fire Best Practices for Delivering Messages
  • Training Information and Updates

If you would like to submit an article for inclusion in next week's update please email Micki Trost at micki.trost@state.co.us.




Training Information: Updated Administrative Guidelines

Updated and Revised Administrative Guidelines for the NIMS ICS All-Hazards Position Specific Training Program

 The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has released the revised guidelines for the NIMS ICS All-Hazards Position Specfic Training Program.  Some of the highlights of the revised guidelines include:
  • Totally rewritten section on scheduling of off-campus Position Specific classes
  • Changes in qualifications for acceptance into train-the-trainer classes including:
    • ICS 400 will be a required class for Command and Control TtT’s effective October 1, 2013
    • Other entrance requirements have been clarified as well
    • The ICS 400 class will continue to be a ‘recommended’ class for Unit Leader TtT classes
    • As of October 1, 2013, all students who wish to sign up for TtT classes will be required to have taken the class before they’re allowed to enroll in a TtT version. Exceptions are allowed for personnel who are qualified in a Command & Control class and wish to sign up for a TtT for a Unit Leader class. Example: an instructor who is qualified to instruct the Operations Section Chief course may sign up for the Division/Group Supervisor TtT and/or the Task Force Strike Team Leader TtT.
  •  A section has been added on the removal of instructors
  •  Appendix material has been added on how to obtain a Student Identification Number (SID) and a Tip Sheet for hosting regional Position Specific class offerings
  •  Clarification on the application policy for offering Communications Unit Leader classes; these classes will now be offered through the states and overseen by the Federal Office of Emergency Communications (OEC), but will still be registered through and credit will be given by EMI.
 
As with other All-Hazards Position Specific course materials and information, these guidelines will be posted on the Position Specific website, replacing the previous version.
 

Appointments to Homeland Security and All-Hazards Senior Advisory Committe Announced

Colorado Department of Public Safety Announces Appointments to H-SAC Committee


Colorado Department of Public Safety Executive Director James H. Davis has announced the appointments of 21 committee members to the Homeland Security and All-Hazards Senior Advisory Committee (H-SAC).  Executive Director Davis is the H-SAC committee chair and the State Homeland Security Advisor. 

H-SAC Committee Members

Internal Colorado Department of Public Safety Appointments

  • Director Kevin Klein, Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (non-voting member)
  • Chief James Wolfinbarger, Colorado State Patrol
  • Director Paul Cooke, Division of Fire Prevention and Control

Colorado State Agency Appointments

  • Director Lyle Moore Jr., MPH, REHS, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
  • Michael Hunt, Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
  • Peter Bangas, Public Safety Communications Network Manager
  • Executive Director Reeves Brown, Department of Local Affairs

External Agency Representatives

  • Commissioner Peggy Littleton, Colorado Counties Inc., El Paso
  • Jim Lancy, President, Colorado Emergency Management Association
  • George Heinrichs, President, Intrado Corporation
  • Meghan Storrie, Legislative and Policy Advocate, Colorado Municipal League
  • Scott Field, Director, Office of Emergency Management Homeland Security, City and County of Denver
  • Ann Terry, Executive Director, Special Districts Association
  • Mike Gavin, State All Hazards Advisory Committee
  • Bill Tolbert, Colorado Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster
  • Scott Kellar, Homeland Security Coordinator, North-Central Region
  • Kathi Gurule, Risk and Emergency Manager, Southern Ute Indian Tribe
  • Sheriff Bruce Hartman, County Sheriffs of Colorado
  • Cheif Randy Lesher, President, Emergency Medical Services Association of Colorado
  • Chief Dwight Henniger, Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police
  • Chief Joseph Bruce, Colorado State Fire Chiefs Association
The Homeland Security and All-Hazards Senior Advisory Committee's mission is to assist the state in becoming better able to prevent, protect, mitigate, respond, and recover from those threats and hazards posing greatest risk to Colorado.  Other committee responsibilities include:
  • providing advice and counsel to the the State Homeland Security Advisor;
  • formulating recommendations on the State Homeland Security Strategy;
  • reviewing grant funding applications; and
  • providing policy guidance to the new Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.  
The H-SAC committee was established pursuant to Colorado Revised Statute 24-33.5-1614.
 

Training Updates Posted

Several course opportunities are now available.  Course flyers and additional information are available on the Training Page:

  • January 19-20, 2013, ICS 300 in Hugo, Colorado
  • January 26-27, 2013, ICS 400 in Hugo, Colorado
  • February 11-12, 2013, ICS 300 in Glenwood Springs, Colorado
  • April 9-10, 2013, AWR136 and MGT 384:  Cyber Security in Centennial, Colorado.
Contact Robyn Knappe at robyn,knappe@state.co.us for questions related to training courses or registration using the COTRAIN site.

OEM Update: Nov. 9

Colorado Office of Emergency Management Update ~ November 9

Information included in the OEM Update:
  • Qualified Volunteer Organizations
  • Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Kick-Off Meeting
  • Volunteers Needed for Special Exercise Opportunity
  • Director Named for Division of Fire Prevention and Control
  • Kudos
  • Positions Open for Application
  • Educational Resources
  • Training Information
If you would like to contribute information to the next update please email Micki Trost at micki.trost@state.co.us.

Coal Creek Fire Update: Nov. 9 #CoalCreekFire

Snow and rain that entered the area Friday evening helped dampen the Coal Creek Fire burning northeast of Pagosa Springs.  

