State Flood Mitigation Plan Update: 30 Day Public Comment Period Open

The Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) is working to update the Colorado Flood Mitigation Plan which was last updated in 2013. The Plan re-assesses the state’s flood risk and mitigation strategies and includes updates on implementation and progress toward meeting the plan’s goals. Multiple state agencies are included in the plan preparation process through participation on the Flood Technical Assistance Partnership (Flood TAP). The Flood TAP also includes representation from local and federal agencies as well, including multi-agency coordination through the Army Corps of Engineers Silver Jackets program. 

The planning effort paralleled the update of the State Hazard Mitigation Plan, a plan that will be seeking FEMA enhanced plan status in order to leverage more mitigation funding for Colorado. The Flood Mitigation Plan will be incorporated into Colorado’s State Hazard Mitigation Plan as a stand-alone appendix and will ultimately be adopted by the governor through that affiliation. CWCB staff intends to bring the finalized, updated plan to the CWCB Board at their September board meeting for adoption.

• To review the plan visit: http://cwcb.state.co.us/Pages/CWCBHome.aspx
• Please send comments to Stephanie DiBetitto at stephanie.dibetitto@state.co.us

Michael J. Willis Appointed Colorado Emergency Management Director

Michael J. Willis begins his tenure as the Director of the Colorado Office of Emergency Management within the Division of Homeland Security and EmergencyManagement (DHSEM) on November 15, 2017.

Willis brings more than 28 years of leadership experience as an active duty and Colorado active guard/ reserve officer. Most recently he served as the Assistant Adjutant General of the Colorado National Guard for cyber, space and missile defense. He also served in numerous other leadership roles within the National Guard with broad responsibilities for strategic planning, complex operations, program management, logistics and financial management.

Willis also has extensive experience in disaster relief and all-hazards response and recovery operations including several missions within Colorado. During the 2013 Colorado floods, Willis served as the operational commander for the Colorado National Guard’s ground search and rescue efforts as well as the rebuilding of highway 36. His service to Colorado also includes support during the 2008 Windsor tornado and the 2008 Democratic National Convention

“Michael Willis is the right person at the right time and will provide critical leadership, guidance and direction for the Office of Emergency Management that will continue and enhance our success before, during and after disasters that impact Colorado”, states Kevin Klein, Director of the DHSEM. “We are fortunate to have his vast experience and knowledge to lead us forward.”

Willis holds a Master’s of Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College and a Master’s of Science in space systems operations from Webster University. He received his Bachelor of Art’s degree in Psychology from the University of Colorado.

Willis was selected as the emergency management director after an extensive national search and over 60 applicants.

State EOC Ready Any Time, Anywhere

State EOC Activated in Alternate Location

The May 18-19, 2017 snowstorm hit at the same time the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) was exercising the division's Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) due to building upgrades that rendered telephone and intranet systems inaccessible.  The division's COOP provides an alternative State EOC location at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's Department Operations Center (DOC). 

DHSEM initiated a seamless transition to the alternate State EOC location on May 18 as the snow storm impacted multiple counties across the state.  This transition to an alternate site is evidence of the flexibility of state staff to respond and support emergencies in the State of Colorado anywhere and at any time. Operating at the backup EOC is an important part of exercising our COOP and is essential to ensure that we can react quickly and efficiently should something disrupt our normal operations.

Personnel representing the areas of emergency management, road impacts, public works, resource mobilization, public health, utilities, public information, Colorado National Guard and the geographic information system (GIS) group were all present at the alternate EOC.  They were supported by additional DHSEM staff working from remote locations.  

Colorado DHSEM Director Kevin Klein said, “It is important that we have the ability to work from various locations to ensure our ability to serve the Colorado community at all times. I highly encourage all businesses to create or update their COOP plan to ensure that continuity of business is possible and planned for, should your primary location have to close or shut down for any period of time.”

The success of using this alternate EOC location demonstrates that DHSEM is ready to provide assistance from multiple locations whenever a disaster does arise.

NEWS RELEASE: National Public Safety Telecommunicator's Week

Contact:

Communications Specialist
Jennifer Hillmann
720-879-2462
jennifer.hillmann@state.co.us
DHSEM.state.co.us | COEmergency.com | Colorado.gov/MARS

Centennial, Colo. – April 10, 2017 — The Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management recognizes National Public Safety Telecommunicator’s Week, April 9-15, 2017. When an emergency arises and you call 9-1-1 for help, the stress of the situation may cause you to forget your address. Being prepared can help eliminate some of the stress during emergencies.

National Public Safety Telecommunicator’s Week (NPSTW) goes hand-in-hand with 9-1-1 Education Month. NPSTW gives us the opportunity to thank 9-1-1 call takers, dispatchers and technicians who maintain radio and emergency phone systems, communications staff trainers, supervisors and managers and other telecommunications staff across the country who work hard every day to serve our communities. 9-1-1 Education Month reinforces the importance of community members being prepared for 9-1-1calls.

