DHSEM Subrecipient Monitoring Team

DHSEM is rolling out a new division-wide monitoring initiative that will cover all sub-recipients who were awarded grants by the division. This new initiative will streamline our sub-recipients monitoring process and help us comply with grants' requirements. The initiative includes three types of monitoring:

1. Desk review monitoring of A133 Single Audit results 
2. On-site monitoring for selected sub-recipients
3. Ongoing grant specific monitoring (managed by program managers)

DHSEM's Sub-recipient Monitoring Team will conduct Single Audit desk reviews for all sub-recipients during the State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2016, and will also conduct on-site monitoring of a sample of sub-recipients utilizing a risk based tool that takes into considerations three risk factors: financial, operational, and compliance. The monitoring team will notify the selected jurisdictions via email with instructions regarding the next step in the process. Within few days we will share with you the monitoring schedule for SFY 2016.

Questions should be sent to Ezzie Michaels at ezzie.michaels@state.co.us. 

DHSEM Welcomes Two New Staff Members

The Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management welcomes new staff to the recovery and grant programs.

Recovery Team Welcomes Justine Willman

DHSEM welcomes Justine Willman to the Mitigation and Recovery Section. Willman joins the Recovery Program team and will be working on the Community Development Block Grant Infrastructure Program. She will be working to provide grant assistance to Colorado communities recovering from fire and flood.

Willman came to DHSEM after serving as an Asset Manager for the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) for more than five years. 

Grant Team

Please join us in welcoming Larisa Cannon to the Grants Administration Team.

Cannon recently served as an accountant for the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). In that role, she was responsible for processing the Division of Transit and Rail (DTR) reimbursements for Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grants and other State grants for multiple statewide transit agencies.

Her role with the Grants Administration Section within DHSEM will include managing various grant programs and ensuring that guidance and technical assistance is provided to assigned grantees. Additionally, the position manages various grant-related activities to ensure they are completed on time and accurately, and ensures grant requirements are met.

Cannon holds a Bachelor degree in Business Accounting from the University of Phoenix.

DHSEM Welcomes New Division Budget Director Olga Ivanova

Please join DHSEM in welcoming aboard Olga Ivanova, our new Division Budget Officer, effective today. Olga was previously employed with the Department of Natural Resources, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, where she was a budget manager over the past six years.

She has extensive state budget experience working with complex and diverse budget structures. Her past experience includes working for one of the big four CPA firms, the accounting supervisory role, and internal audit and financial statements audit experience. Olga has a Bachelor's and Master of Accountancy Degrees from the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina. She is a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) and a CIA (Certified Internal Auditor).

Olga and her family live in Castle Rock. During her free time she enjoys gardening, travel, reading, and spending time with family. Welcome aboard Olga!

DHSEM Position Announcement: Mitigation and Recovery Disaster Finance Specialist

The Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management has reposted a position announcement for a Mitigation and Recovery Disaster Finance Specialist.  The position closes at 5 p.m. on November 3. 

View the position announcement at http://bit.ly/1FsPupL. 

DHSEM Job Announcements

The Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management has position announcement currently posted for the following: 

 

General Professional III Grant Manager:  Closes September 19, 2014

General Professional III Finance Specialist:  Closes September 22, 2014

Mitigation and Recovery Disaster Project Specialist: Closes September 22, 2014

Job Announcement: DHSEM Division Budget Officer

A new Open Competitive job announcement has been posted for the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. The deadline to apply is by 5 p.m., Friday, September 19.

You may view the announcement by using the link below:
DHSEM Division Budget Officer - General Professional VI

​If the above link does not work for you, you can access the State of Colorado Job Website (link below) and scroll down the the Division Budget Officer announcement.

