Southwest - San Luis Valley Regional Field Manager Announced

The Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is pleased to announce that Trevor Denney has accepted the position of Regional Field Manager for the Southwest and San Luis Valley Regions.
An official start date will be announced next week.

Denney comes to OEM from Grand County, where he is the Deputy Emergency Manager.

Kiowa County Emergency Management Position Open

Kiowa County Sheriff’s Office is accepting applications for a coordinator to work in the Division of Emergency Management.

The preferred candidate will have a background in emergency management or emergency response. You must have or be able to obtain Incident Command System (ICS) 100-400 and National Incident Management System (NIMS) 700-800 certification within one year.  A FEMA Professional Development Series certification is helpful.

The candidate must be able to coordinate with local, regional and state teams, manage grant resources, and develop and implement preparedness and response plans for responders and the general public. You must oversee and maintain emergency operations center readiness and be able to travel and respond to local and state emergencies and mutual aid requests with little notice. The candidate must possess the ability to leverage and obtain other grant fund sources for the benefit of the agency and county.  A valid Colorado driver’s license and background check is required.

The position is partially grant funded and contingent upon continued receipt of grant funds. Applications and resumes must be submitted to the Kiowa County Commissioners Office, PO Box 100, 1305 Goff Street, Eads, Colorado 81036, (719) 438-5810.

The deadline for applications to be submitted is March 20, 2013 at 4:30 pm. Kiowa County Sheriff's Office reserves the right to reject any and all applications. EOE.

Colorado Emergency Management Conference Day One Review: #CEMC13

View or 2013 Colorado Emergency Management Conference Page for information on conference presentations, conference program and award winners.

The page will be updated each day to share presentation information.  Conference photos will be uploaded and shared on Wednesday, February 26.

Please join us in sharing the conference experience on Twitter by using the hashtag #CEMC13.


CO Emergency Management Conference Opening Ceremony: #CEMC13

The 2013 Colorado Emergency Management Conference opens today at 10 a.m. in Loveland.  There will be more than 300 local, state and federal emergency managers and first responders attending the three day conference.   The conference is sponsored by the Colorado Emergency Management Association and the Colorado Office of Emergency Management.

Opening Ceremony Schedule

10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Master of Ceremonies

Mike Gavin, Emergency Manager, City of Ft. Collins

Opening Ceremony

Colorado National Guard - Presentation of Colors
Rebekka McCaleb - Star Spangled Banner
Cecil Gutierrez, Mayor of Loveland
Bill Cahill, City Manager of Loveland

Colorado Opening Comments

Senator Mark Udall (via video)
Kevin Klein, Director, Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management
Dave Hard, Director, Colorado Office of Emergency Management

Incident Roundatable

Waldo Canyon and High Park Fires
Bret Waters, Emergency Manager, City of Colorado Springs
Tony Simons, Emergency Services Specialist, Larimer County Sheriff Office

The conference is taking place at the Embassy Suites Hotel & Conference Center in Loveland, Colorado.

Delayed Start for Staff on Monday, February 25

Lt. Governor Garcia has ordered a delayed opening at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, February 25. Unless we have to activate the State EOC for an emergency incident, staff can report at 10:00 a.m. (2-hour delayed opening)

Current Colorado OEM Operating Status

The Colorado Office of Emergency Management is monitoring impacted areas from the Winter Storm Warning and Blizzard Warning Areas. The State Emergency Opertions Center (EOC) and the Emergency Support Functions (ESF) are on alert status. The State EOC is not activated at this time.
 