Knowing when to call 9-1-1 and what to expect can help reduce fear and feelings of helplessness in an emergency. Critical elements to keep in mind are as follows:
Teach children their address and phone number.
Know where you are. Could you tell 9-1-1 exactly where to find you? Provide the call taker with landmarks, such as cross streets and mileposts so they can locate you more easily.
Don’t hang up if you accidentally call 9-1-1. Stay on the line and tell the operator/dispatcher that you do not have an emergency. If you hang up they are required to call you back.
Stay calm, stay on the line and be ready to listen. 9-1-1 is there to help you until additional assistance arrives.

Resources for 9-1-1 Education Month

National Emergency Number Association Website
Things Everyone Needs to Know about 9-1-1 Brochure
9-1-1 Video PSA from NENA

Take a moment to thank those who protect our communities every day. Being prepared can save a life and lighten the degree of stress facing your emergency personnel. In an emergency, seconds matter, so staying informed and prepared can make all the difference.

Want more tips and ideas? Head over to our website at www.READYColorado.com and read the full blog post, or follow us all week on our social media accounts for new posts on how to properly communicate to 9-1-1 call takers and to see photos highlighting some of the great dispatchers and dispatch centers across Colorado.
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Follow READYColorado each week for new preparedness information:
On Twitter: @READYColorado
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/READYColorado
Website: http://www.READYColorado.com

NEWS RELEASE: READYColorado Campaign Tackles Poison Prevention Week

Contact:
Communications Specialist
Jennifer Hillmann
720-879-2462
jennifer.hillmann@state.co.us
DHSEM.state.co.us | COEmergency.com | Colorado.gov/MARS

Centennial, Colo. – March 17, 2017 — March 19-25, 2017, is National Poison Prevention Week. Poisoning is the leading cause of death from injuries in the United States, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Each year, more than two million poisonings are reported to the nation’s poison centers, which can be reached through the toll-free Poison Help line, 1-800-222-1222.

The following tips can help protect you and your loved ones:

Safety Tips

• Use National Poison Prevention Week as a time to inspect your entire home for any medicines or household products, such as detergents, cleaning products, pesticides, and fertilizers that may not be stored properly.
• Always store medicines and household products up high and install safety latches on cabinets used for medicines and household products.
• Keep medicines and vitamins in cupboards that are out of reach of children.
• Never call medicine “candy” to get a child to take it.
• For older members of the family who may be struggling to read the small type on medicine labels, use a daily dosage reminder dispenser to help track date, time and dosage.

Want more tips and ideas? Head over to our website at www.READYColorado.com and read the full blog post, or follow us all next week on our social media accounts for new posts on poison prevention each day.

Visit American Association of Poison Control Centers which supports the nation’s 55 poison centers on their efforts to prevent and treat poison exposures. They offer free, confidential medical advice 24 hours a day, seven days a week through the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

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Follow READYColorado each week for new preparedness information:


On Twitter: @READYColorado
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/READYColorado
Website: http://www.READYColorado.com

News Release: HSAC Subcommittee will Facilitate Colorado’s Transition to Next Generation 911

Strategic Communications Director Contact: Micki Trost 303-472-4087 micki.trost@state.co.us DHSEM.state.co.us | COEmergency.com | Colorado.gov/MARS

Centennial, Colo. – March 13, 2017 — In order to facilitate Colorado’s transition to Next Generation 911 (NG911) the Homeland Security and All-Hazards Senior Advisory Committee (HSAC) will establish a Next Generation 911 Subcommittee. “We must ensure Colorado is at the forefront of adapting to new technologies and this is especially true when it comes to public safety and modernizing our 9-1-1 system,” said Gov. John Hickenlooper, “We are confident that this group of stakeholders can work collaboratively to provide strong recommendations that will bring our 9-1-1 system into a modern era.”

The Subcommittee will make recommendations to:

• Encourage the rapid deployment of Next Generation 911 (NG911) in Colorado;
  Remove barriers to the implementation of integrated emergency call management through 911
• Provide for an efficient and economic transition to NG911;
• Increase collaboration and communication among the entities responsible for originating, delivering and receiving 911 communications;
• Ensure robust and efficient emergency call management system of systems that allows the public to use any device to request help or send information to the appropriate public safety agency;
• Further data sharing among public safety answering points;
• Harmonize state oversight of emergency call management systems with federal oversight by comparing oversight model(s);
• Ensure that any network malfunction or higher-level issue that significantly degrades or prevents 911 calls from being completed is reported to the public safety answering point in a timely manner, and;
• Implement appropriate funding model(s) and accountability.
• Improve redundancy and diversity in the BESP network.