​https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dhr/open-competitive-job-opportunities

FEMA 2014 Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program Grant Announcement

The Colorado DHSEM Mitigation Team is now accepting Notice of Intent (NOI) forms for the 2014 Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) Program grants, including the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program (PDM) and Flood Mitigation Assistance Program (FMA). These grants represent an opportunity to improve a community’s ability to mitigate natural hazards and reduce potential impacts on citizens, property and local economies. NOIs will be evaluated for eligibility and alignment with HMA program priorities as laid out in the fact sheets linked below. The Mitigation Team will invite jurisdictions to complete a full grant application as appropriate.

HMA Program Grant Announcements and Priorities

Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program (grants.gov posting) (PDM Fact Sheet)

Flood Mitigation Assistance Program (grants.gov posting) (FMA Fact Sheet)

Timeline

Similar to last year, the timeline for application development is significantly shorter than in previous years. The compressed timeline suggests that the most competitive projects will be those in alignment with Federal program priorities, previously scoped, in pre-design, and with a well-established cost estimate.

• May 30, 2014 – Notice of Intent forms due to DHSEM.
• June 13, 2014 – Notice of Intent reviews complete.
• July 3, 2014 – Benefit-Cost Analysis complete.
• July 22, 2014 – Subapplications completed in eGrants.
• July 25, 2014 – State application completed in eGrants and submitted to FEMA.

Please take a thorough look at the program webpages and grants.gov sites as linked above, as well as the FFY 2013 Hazard Mitigation Assistance Unified Guidance which remains the current guidance.

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


Labels: FEMA, finance, grant, mitigation, HMA

Download the Notice of Interest Form 
Link to Notice of Interest Form (Word Document)

FEMA 2013 Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program Grant Announcement

The Colorado Office of Emergency Management Mitigation Team is now accepting Notice of Interest from eligible subgrantees for Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grants, including the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program (PDM) and Flood Mitigation Assistance Program (FMA). It is the mitigation team's hope that local emergency management partners will take a comprehensive look at their community’s risk, determine if any projects would meet the requirements for funding, and submit an application. 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.

FEMA has significantly reduced the application period for this year and we have 90 days to develop and submit applications. The mitigation team is soliciting Notice of Interest for these programs by July 29, 2013. Please take a look at the HMA Announcement Letter for additional information and contact Ken Brink, Mitigation Team Supervisor, with questions or comments at kenneth.brink@state.co.us or 720-852-6695.


2013 Hazard Mitigation Assistance Announcement

Hazard Mitigation Assistance Notice of Interest Form

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.

Course Announcement: Management of Financial Issues Related to a Disaster

Please save February 13 for the training, the time will be 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. and the location has not been determined.  Please do not hesitate to contact Melinda Johnson at Melinda.Johnson@rmpdc.org if you have any questions!  Registration will be on COTRAIN once a location has been confirmed.

Course Information

Before, during, and after a disaster, one of the major concerns for emergency management personnel is money.  Questions often arise related to who is going to pay, what needs to be tracked, what should the impacted agency pay for, what is the impacted agency responsible for, what forms need to be utilized, how long will it take to receive money, and what disaster funds are available to various agencies.  Many of these questions have continued to arise during the project focused on making the North Central All-Hazards Region Health and Medical Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) functional. 

In an effort to address questions related to financial management of disaster costs and to educate participants in the MMRS MOU, the Denver MMRS is offering a day-long Disaster Finance Symposium. Objectives of the training include:

• Review finance components of emergencies and disasters
• Examine the declaration process for local, state, and federal governments
• Discuss recovery considerations
• Determine partnerships and agencies available for assistance
• Review local policies and procedures to ensure the best results following an emergency or disaster
• Discuss tools, forms and communications that will facilitate efficient utilization of the North Central Region’s Health and Medical MOU 

The information presented is a collaboration of a financial symposium developed the Colorado Division of Emergency Management and information and best practices gathered from other states and hospitals that have successfully managed finances during a disaster involving healthcare agencies.  The information is intended for hospital emergency managers, hospital financial managers, local emergency managers, local government financial personnel, purchasing and logistics staff, and any other positions that are actively involved with expenditures, financial tracking, or reimbursement related to an emergency or disaster.

