OEM Monitoring Weather Conditions And Ready to Support As Needed

The Colorado Office of Emergency Management is currently monitoring weather conditions across the state in coordination with the local National Weather Service office.  Emergency management staff is ready to respond if needed.  Weather updates will be shared on our @COEmergency Twitter account, COEmergency Facebook account and at COEmergency.com. 

Weather Forecast

Mountains and Foothills 

Winter Storm Warning until 6 a.m. on Saturday morning.
Current snow amounts 6-12" at an elevation of 8,000 to 9,000 feet.
Current snow amounts of 12-18" at an elevation of 9,000 feet and above.

Winds: Are decreasing as the storm is passing though with an Eastern wind of 10-20 MPH and gust of 30-40 MPH on the higher peaks.


Additional snow accumulation:
8-16" at an elevation of 8,000 feet and above.
6-12" in the Foothills 6,000-8,000 feet.

Snow is expected to decrease in early morning hours on Friday.

I-25 Corridor Wyoming border to Palmer Divide

Winter Storm Warning until 6 a.m. Saturday morning. A rain/snow mix will begin this afternoon from 3-5 p.m.

Snow accumulation: 5-10" within the corridor with a heavier band of snow around the Ft. Collins area going east to Ft. Morgan could see 6-12" of accumulation.

Palmer Divide going east 5-10" of snow accumulation.

Winds: Eastern 10-15 MPH with gusts up to 20 MPH.

Snow is expected to decrease in early morning hours on Friday.

Northeast Region

Winter Storm Warning until 6 a.m. Saturday morning for most of the region. As you go further east and south of the region a Winter Weather Advisory is issued.

Snow accumulation: 4-8" throughout the region and to the southern part of the region could receive lighter amounts of snow accumulation.

Winds: Eastern 15-20 MPH with gusts up to 25 MPH.

Snow is expected to decrease in early morning hours on Friday.

Another Snow Event on Friday Afternoon - Another front is moving in the area of Friday afternoon the I-25 corridor going east along I-70 could receive another 1-4" of accumulation.

The Palmer Divide going east could receive another 3-6" of snow accumulation.

Flood Related Funding Still Available in CWCB Loan Program

There remains a substantial amount of flood-related funding still available in the Colorado Water Conservation Board  (CWCB) loan program. Water entities in need of financial assistance are encouraged to contact CWCB staff for further information.

Please view the Flood-Related Funding Fact Sheet for specific information on funding sources.

Public Assistance Forms Updated for DR-4145

The following forms have been updated and are now available at www.CORecovers.info on the Public Assistance Resource page.  These documents replace earlier versions.

Resources are available to view and download at the bottom of this page.  They include:

• Grant Management and Reimbursement Instruction Packet, FEMA-4145-DR-CO Public Assistance, Version 2 (January 27, 2014)
• Request for Reimbursement, DR 4145 FEMA Public Assistance Grant Program, Private Non Profit (PNP) (January 27, 2014)
• Request for Reimbursement, DR 4145 FEMA Public Assistance Grant Program, Version 2 (January 27, 2014)

The Grant Management and Reimbursement Instruction Packet is intended to inform applicants of potential issues which must be addressed during the life cycle of all projects for compliance and proper administration of Public Assistance Grants. This document will likely be revised as we move forward in this process.  The most current version will be posted on the CORecovers.info website on the Public Assistance Resource Page.

The Office of Emergency Management will be conducting a conference call to answer questions and provide further clarification regarding these documents and the Public Assistance process.  This will be the first of a bi-monthly recurring meeting and conference call in working session, moving forward we will plan to have these on the 2nd and 4th Friday's of each month.

The first meeting will take place Friday, January 31, 2014 from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Conference Call in information:  1-877-820-7831 and PIN# 522939#

Contact Scott Baldwin with questions at Scott.Baldwin@state.co.us. 

Updated Notice of Interest Forms for HMGP Submission

The Notice of Interest forms for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program have been modified.  If you downloaded the forms prior to January 26 you will need to use these forms for your grant submission.   

Notice of Interest Form: Word Format

• Mitigation Plans 
• Wildfire Mitigation Projects 
• Safe Rooms:  Community and Residential
• Generator Projects 
• 5% Projects
• Other Projects: acquisition, demolition, open space, soil stabilization, elevation, floodproofing, structural retrofit, nonstructural retrofit 

Notice of Interest Forms:  PDF Format

• Mitigation Plans 
• Wildfire Mitigation Projects 
• Safe Rooms:  Community and Residential
• Generator Projects 
• 5% Projects
• Other Projects: acquisition, demolition, open space, soil stabilization, elevation, floodproofing, structural retrofit, nonstructural retrofit 

Sumbit your forms to Ken Brink by email at  kenneth.brink@state.co.us by January 31, 2014.

