DHSEM Update: February 29, 2016

DHSEM Update logo
Read this month's DHSEM Update.  This Update includes:
  • Emergency Operations Center Task Book Reviewers Needed
  • Hazard Mitigation Assistance Notice of Intent Forms Now Accepted by DHSEM
  • Upcoming DHSEM Committee Meetings
  • DHSEM Grant Information and Updates
  • Kudos and Job Well Done
  • DHSEM Announced Funding Opportunities for Fiscal year 2016 Preparedness Grants
  • FEMA Releases National Planning System
  • Job and Volunteer Opportunties
  • Educational Resources
  • Training and Exercise Information
Download the full DHSEM Update.

Colorado Daily Status Report February 29, 2016






Alerts/Warnings
National Terrorism Advisory System: No Current Alerts | Bulletin
State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) Status
Day to Day
Current Disasters/Large Incidents
No incidents requiring State support

To read Colorado Daily Status Report for February 29, 2016

City and DHSEM Warn of Phone Scam Claiming to Assist Landslide Impacted Residents

City of Colorado Springs logo
DHSEM logo




NEWS RELEASE
February 24, 2016

City Warns of Phone Scam Claiming to Assist Landslide Impacted Residents

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.-- The City of Colorado Springs has been made aware of a phone scam targeting people in areas known to be impacted by recent landslide activity. The caller claims to be from a government organization offering “secure grant loans”. The caller ID identifies the number as being “unknown”; however the phone calls do not appear to be legitimate and did not originate from the City of Colorado Springs nor the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

The Colorado Springs Office of Emergency Management and the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management will only contact property owners who have expressed an interest in participating in the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program and have provided their contact information to one of these entities. They will not request any type of payment. The Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management will not contact homeowners directly regarding grant programs.

People receiving these calls should contact the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov/complaint. To expedite their complaint, victims are encouraged to report it to the FTC rather than contact the police department. The police department will only investigate this type of activity if the victim has actually paid money. If a victim has actually lost money to this scam please report it to CSPD’s non-emergency number at (719) 444-7000 or online at www.coloradosprings.gov. Click on “Public Safety” and then on “Report a Crime”.
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DHSEM Mitigation and Recovery Program Report: February 25, 2016

MARS Program and Recovery Report

The DHSEM Mitigation and Recovery Program Report is available to view or download for February 25, 2016.


Colorado Daily Status Report for February 25, 2016





Alerts/Warnings
National Terrorism Advisory System: No Current Alerts | Bulletin
State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) Status
Day to Day
Current Disasters/Large Incidents
No incidents requiring State support

To read Colorado Daily Status Report for February 25, 2016

DHSEM Supporting Park County Officer Involved Shooting

The Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management is supporting Park County following an Park County Sheriff Officer officer involved shooting this morning.  Additional information is available from a Park County news release:

"Media to go to Station #1 Platte Canyon Fire Dept. Near the Bailey Government Offices for any briefing.

Incident involved one suspect and three Park County officers. Suspect is deceased, one officer deceased two officers injured with non-life threatening injuries.

Colorado Bureau of Investigation has been called. Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and SWAT TEAM and Colorado State Police are providing backup to the area.

Platte Canyon and Fitzsimmons Middle School is on lock down at this time for safety’s sake."

Additional information can be found on the Park County website, Park County Twitter, or Park County Facebook account.

Colorado Daily Status Report February 24, 2016






Alerts/Warnings
National Terrorism Advisory System: No Current Alerts | Bulletin
State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) Status
Day to Day
Current Disasters/Large Incidents
No incidents requiring State support


To read Colorado Daily Status Report for February 24, 2016

Colorado Daily Status Report for February 17, 2016

Daily Status image


Alerts/Warnings
National Terrorism Advisory System: No Current Alerts | Bulletin
State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) Status
Day to Day
Current Disasters/Large Incidents
No incidents requiring State support

To read Colorado Daily Status Report for February 17, 2016

Celebrating our CSEPP Partner Carl Ballinger

Celebrating with our CSEPP and Pueblo County Sheriff's Office partners to celebrate as Carl Ballinger retires after more than 20 years service in the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program.

Carl Bellinger honored for more than 20 years service

Avoiding Online Tax Scams

Newsletter from Multi-State Information Sharing & Analysis Center from the Desk of Thomas F. Duffy, Chair.  Shared with permission from MS-ISAC

It’s tax season, which means it’s also time for tax scams. Some tax scams occur when fraudulent tax returns are filed in the victim’s name while other variants occur when the malicious actors call the victim and pretend to be Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agents. In addition, there are malicious actors who use the tax season to spread malware and phishing emails.