FEMA 2012 Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program Grant Announcement

The Colorado Division of Emergency Management Mitigation Team is now accepting Notice of Interest from eligible sub grantees for the Hazard Mitigation Assistance grants, including the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program (PDM), Flood Mitigation Assistance Program (FMA) and Repetitive Flood Claims Program (RFC). It is the Mitigation Teams’ hope that local emergency management partners will take a comprehensive look at their community’s risk, determine if any projects would meet the requirements for funding, and submit an application. 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.

The Mitigation Team is soliciting Notice of Interest for these programs by July 15, 2011. Please take a look at the Hazard Mitigation Assistance Announcement Letter for additional information and contact Ken Brink, Mitigation Team Supervisor, with questions or comments at kenneth.brink@state.co.us or 720-852-6695.

U.S. Geological Society Earthquake Hazard Program - Application Period Open

Marilyn Gally, DEM's Mitigation Officer Director and State Hazard Mitigation Officer, notes that the U.S. Geological Society's Earthquake Hazards Program (EHP) has opened the application period for the FY2012 Earthquake Hazards Research Grants Competition.  Interested researchers can view the full announcement at the Grants.Gov website under the Funding Opportunity Number G11AS20009. Applications are due May 18, 2011. The EHP seeks research proposals focused on the geographical areas in the United States that are most at risk from earthquakes, earthquake physics, earthquake effects, and nationally applicable earthquake hazards issues.

Course Announcement - Grant Writing - 5/21-22 - Kiowa, CO

The Kiowa Fire Protection District is hosting a Grant Writing Course for first responder and public safety agencies on May 21-22, 2011, in Kiowa, CO.  For more info on the course and registration, go to the Course Web Page or contact Tim Rossette, EMS Division Chief at (303) 621-2233 or at t.rossette@kiowafire.com.

DEM Training Registration and Tracking Moving to CO.TRAIN

Per Robyn Knappe, DEM Training Officer, to build partnerships make training participation and scheduling more accessible for students, the Division of Emergency Management is centralizing all its training registration, search and tracking activities to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's CO.TRAIN.org system.  There are some great opportunities ahead as many state agencies are moving in that same direction.

The biggest advantage will be the calendar function, which allows statewide visibility of training activities across Departments, agencies and subject matter criterion.  Rather than having to search for emergency management, health preparedness and homeland security classes on multiple websites, nearly all state emergency management-related agencies will be using CO.TRAIN. Another function is the ability for students to input information on previous classes and to start to consolidate their training records in one place.  Of course, all this will not happen overnight but we have begun the work.  If you have questions at any time during this transition phase, contact Robyn at robyn.knappe@state.co.us.

Starting with the class Incident Command System (ICS) class in Montrose, “Situation Unit Leader” Sept. 27, 2010, DEM is starting the registration for all future classes through CO.TRAIN.  We will continue to make training information, news and announcements available on COEmergency's Training Page, which includes the DEM Training News Feed.

What does this mean for me?
If you do not have a CO.TRAIN account, you will need to spend 10 minutes creating a profile and password.  The nice thing is that you only create the profile once.  And the password, is a self-regulating system, so if you forget your password, you can get on the site and change it without administrator assistance (most of the time, anyway).

What is CO.TRAIN system?
It is a training management system with easy to use features and efficient processes.  You sign up once at the co.train.org website and you can easily register for classes.  There is a super calendar and a course search function.

Where did it come from?
The TRAIN system is a free service of the Public Health Foundation, www.train.org is part of the newly expanded TrainingFinder Real-time Affiliate Integrated Network (TRAIN).  CO stands for Colorado in the CO.TRAIN acronym. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has been using the system since 2004 and has offered it to other departments as a no fee service to state agencies.