Current Predicted Weather from National Weather Service - Boulder Office:

Foothills - Winter Storm Warning until 11:00 p.m.
  • Could see snow rates up to 1-2"/hour
  • Snow Accumulation Northern Foothills 7-14"
  • Snow Accumulation Southern Foothills 10-20"
  • Snow Accumulations Highlands Ranch going West to Jefferson County could see up to 14"
  • Winds 15-25 MPH sustained with gusts up to 30-35 MPH.
  • Snow should start diminishing around 5:00 p.m from the north and working south around 8:00 p.m.near Jefferson County.
  • Visibility will be around 1/4 mile

I-25 Corridor Denver to Boulder - Winter Storm Warning until 8:00 p.m.
  • Snow Accumulation 8-12"
  • Winds 15-25 MPH sustained with gusts up to 30-35 MPH
  • Snow should start to diminish around 8:00 p.m in the metro area and around 5:00 p.m. in the Boulder area.
  • Visibility will be around 1/4 mile

Palmer Divide / Northeast Region (Northern El Paso, Douglas, Elbert, Lincoln, Central and Eastern Adams and Arapahoe, Washington Counties - Blizzard Warning until 11:00 p.m. 
  • Snow Accumulation:
  • Southern Douglas and Western Elbert 10-16"
  • Limon 8" - Snow will be less going east of Limon
  • Limon / South 1-3"
  • I-70 Limon to Denver up to 10"
  • NE Corner of State 1-3"
  • I-76 Ft. Morgan to Metro Area - 6-8" near Ft. Morgan.... near 10-12" closer to metro area.
  • Greeley area 6-8"
  • Washington County 1-3" could be greater in Western Washington County
  • Adams & Arapahoe County 8-12"
  • Winds 20-35 MPH sustained with gusts up to 35-40 MPH
  • Visibility will be from zero to 1/4 mile in areas.
  • Snow should start diminishing around 5:00 from the north and gradually decreasing going south around 11:00 p.m. near Limon.
State EOC Updates
The State EOC and Colorado OEM will continue to share updates on weather conditions, preparedness information and the State EOC status on our Twitter and Facebook pages:

OEM Weekly Update ~ February 15

Colorado Office of Emergency Management Weekly Update ~ February 15, 2013


Items included in the update this week are:
  • National Association of SARA Title III Program Officials Annual SERC/LEPC Workshop and Training Meeting
  • Colorado Emergency Preparedness Partnership (CEPP) March Program
  • Transition Advisory Committee Final Results
  • Job Announcements
    • Jefferson County Dispatcher
    • Mountain View Fire Rescue Battalion Chief
    • Southwest US Region Firewise Advisor Position
    • Marketing Director Needed for Pueblo Zoo
  • Educational Resources
    • Community Awareness Program (CAP) Training
    • NFPA Provides New Video PSA in American Sign Language
    • Denver Police Department 2013 Citizens' Police Academy Announcement
  • Training Information
    • Instructor Methodologies Refresher
    • Updated FEMA Courses
    • G290 Basic Public Information Officer Training
    • Introduction to Environmental Enforcement
    • Training Announcement from the Office of Preparedness
If you would like to submit information for the update next week, please send it by email to Micki Trost at micki.trost@state.co.us.


OEM Weekly Update ~ February 6, 2013

Colorado Office of Emergency Management Weekly Update ~ February 6

Information included in the February 6 update includes:

  • Colorado Forest Restoration Grant
  • Emergency Management Performance Grant Survey for 2013
  • National Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook
  • Flu Information
  • Job Openings
  • The Role of the Fusion Center in Counterterrorism Operations Article
  • EPA's Smart Growth Implementation Assistance Program
  • Educational Resources
    • Active Shooter Preparedness Website Launched by DHS
    • Rolf H. Jensen Grant for Public Education Campaigns
  • Training Information
    • G290 Public Information Officer Course in March
    • Emergency Management on Tribal Lands
    • Training Course Schedule from the www.DHSEM.state.co.us website. 

Smart Growth Implementation Assistance Program

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agencies Office of Sustainable Communities just announced the new call for applications for our Smart Growth Implementation Assistance (SGIA) program.

Smart Growth Implementaion Program Details

The SGIA program focuses on complex or cutting-edge issues, and projects can take about 18 months to complete. These projects explore innovative ideas to overcome barriers that are preventing communities from getting the kind of development they want. Since 2005, the SGIA program has allowed the Office of Sustainable Communities to work with a diverse array of communities from across the country on issues such as storm water management, code revision, transit-oriented development, affordable housing, infill development, corridor planning, green building, and climate change.