DHSEM Update: January 17, 2014

Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Update ~ January 17

Information included in this DHSEM Update includes:

• Wildfire Risk Reduction Grant Program Application Period Open
• CEMA Conference Registration and Information
• Notice of Interest Forms for Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Available
• Call for Nominations:  2014 Higgins & Langley Memorial Awards in Swiftwater Rescue
• Colorado Emergency Preparedness Partnership:  February Meeting Information
• FEMA Seeks Applicants for Youth Preparedness Council
• Inciweb Site Information
• Job Announcements
• Kudos and Congratulations for DHSEM Staff
• Educational Resources
• Training Information

Notice of Interest Forms: Hazard Mitigation Grant Program

Notice of Interest forms for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) are located below.   There are six different forms both in Word and PDF.  Eligible potential applicants include local governments, Tribal governments, state agencies, and certain private nonprofit organizations (including rural electric associations).

Form below were updated on January 26.  Please use these forms for your submission for HMGP funds.

Notice of Interest Form: Word Format

• Mitigation Plans 
• Wildfire Mitigation Projects 
• Safe Rooms:  Community and Residential
• Generator Projects 
• 5% Projects
• Other Projects: acquisition, demolition, open space, soil stabilization, elevation, floodproofing, structural retrofit, nonstructural retrofit 

Notice of Interest Forms:  PDF Format

• Mitigation Plans 
• Wildfire Mitigation Projects 
• Safe Rooms:  Community and Residential
• Generator Projects 
• 5% Projects
• Other Projects: acquisition, demolition, open space, soil stabilization, elevation, floodproofing, structural retrofit, nonstructural retrofit 

Sumbit your forms to Ken Brink by email at  kenneth.brink@state.co.us by January 31, 2014.

Wildfire Risk Reduction Grant Program Application Period Open

The Colorado Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is currently accepting applications for a second round of grants under the Wildfire Risk Reduction Grant (WRRG) Program.  All applicants much coordinate proposed projects with appropriate county officials to ensure consistency with county-level wildfire risk reduction planning.  The deadline to submit grant proposals to DNR is March 13.

Eligible applicants include community groups, local governments, utilities, state agencies and non-profit groups.  Applicants must contribute 100 percent matching funds, which can include in-kind resources, for a 50-50 grant-to-match ratio. 

Examples of projects considered for funding include:

• Creation of defensible space around homes and structures, based on Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) guidelines.
• Construction of fuel breaks, based on CSFS guidelines.
• Fuels reduction beyond defensible space, designed to protect water supplies and/or reduce fire intensity.

Visit the Colorado Department of Natural Resources website for the grant application and specific information on this grant program that will provide $5.8 million in grants this year.  

Michael Cooke Named Contingency Planner for Colorado Office of Preparedness

The Office of Preparedness welcomes aboard Michael Cooke. He will be joining the Planning Program team, led by Kerry Kimble, as a Contingency Planner.  

Cooke recently served as a Deputy Emergency Manager for El Paso County during the Waldo Canyon wildfire.  In that role, he also served as the County’s Emergency Watershed Protection Plan Manager working with the U.S. Forest Service, the National Resource Conservation Service, FEMA, Burned Area Emergency Response Team, as well as many others.  He was responsible for storm / flood water response and recovery planning which involved volunteering to be part of the debris removal and mass care / mass casualty planning efforts.  

Cooke is also a 30 year U.S. Army veteran with two tours of duty in Iraq.  His military experience is in the areas of Combat Engineers and Military Police. 

FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program

Notice of Intent/Pre​-application​ forms

Attached are six Notice of Intent/Pre-application forms (in both Word and PDF) for the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program:

- Mitigation Plans
- Wildfire Mitigation Projects
- Safe Rooms (Community and Residential)
- Generator Projects
- 5% Projects (projects not easily measured by the usual FEMA cost-effectiveness tools)
- Other Projects (example:  acquisition/demolition/open space, soil stabilization, elevation, flood-proofing, structural retrofit, nonstructural retrofit ...)

Links to clarification on eligible projects can be found on the top of the forms.
Click here to download: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Forms Folder
Eligible potential applicants include local governments, Tribal governments, state agencies, and certain private nonprofit organizations (including rural electric associations).