Tax scams where the malicious actor files the return in the victim’s name include both identity theft and identity fraud, as well as tax fraud. This scenario occurs when the malicious actor finds or receives information about the tax filer, including the filer’s name, address, date of birth, and Social Security Number. The malicious actor then uses this information to file a malicious tax return, citing as many deductions as possible, in order to create as large a tax return as possible.

The other variant of tax scams occur when the malicious actor contacts the victim and tries to convince the victim to do something, such as immediately paying a fine or providing their financial information so a refund can be issued. In these instances the malicious actor uses what they know about the victim, often information gained for a data breach or social networking website, to convince the victim that the caller has access to the victim’s tax information. Frequently during these calls the caller will pretend to be an IRS agent.

In the third type of tax scam, malicious actors use tax related spam, phishing emails, and fraudulent websites to trick victims into providing login names, passwords, or additional information, which can be used in further fraud. Other emails or websites may download malware onto the victim’s computer.

What to Watch Out For

  • Watch for “spoofed” websites that look like the official website but are not.
  • Don’t be fooled by unsolicited calls. The IRS will never call to demand an immediate payment or require you to use a specific payment method such as pre-loaded debit or credit cards, or wire transfers. They will never claim anything is “urgent” or due immediately, nor will they request payment over the phone.
  • The IRS will not be hostile, insulting, or threatening, nor will they threaten to involve law enforcement in order to have you arrested or deported.
  • Sometimes malicious actors change their Caller ID to say they are the IRS. If you’re not sure, ask for the agent’s name, hang up, and call the IRS (or your state tax agency) back using a phone number from their official website.

Recommendations

If you believe you are the victim of identity theft or identity fraud, there are a couple of steps you should take:
If you receive spam or a phishing email about your taxes, do not click on the links or open any attachments, instead forward the email to phishing@irs.gov. Other tax scams or frauds can be reported according to the directions on this page: https://www.irs.gov/Individuals/How-Do-You-Report-Suspected-Tax-Fraud-Activity%3F.

Further Information


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The information provided in the Monthly Security Tips Newsletter is intended to increase the security awareness of an organization's end users and to help them behave in a more secure manner within their work environment. While some of the tips may relate to maintaining a home computer, the increased awareness is intended to help improve the organization's overall cyber security posture. This is especially critical if employees access their work network from their home computer. Organizations have permission and are encouraged to brand and redistribute this newsletter in whole for educational, non-commercial purposes.

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Colorado Daily Status Report for February 10, 2016



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Alerts/Warnings
National Terrorism Advisory System: No Current Alerts | Bulletin
State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) Status
Day to Day
Current Disasters/Large Incidents
No incidents requiring State support

To read the Colorado Daily Status Report for February 10, 2016

Recovery Continues: Town of Estes Park Hydroplant Project Resulting from 2013 Flood Impacts

Fall River Hydroplant and Upper Fish Hatchery Reaches Stabilization in Estes Park, Colo.

Photo of Estes Park Fish Hatchery stablization projectThis project is receiving Colorado Community Development Block Grant- Disaster Recovery (CDBG_DR) round one infrastructure funding to perform stream bank stabilization and channel restoration for a continuous 3,250 feet of the Fall River within Estes Park with a priority at the historic Freelan Oscar Stanley Hydroplant Museum in a phased approach.   The CDBG-DR funds are distributed from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs and managed by the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. 

The project reach along the Fall River extends from 550 feet downstream of the Upper Fish Hatchery Road Bridge, upstream through the Hydroplant Museum property and to the border of Rocky Mountain National Park. The Town of Estes Park owns the entirety of the Project reach of Fall River, including the structures (e.g., Hydroplant Museum) located on the lands adjacent to the river. Construction in the river began the week of February 1, 2016.

This update was provided by DHSEM State Recovery Liaison Jody Horn as she supports the continued recovery efforts for local jurisdictions following the 2013 flood event.




Photo of Estes Park fish hatchery stabilization project.

Colorado Daily Status Report for February 8, 2016




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Alerts/Warnings
National Terrorism Advisory System: No Current Alerts | Bulletin
State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) Status
Day to Day
Current Disasters/Large Incidents

No incidents requiring State support
To read Colorado Daily Status Report for February 28, 2016