The EPA invites applicants to submit proposals under one of four categories (though other ideas are accepted too). 
  • Community Resilience to Disasters and Climate Change 
  • Redevelopment for Job Creation 
  • The Role of Manufactured and Modular Homes in Sustainable Neighborhood Design 
  • Medical and Social Services Facilities Siting 

Application Deadline

Applications are due on March 1.

More information at http://epa.gov/smartgrowth/sgia.htm.

Burn Awareness Week: Preventing Scald Burn Injuries

Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control reminds parents that fire is just one cause of burn injuries.


Burn Awareness Week is February 3-9  

The Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control reminds parents and caregivers that fire is just one cause of burn injuries.

National Burn Awareness Week is February 3-9. The Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control joins fire and life safety educators across the state in reminding parents and caregivers that fire is just one cause of burn injuries. Children also can be seriously injured by hot foods and beverages, heating appliances, hot pots and pans, electrical currents and chemicals.

This year's focus of Burn Awareness Week is preventing scald burn injuries.

Hot water scalds are the leading cause of burns to young children and can be caused by hot liquids or steam. Hot tap water accounts for almost one in four of all scald burns among children and is associated with more deaths and hospitalizations than any other hot liquid burns. Young children are particularly at risk because they cannot recognize heat-related hazards quickly enough to react appropriately. Children's skin is thinner than adults' and burns at lower temperatures and more deeply. A child exposed to 140-degree Fahrenheit liquid for five seconds will sustain a third-degree burn.

"Burn hazards to children include hot foods and beverages, space heaters, steam irons and curling irons," said Paul Cooke, Director of the Division of Fire Prevention and Control. "There's a lot you can do around the home to minimize the risk of burn injuries."

The Division urges caregivers to:

  • Check your water temperature. Set your water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. When using water taps, always turn the COLD water on first; then add HOT. Reverse the order when turning water off. Always check bath and sink water with your wrist or elbow before placing your child in it. 
  • Childproof your home. Keep burning candles, matches and lighters out of the reach of children. Playing with matches and lighters is one of the leading causes of fire deaths to young children. Keep these items locked up out of sight and out of reach. Discuss good fires and bad fires and how matches and lighters are for adults. Explain these items are not toys. 
  • Prevent spills. Cook with pots and pans on back burners and turn handles away from the front. Place containers of hot food or liquid away from the edge of counters or tables and remove tablecloths so children don't accidentally pull hot items down onto themselves. 
  • Establish a "kid-free zone." Establish a three-foot kid free zone around the stove area. Never leave your child alone in the kitchen. Don't hold children while cooking or while carrying hot foods and beverages. 
  • Test food and drink temperature. Taste cooked foods and heated liquids to make sure they're not too hot for children. Never microwave a baby's bottle. Drinks heated in a microwave may be much hotter than their containers. Instead, heat bottles with warm water and test them before feeding your child. 
  • Keep electrical cords out of reach — especially cords connected to heating appliances, such as coffee pots and deep fryers. Make sure electrical cords can't be pulled or snagged into a bathtub or sink. Never leave a hot iron sitting on an ironing board unattended. 
  • Actively supervise. Simply being in the same room with a child is not necessarily supervising. Safety precautions are important, but there is no substitute for giving children your full attention. 
  • If a child is burned, the burned area should be place in, or flushed with, cool water. Keep the burned area in the cool water for 10 to 15 minutes. Never use ice, ointments or butter. If the burn is severe, immediately seek emergency assistance. 

For additional information contact your local fire department and, or these additional resources: 


Division of Fire Prevention and Control – General Background Information on Scald Burns

www.cdfpc.org/docs/DFPC_Scald_Burns.pdf

American Burn Association

www.ameriburn.org

Shriners Hospitals for Children – Burn Awareness

http://www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/Education/BurnAwareness.aspx

Safe Kids USA – Burn Prevention

http://www.safekids.org/our-work/programs/fire-burn-prevention/



This information was provided by the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control.