All-Hazard Communications Unit Leader Course (L-969)

This course helps attendees establish the essential core competencies required for performing the duties of the Communications Unit Leader in an all-hazards incident. This course addresses all responsibilities appropriate to a Communications Unit Leader operating in a local or state level All Hazards IMT.

These responsibilities include the collection, processing and dissemination as needed to facilitate Operations of Command, General Staff, and Unit Leaders within the confines of a Type III All Hazards Incident Management Team.

The course is an instructor led training that supports learning through discussion, lecture, and active participation in multiple exercises. The class is tailored to anyone who is a communications professional, whether inside or outside a dispatch center including techs, supervisory dispatchers, first responders, even sharp, approved amateur radio folks with direct responsibilities for public safety communications response.

Prerequisites
ICS100, ICS200, NIMS700, NRF800, and ICS300

Recommendeded
ICS400

Registration
co.train.org   Course ID: 1030364

When:      December 12-15 , 2011
Time:       8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Where:    St. Pat’s (basement)
                601 Raton
                La Junta, CO 81050

Download training flyer.

Application Deadline November 10 for ICS Train The Trainer (L-449) Course

Incident Command System Train-The-Trainer (L-449) Course

Application Deadline:     November 10, 2011 at 5:00 p.m.

Course Dates:     December 12-13 and 14-16, 2011

Course Times:     8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Course Location:  Multi-Agency Coordination Center
                                9195 East Mineral Avenue
                                Training Rooms 1&2
                                Centennial, CO              

Course Description:

This course prepares participants to deliver the FEMA Emergency Management Institute’s ICS curricula.  While ICS 100 and 200 courses are addressed, the major emphasis is on ICS 300 and 400.

Prerequisites:

• ICS 100, ICS 200, ICS 300, ICS 400, IS 700 and IS 800.  NOTE: Students must have taken the EMI, USDA, NFA or NWCG ICS and our hope is that those applicants will have taken mostly the newer FEMA All Hazards curriculum courses (approximately 2008 –current).  Other ICS courses will be reviewed for consistency with the ICS courses as prescribed by the NIMS Integration Center.
• Participants must have worked as IC, command or general staff positions on incidents that went longer than one operational period or involved a written action plan and involved multi-agency coordination and utilized ICS.  (These can be a combination of disaster incidents, planned events and disaster exercises but must include disaster incidents – not just exercises and planned events).
• If you have not attended an 8 hour minimum class in adult teaching methodology in the last three years, or have never taken one, you must attend the entire five day class. If you have taken an adult teaching methodology course within the last three years you should attend starting Wednesday, December 14, 2011.  Please include documentation of the adult education class.
• Prior experience as an instructor is recommended. 
  Download Verification Form.

Selection Criteria:

The L449 course is limited to 30 students.  The goal is to have at least two participants from each of the State All-Hazards Planning Regions, and especially we are trying to build capacity for the areas that do NOT have instructor candidates or have a limited pool. Selections will be made based on a combination of need, experience, and locality. Priority may be given to areas with the greatest need for instructors.

Documentation of completion of course prerequisites must accompany the application.

Note: There will be no cost to participants, but there is no travel or meal reimbursement.  Lodging assistance will be provided Sunday, December 11-15 (or December 13-15 for those not needing the instructor methodology course) for qualified applicants residing more than 50 miles from the training location,

Applications must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on November 10, 2011. 

Applications will be evaluated based on the applicant’s ICS training and experience as well as instructor teaching experience.  We are looking to ensure that participants will be able to assist us in meeting our state and local ICS training requirements. Notification emails will be sent by November  22, 2011.

We are at the last stages of institutionalizing ICS and need volunteers who can teach for their agency and for the community. Please note that we are moving away from paid opportunities to teach. In the future, most teaching opportunities will be volunteer teaching opportunities.  

Schedule:

December 12-13    8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.    Advanced Instructor Skills (2 Days)

*These two days are only for those who have not taken an adult methodology class in the last three years. All others are asked to attend starting Wednesday, December 15, to ensure there are enough slots for those who need the instructor course.