As of yesterday evening, the fire had grown minimally and is not likely to grow any further with the moisture received yesterday evening.  Incident Commander Ryan Vincent described the conditions near the fire as “wet and soupy”.  The fire is approximately 127 acres.

Temporary trail closure signs will be removed today and the trail will be opened.  

The Type 3 helicopter was released this morning, and more moisture is predicted through the weekend.  This will be the last and final update, pending no significant changes.  

Any future updates will be posted on the Archuleta County emergency information site www.acemergency.org

Information provided by Brandy Richardson,Public Information Officer

Denver Water Raising Awareness about Lead Plumbing


Utility providing information to area homes and businesses


Denver Water wants to remind customers that if you live in an older home, you may have lead in your plumbing, which could affect the water coming out of your tap.

Every year, Denver Water collects more than 10,000 water samples, runs more than 50,000 water quality tests throughout its system, and mails a water quality report to customers to describe the overall quality of water from collection and storage to customers’ taps. Lead is not found in Denver’s source water (rivers and reservoirs), treated water or public water system.

In addition to testing throughout its public system, for the past 20 years Denver Water has conducted a testing program inside homes with lead plumbing. In the utility’s most recent testing, water samples from 60 homes were analyzed. Eight of those samples showed lead levels that were higher than the federal standard. All eight homes were built before 1920.

“The health and safety of all our customers is very important to us,” said Tom Roode, director of Operations & Maintenance for Denver Water. “We thoroughly test our water before and after treatment and as it flows through our pipes in the street, so we know lead is not present in the public water system. But, lead was used for years in paint, plumbing and other household products, and still exists in older homes and buildings. In our experience, the structures most likely to have lead plumbing issues were built in the mid-1950s or earlier.”

Customers who are concerned about their home plumbing should consider taking the following steps:
  • Run your water to flush out lead. If it hasn’t been used for several hours, run the cold water tap until the temperature is noticeably colder. This flushes lead-containing water from the pipes.
  • Always use cold water for drinking, cooking, and preparing baby formula.
  • Do not boil water to remove lead. Boiling water will not reduce lead.
  • Consider investing in a water filtration system. Filters must meet NSF Standard 53, and they range from pitchers that cost as little as $20 to under-sink systems for $100 or more. More information can be found at www.nsf.org or by calling 1-800-NSF-8010.
  • Have your household water tested by a state-certified laboratory. You can find a list of reputable, certified labs at www.coloradostatelab.us.
  • Identify and replace plumbing fixtures containing lead. Brass faucets, fittings and valves, including those advertised as “lead-free,” may leach lead into drinking water. Use only lead-certified contractors for plumbing work.
  • Have a licensed electrician check your wiring. If grounding wires from your electrical system are attached to your pipes, corrosion may be greater. Check with a licensed electrician or your local electric code to determine if your wiring can be grounded elsewhere.



“Because there were eight homes with elevated levels of lead among our sample group, we are required by Federal regulations to let all customers know about the issue,” said Roode. “In addition to notifications about lead plumbing that we send to customers each year in our water quality report, we want to use this opportunity to raise awareness in the community and provide our customers with information to take appropriate steps.”

Denver Water customers will receive a brochure in the mail, which contains the required notice as well as educational information, by the end of November. The brochure and additional information are available on Denver Water’s website, www.denverwater.org/lead.

Additional information on lead can be found at www.epa.gov/lead, www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead and in the attached fact sheet.


Denver Water proudly serves high-quality water and promotes its efficient use to 1.3 million people in the city of Denver and many surrounding suburbs. Established in 1918, the utility is a public agency funded by water rates, new tap fees and the sale of hydropower, not taxes. It is Colorado's oldest and largest water utility. For more information, visit www.denverwater.org and follow us on Twitter.

OEM Update ~ November 2

Office of Emergency Management Update ~ November 2

Information included in this update:
  • Hazard Mitigation Grant Announcement
  • 5th Annual CAIC Benefit Bash
  • FEMA Begins to Fund Debris Removal on Federal Highways
  • Division of Fire Prevention and Control Newsletter
  • Job Openings
  • Education Resources
  • Training Courses

Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Announcement



The Colorado Office of Emergency Management is now accepting Notice of Interest (NOI) from eligible applicants for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). This program was requested by the Governor and approved by FEMA as part of the presidential disaster declaration for the High Park and Waldo Canyon wildfires.

It is the Mitigation Teams’ hope that local emergency management and mitigation partners will take a comprehensive look at their community’s risk, determine if any projects would meet the requirements for funding, and submit a NOI. These grants represent a fantastic opportunity to improve a community’s ability to mitigate natural hazards and reduce potential impacts on citizens, property, and local economies.

Important Information and Dates

·         Please read the HMGP Announcement Letter for additional information on the NOI, kick-off meeting, program description, applicant eligibility, and project evaluation criteria.

·         On Tuesday, November 13, 2012, from 10AM-Noon, there will be a HMGP kick-off meeting in the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) at 9195 East Mineral Avenue (2nd floor) to discuss the program. Potential applicants are highly encouraged to attend and bring their project ideas.

·         Notice of Interest forms must be returned no later than November 30, 2012.

Program information is also available directly from the HMGP page on FEMA’s web site. The reference document June 1, 2010 Hazard Mitigation Assistance Unified Guidance is applicable to funding associated with this announcement.

For questions or comments, please contact Ken Brink, Mitigation Team Supervisor, with at kenneth.brink@state.co.us or 720-852-6695.