The Subcommittee will work collaboratively through a facilitated process that includes a strong representation of those who manage Colorado’s 9-1-1 system. The members of the Subcommittee will include the following representatives:

• A representative of the chiefs of police: Chief Joe Ribeiro, Manitou Springs
• A representative of the county sheriffs: Sheriff Shannon Byerly, Custer County
• A representative of fire chiefs: Deputy Chief Mark Krapf, West Metro Fire Rescue
• A representative of the emergency medical services: Chief Randy Lesher, Thompson Valley Emergency Medical Services
• A representative of the public safety answering points serving a rural population: Carl Stephens, Garfield County
• A representative of the public safety answering points serving an urban population Bruce Romero Arapahoe County
• A representative of the basic emergency service provider: Tim Kunkleman, CenturyLink
• A representative of wireless service providers: Jim McDaniel, AT&T
• A representative of a rural local exchange provider: Pete Kirchof, Colorado Telecommunications Assn
• A representative of the cable telecommunications: Not confirmed
• A representative of Access and Functional Needs community: Shirl Garcia, Citizen
• A representative of consumer interests: Bob Murphy, Colorado AARP
• A Representative of the Public Utilities Commission: Lynn Notarianni, Telecom Section Chief Colorado Public Utilities Commission
• A Representative of OIT: Kim Coleman, Broadband Implementation Manager, OIT (non-voting)
• DHSEM Staff: Russell Gibson, DHSEM (non-voting)

The Subcommittee will make recommendations to the Chair and the Chair will produce a report, to the Governor and General Assembly by August 30, 2017.

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The Homeland Security and All-Hazards Senior Advisory Committee (HSAC) is a 21 member committee led by the Colorado Department of Public Safety Executive Director. The committee was established pursuant to Colorado Revised Statute 24-33.6-1614. Additional information is located on the Colorado DHSEM website at https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dhsem/hsac.

News Release: State EOC Activated to Support Statewide Wildfires

 State Emergency Operations Center Activated to Support Statewide Wildfires

Centennial, Colo. –July 10, 2016 – The Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) activated the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) to support the Cold Springs Fire in Boulder County and remains activated to support multiple wildfire starts within the state. 

The State EOC is currently staffed by DHSEM and the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control.  More than 20 staff are supporting resource requests and providing technical support to the local jurisdictions.  In addition, both divisions have representatives working on-site in the Cold Springs Fire emergency operations center and incident command posts.  Additional staff is providing direct assistance and support to the Hayden Pass Fire in Fremont County.  

“We are working closely with local responders and coordinating with our sister state agencies to ensure those impacted by these fires are taken care of and maintain public safety in the affected communities,” states Kevin Klein director for the Colorado DHSEM.  The role of the State EOC and DHSEM is to coordinate the resources that are needed during response and recovery efforts.  

The Colorado DFPC is providing direct support to Cold Springs and Hayden Pass Fires. DFPC has deployed both Single Engine Aircrafts (SEATs) and Multi-Mission Aircrafts (MMAs). DFPC has Fire Management Officers (FMOs) assigned to multiple fires to provide direct technical assistance.  DFPC secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) allocation for the Cold Springs Fire to assist with firefighting costs.

For statewide updates visit our website at COEmergency.com and our social media sites. 

•       Twitter: @COEmergency | @COStateFire
•      Facebook: COEmergency | Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control
•      Current Wildfire Map with fire data. (https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1GcddFWq2DJILLfCFc8up8VYN7oQ)
•     Mobile App: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/colorado-wildfire-watch/id547746861?mt=8 

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News Release from Kiowa County Sheriff: Update on May 18 Plane Crash

This news release shared on behalf of the Kiowa County Sheriff's Office.


Public Information Officer Contact:
Sheriff Casey Sheridan
Kiowa County Sheriff’s Office
(719) 438-5411 | (719) 438-2205
www.kiowasheriff.co  

Media Release

Update on Fatal Airplane Crash in Kiowa County on May 18

Eads, Colo. –May 20, 2016 – On Wednesday, May 18, 2016 a fatal airplane crash occurred in Kiowa County.  The Kiowa County Sheriff’s Office has been informed it could take up to a year to complete the full investigation.  All media requests for further information will be handled by the NTSB Public Affairs Office at 202-314-6100.

On May 18 the Bent/Kiowa County Dispatch received a call just after 9:30 a.m. reporting that an aircraft had disappeared from radar in the vicinity of the Kansas/Colorado state line.  Multiple agencies responded to search for a downed aircraft including the Kiowa County Fire Department, ambulance crews, the Colorado State Patrol, and Kiowa County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO).  Two F16 aircraft and a B1 Bomber were training in the area and also assisted in the search. The F16 and B1 Bomber pilots quickly located the crash site and lead rescue personal to the scene. 