December 14-16   8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.    L449 FEMA ICS Train the Trainer (3 Days)

Please email Robyn Knappe with your lodging needs, indicating whether you will be attending for three days or five days. For any questions, please contact Robyn Knappe.
Phone: (720) 852-6617
Fax: (720) 852-6750
robyn.knappe@state.co.us

                               

Fall Back on Sound Advice: Time to Change Your Clock AND Check Your Smoke Alarm Batteries

As our nation moves back to Standard Time beginning this weekend, the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) encourages you to mark the occasion as a time to test your home smoke alarms and replace the batteries if more than one year old.

Every year in the United States about 3,500 people die in home fires.  Most of these deaths occurred in homes that didn't have a working smoke alarm.

 Every day in the United States, needless home fire deaths occur. Working smoke alarms significantly increase your chance of surviving a deadly home fire. A properly installed and maintained smoke alarm is the only thing in your home that can alert you and your family to a fire 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Whether you're awake or asleep, a working smoke alarm is constantly on alert scanning the air for fire and smoke.

In addition to changing your smoke alarm batteries this weekend, the USFA recommends following these simple steps to protect your life, your loved ones, and your home:

• Dust or vacuum smoke alarms when you change the batteries.

• Test alarms once a month using the test button.

• Replace the entire alarm if it's more than 10 years old or doesn't work properly when tested.

• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, including the basement, and both inside and outside of sleeping areas.

• For the best protection, equip your home with a combination of ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms or dual sensor alarms.

• Interconnect all smoke alarms throughout your home so that when one sounds, they all sound. Interconnected alarms are available at most stores that sell smoke alarms.

• Make sure everyone in your home understands the warning of the smoke alarm and knows how to respond.

Finally, prepare and practice an escape plan so that you and your loved ones can get out of your home safely should there be a fire. Plan to meet in a place a safe distance from the fire and where first responders can easily see you.

For more information on smoke alarms, fire escape planning, and fire prevention, visit the USFA website at www.usfa.fema.gov/smokealarms.

Disaster Sheltering for Companion Animals Training

Animal Response Volunteers Eligible to Attend Free Training.

Where:  Law Enforcement Training Academy
              502 2nd Street, Alamosa, CO 81101

What:  Disaster Sheltering for Companion Animals is designed to help communities of any size actively and formally prepare for disasters affecting both animals and humans. Natural or man made disasters can strike at any time, and depending on their scope and severity, the local community needs to be equipped to handle the resulting influx of dogs, cats and other small companion animals.


When:  December 10-11, 2011

Time:  9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. 

Key Areas of Focus:

• Identifying viable locations for emergency animal shelters
• Designing and setting an emergency shelter
• Animal identification and record keeping
• Daily routines
• Safety and security concerns
• Decontamination
• Legal issues and liability
• Disposition of animals 

Who should attend this training?

• CART and CERT
• CSU Extension
• Zoos and Wildlife agencies
• Public Heath
• Concerned individuals and volunteers
• Animal Shelters and Animal Rescue Groups
• Fairgrounds
• Kennels and Pet Groups
• Livestock associations and livestock producers
• Veterinarians, veterinary technicians and staff members

Don’t miss out on this opportunity!  Space is limited.  Deadline to register is November 22, 2011.

To Register contact Adeline Lee at adelinelee@cvmf.org or 719-480-5676.
For more information click here.

Don't Stress; It's Only a Test

As part of their ongoing efforts to keep our country and communities safe during emergencies, the Federal Communications Commission and Federal Emergency Management Agency will conduct the first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) on November 9 at 12 p.m. MDT.

The EAS test plays a key role in ensuring the nation is prepared for all hazards, and that the U.S. public can receive critical and vital information, should it ever be needed.  The first nationwide test will be conducted Wednesday, November 9 at 12 p.m. MDT.  This test will last up 30 seconds, and will be transmitted via television and radio stations within the U.S., including Alaska, Hawaii, the territories of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa. 

Similar to local emergency alert system tests, an audio message will interrupt television and radio programming indicating: “This is a test.” When the test is over, regular programming will resume.  However, due to technical limitations, a visual message indicating that "this is a test" may not appear on every television channel, especially for cable subscribers. For these reasons we are taking extra steps to educate the public, especially people with hearing disabilities, that this is only a test.

For more information about the nationwide Emergency Alert System test, please visit www.FEMA.gov and www.FCC.gov.   On November 9 at 12 p.m. MDT, please remember: Don’t stress; it’s only a test.

Additional Resource Links:

o   FEMAPress Release

o   FEMABlog