Who else is using it?
Many other states have adopted the site for registering for public health classes and some have adopted it for all-hazards emergency/disaster training management.  For example: the State of Kansas (KS TRAIN)and Utah (UT TRAIN) utilize the all hazards approach and use the TRAIN system for most all emergency management, ICS and homeland security classes.

What are some enhancements in the CO.TRAIN features over the old DEM system?
For example, you can print past certificates for yourself if you lose a certificate. The biggest enhancement is the super calendar which will show all classes. There are also automated function for building class rosters and notifications. As a course administrator, all the students registered in a class can be sent an email with the click of a button. You can also make a training plan for yourself in the system.  In the future, DEM will highlight some of the features in future training activity updates on COEmergency.com.

What are the challenges?
DEM will have to hand key input for past student training records.  We are not certain how long this will take nor how far back our records will go.  We are trying to evaluate this now so stay tuned.

Future enhancements
The Governors Office of Homeland Security (GOHS) will be making some upgrades to the system some time in 2011 to upgrade to the calendar function so that courses may be classified by region and sponsor rather than by discipline code. GOHS courses cross so many disciplines that to use those codes no longer provides us with an accurate view of courses throughout the state. GOHS is already using the web based CO.TRAIN system.

Thank you for your patience as we move to the CO.TRAIN system.  For more information, please email robyn.knappe@state.co.us or call (720)852-6617. Or for more technical issues with the CO.TRAIN site, contact Greg Schlosser at cdphe.co.train@state.co.us or at (303)692-2683.

Governor Ritter Announces 2010 Homeland Security Grants

Governor Bill Ritter and the Governor's Office of Homeland Security announced today the recipients of this year's homeland security grants.  Local communities and state agencies received awards totaling $19.3 million.  Click here to view the full report, the list of awardees and all 118 funded projects.

According to the Governor's Office Press Release, more than 80 percent of the funds – which come from the federal government and are administered by the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security – will go to counties and local jurisdictions throughout Colorado to support local first responders and homeland security initiatives. The projects will improve the state’s preparedness for a man-made or natural disaster.

Funded projects include community preparedness initiatives, detection and protection from explosive devices, interoperable communications capabilities, law enforcement crime data and counter-terrorism tools, planning, information sharing and collaboration capabilities, medical surge capabilities, exercise and training initiatives, and first responder equipment.

“These important grants will help local communities all around the state improve public safety and continue preparing for possible emergencies,” Gov. Ritter said. “Through partnerships like this, we are providing invaluable support to first-responders and local communities.”

One of the largest grants, $952,000, was awarded to Denver, Aurora and Colorado Springs to support and enhance an emergency Metropolitan Medical Response System.

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security guided the selection process throughout the past six months using risk-based funding formulas and a competitive scoring process judging the quality of the projects submitted.

Almost $30 million of requests for 170 projects were submitted by state agencies and regional authorities in April. These projects were then scored by a cross jurisdictional Grant Review Committee in July. The resulting recommendations for awards for 118 projects were then approved by a Governor’s Homeland Security Senior Advisory Committee and by Gov. Ritter.

For specifics on the grant amounts for each region/program, check out the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security website at www.colorado.gov/homelandsecurity.  Too, for particular information regarding the program, contact Evan Dreyer with the Governor's Office at evan.dreyer@state.co.us or at (720) 350-8370 or Mason Whitney with the Governor's Office of Homeland Security at (720) 852-6602.

Colorado Instructor Historical Recognition Program

The State of Colorado All-Hazards Incident Command Position-Specific Historical Recognition working group is looking to recruit and recognize qualified instructors to add to the State and National Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Emergency Management Institute (EMI) instructor cadre.

Federal training criteria was established and went into effect on September 14, 2009 and is only allowable until September 30, 2010. This program allows for instructor historical information to be reviewed ensuring all aspects of the instructor quality are being evaluated. As a result of the Federal training requirements, the State of Colorado developed the All-Hazards Incident Command Position-Specific Historical Recognition Working Group.  The main focus of this work group it to evaluate the historical documentation, training, qualifications, experience and instructor skill sets, for applicants who are interested in teaching the FEMA All Hazards ICS Position Specific classes within the state of Colorado.  There are two levels of instruction; Lead Instructor and Support/Unit Leader.