A Cessna P210 was found west of County Road 71 approximately three miles north of Highway 96, in a field northeast of Sheridan Lake.  The pilot has been identified as John Lee Stubblefield, age 64, of Meridian, Idaho.  Stubblefield died in the crash.  

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) arrived on Thursday, May 19 to investigate the crash scene.  They recovered the aircraft for their investigation later that evening. 

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News Release: City of Ouray Officer Killed in Traffic Crash

News Release from Ouray County Office of Emergency Management.

Ridgway, Colorado – Ouray County, Colorado
Contact: Marti Whitmore – Acting Public Information Officer for the City of Ouray
Phone: 970-626-3302; 303-886-0597
Email: mwhitmore@ouraycountyco.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 14, 2016 - Ouray, Colo. - The City of Ouray Police Department confirmed this afternoon that one of its officers was killed today in in accident on U.S. Highway 550 between the Town of Ridgway and the City of Ouray.  The officer has been identified as Scott Mills, age 51.  He was off-duty at the time of the accident and was driving his motorcycle when a truck collided with him.  The Colorado State Patrol is investigating the cause and details of the accident.

News Release: State Begins Public Assistance Applicant Briefings

Centennial, Colo. –July 29, 2015 – The Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) begins Public Assistance Applicant Briefings on Thursday, July  30 continuing through Thursday, August 13, 2015.   The Applicant Briefings are the first step for impacted jurisdictions in the Public Assistance Grant Program process.   

The Public Assistance Program provides grants to state, local, and federally recognized tribal governments and certain private non-profit entities to assist them with the response to and recovery from disasters.  Specifically, the program provides assistance for debris removal, emergency protective measures, and permanent restoration of infrastructure. The Public Assistance Grant Program is a reimbursement program.  

 The Applicant Briefings are scheduled for:

Date	County	Location	Time
Thursday, July 30	Elbert County	BOCC Board Room, 215 Comanche Street, Kiowa 80117	1 p.m.
Friday, July 31	Iliff	Iliff Town Hall, 405 W. 2nd St., Iliff 80736	10 a.m.
Monday, August 3	El Paso / City Colorado Springs	Colorado Springs OEM, 370 Printers Parkway, Colorado Springs 80910	10 a.m.
Tuesday, August 4	Fremont County	Garden Park Building, 201 N. 6th Street, Cañon City 81212	10 a.m.
Wednesday, August 5	Saguache County	Saguache County Road and Bridge Building, 305 3rd St., Saguache 81149	10 a.m.
Thursday, August 6	Pueblo County	Pueblo County Emergency Services Center, 101 W. 10th Street, Pueblo 81003	10 a.m.
Friday, August 7	Baca County	Springfield City Council Chambers, 748 Main Street, Springfield 81073	10 a.m.
Monday, August 10	Morgan County	Morgan County Administration Building (Basement), 231 Ensign Street, Fort Morgan 80701	10 a.m.
Tuesday, August 11	Logan County	Board of County Commissioners Chambers, Logan County Courthouse, 315 Main Street, Sterling 80751	11 a.m.
Tuesday, August 11	Sedgwick County	Board of County Commissioners Chambers, Logan County Courthouse, 315 Main Street, Sterling 80751,	11 a.m.
Wednesday, August 12	Yuma County	Yuma Ambulance Building Classroom, 302 E. 2nd Avenue, Yuma 80759	10 a.m.
Thursday, August 13	Washington County	Washington County Courthouse, 150 Ash Street, Akron 80720	10 a.m.

The Public Assistance process begins after the disaster declaration. The Colorado DHSEM conducts the Applicant Briefings for state, territorial, local, tribal and Private Non Profit (PNP) officials to inform them of the assistance available and how to apply for it. A Request for Public Assistance must be filed by the grantee within 30 days after the area is designated eligible for assistance. 

Following the Applicant's Briefing, a Kickoff Meeting is conducted where damages will be discussed, needs assessed, and a plan of action put in place. A combined federal/state/territorial/tribal/local team proceeds with Project Formulation, which is the process of documenting the eligible facility, the eligible work, and the eligible cost for fixing the damages to every public or PNP facility identified by State, territorial, tribal, or local representatives. The team prepares a Project Worksheet (PW) based on actual costs or on the basis of an estimate for each project.

The State of Colorado was awarded a major disaster declaration on July 16, 2015 for 11 counties be included in the disaster declaration for Public Assistance based on the joint preliminary damage assessments conducted in Baca, Elbert, El Paso, Fremont, Logan, Morgan, Pueblo, Saguache, Sedgwick, Washington, and Yuma counties.  Additional counties may be added if verified damages meet indicators following Preliminary Damage Assessments currently underway in five additional counties.

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