Incident Command System (ICS) Position-Specific (PS) training is designed to provide all-hazards competencies and behaviors for the eight Command and General Staff positions and select unit leader positions.  The competencies, and experience in the training, for which the instructor will be reviewed, are focused around the ability of the instructor to relay to the student the position responsibilities, ability to lead assigned personnel, communicate effectively, and to ensure the completion of assigned tasks to meet identified objectives for the position.

The State of Colorado All-Hazards Incident Command Position-Specific Historical Recognition Working Group will evaluate the instructor historical documentation in concert with State Training Officer for the Colorado Division of Emergency Management. and make decisions on the quality and ability to represent the State of Colorado.

All-Hazard Incident Commander (L-951)
All-Hazards Public Information Office (L-953)
All-Hazards Safety Officer (L-957)
All-Hazards Operations Section Chief (L-958)
Division/Group Supervisor
All-Hazards Planning Section Chief (L-962)
-Situation Unit Leader
-Resource Unit Leader   
All-Hazards Logistics Section Chief (L-963)
-Supply Unit Leader
-Facilities Unit Leader
-Communications Leader
All-Hazards Finance/Administration (L-974)
-Finance/Admin Unit Leader
All-Hazards Liaison Officer (L-956)

Instructors interested in completing the Historical Recognition documentation packet should contact the State of Colorado Training Coordinator Robyn Knappe at  robyn.knappe@state.co.us

FEMA Encourages Applications for Mitigation Grants

Our DEM Mitigation Office and FEMA partners wanted to pass on the FEMA announcement regarding the availability of the FY 2010 mitigation grant guidance and open application period for the Hazard Mitigation Assistance non-disaster grant programs.  These programs allow local communities, state agencies, and federally-recognized tribal governments to apply for mitigation planning grants or project grants based on risks identified in FEMA approved, local, tribal or state hazard mitigation plans.

For the Colorado, these grants are managed through the Mitigation Office here at the Division of Emergency Management and at the Denver-based FEMA regional offices.

The application period for the FY 2010 grants began June 1, 2010, and remains open through Dec. 3, 2010 for FY 2011 grants.

The FEMA grant descriptions are pasted below and consist of one program that focuses on risk reduction from all hazard types and three that directly address reduction of flood risk:

• Pre-Disaster Mitigation is a nationally competitive program that provides funds for hazard mitigation planning grants and implementation of mitigation project grants. 
• Flood Mitigation Assistance provides grants for cost-effective measures to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk of flood damage to buildings, manufactured homes, and other structures insured by the National Flood Insurance Program.
• The Repetitive Flood Claims program provides funding to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk of flood damage to structures insured by the National Flood Insurance Program that have had one or more flood claim payments. These funds may only be used for structures that cannot meet all of the requirements of the Flood Mitigation Assistance program.
• The Severe Repetitive Loss program provides funding to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk of flood damage to residential structures insured by the National Flood Insurance Program that meet specific criteria in terms of multiple claims or claims that total an excessive cumulative amount. An insignificant number of severe repetitive loss structures are located in Region VIII.

Additional FEMA information is available at the following web site: http://www.fema.gov/government/grant/hma/grant_resources.shtm#0 and contact information, grant news and state hazard plan information for the DEM mitigation staff can be found online at http://www.coemergency.com/p/mitigation.html

DEM Mitigation Team and Info

Pictured (right to left): Ken Brink, Scott Baldwin,
Deanna Butterbaugh, Victoria Smith and Iain Hyde

While operations and response tend to be the most profiled part of emergency management organizations, the ultimate goal is to mitigate the need for a robust and well-used operations component.  Recognizing their name may betray the office's unstated goal, the DEM's Mitigation Office's primary responsibility is to provide mitigation specific information, technical assistance and funding to local governments, state agencies and the general public.  The office is responsible for the administration and funding of the State Hazard Mitigation Plan which helps guide assistance to local government; the Disaster Preparedness Improvement Grant initiative to link hazard mitigation to local comprehensive planning efforts and the post-Presidential Disaster Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.  The first part of this year, as you may be aware, the office is entrenched with out partners hammering out the new updates to the State Hazard Mitigation Plan.

While we migrate and link info on the new Mitigation Office's home here on COEmergency, I wanted to pass along the Office's contact information and initial resource links.  On this page, you will be able to find contact and program information, access the latest in DEM Mitigation News and keep up to speed with the status of hazard mitigation plans across the State.

They are the backbone of all our grant administration programs and, in the most tangible and on-the-ground realized effort of our Division, are making our communities safer and more secure.

DEM Mitigation Office Staff

State Mitigation Officer - Marilyn Gally - (720) 852-6694

Mitigation Team Supervisor - Ken Brink - (720) 852-6695

Administrative Assistant - Scott Baldwin - (720) 852-6696

Mitigation Specialist - Deanna Butterbaugh - (720) 852-6697

Mitigation Specialist - Iain Hyde - (720) 852-6698

Mitigation Technical Specialist - Victoria Smith - (720) 852-6699

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DEM Mitigation Resources

2008 State Hazard Mitigation Plan

Regional and Local Pre-Disaster Mitigation Plans

Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Adoptions

Resources for Disaster Proofing Your Business

Hazard Mitigation and Risk Assessment Internet Mapping Tool

City of Colorado Springs - FEMA Awards $1.1 Million Grant to Fire Department

City of Colorado Springs - FEMA Awards $1.1 Million Grant to Fire Department

PIO Contact: Christina Randall - crandall@springsgov.com

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, July 19, 2010 - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Colorado Division of Emergency Management today released $1,117,481 in Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) funds to the Colorado Springs Fire Department for wildfire mitigation projects throughout Colorado Springs.

PDM provides grants to state and local governments to implement long term mitigation measures. Through this Pre-Disaster Mitigation grant, FEMA will pay 75 percent of the project costs. The remaining costs will be met by neighborhood matching and Public Safety Sales Tax in the form of labor, volunteer projects and neighborhood involvement.

"These projects directly benefit residents and the community as a whole by reducing wildfire risk before a fire starts" said Christina Randall, Wildfire Mitigation Section Manager for the Colorado Springs Fire Department. "This additional funding will help reduce the potential for life and property loss."

These funds will be used for fuels management projects in common areas and open spaces adjacent to neighborhoods identified as at-risk for wildfire. These projects will also serve as demonstration areas for homeowners who want to address mitigation on their own property. The Colorado Springs Wildfire Mitigation Section has been successful on several PDM grants over the years totaling more than $2.3 million.

"We're very fortunate that funding has become available to assist our community in addressing wildfire risk" said Brett Lacey, Colorado Springs Fire Marshal. "These projects will do a lot to reduce fire behavior in a wildfire event."

FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

State of Colorado 2011 Pre-Disaster Mitigation, Flood Mitigation Assistance Program and Repetitive Flood Claims Program Announcements

The Colorado Division of Emergency Management Mitigation Team is now accepting applications from eligible sub-grantees for the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program (PDM), Flood Mitigation Assistance Program (FMA) and Repetitive Flood Claims Program (RFC).  It is the Mitigation Teams’ hope that local emergency management partners will take a comprehensive look at their community’s risk, determine if any projects would meet the requirements for funding, and submit an application.  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.

The Mitigation Team is soliciting Notice of Interest for these programs by July 16, 2010.  Please take a look at the Hazard Mitigation Assistance Announcement Letter and contact Ken Brink, Mitigation Specialist at Kenneth.brink@state.co.us or call 720-852-6695.