News Conference Scheduled for May 12: Agencies Briefing Governor on 2014 Widfire Outlook & Bill Signing

Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control
690 Kipling Street # 2000
Lakewood, CO 80215
Phone: (303) 239-4600
Fax: (303) 239-5887



http://dfs.state.co.us

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 8, 2013

For more information contact:
Micki Trost, Public Information Officer
Micki.trost@state.co.us
Cell: 303-472-4087

Agencies Briefing Governor on 2014 Wildfire Outlook

Governor will sign HB 164 and Wildfire Preparedness Executive Order


CENTENNIAL, COLORADO - May 12, 2014: The Governor’s annual wildfire briefing has been scheduled for May 12. The Director of the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control will brief the Governor on the Wildfire Potential for 2014 and the level of state preparedness. Additional updates will be provided from the USFS Deputy Regional Forester and the State Fire Management Officer for the Bureau of Land Management in Colorado.

After the Governor is briefed, the group will provide a media and community briefing in Hangar A. The Wildfire Preparedness Executive Order will be signed during the media briefing.

Media and Community Briefing Details

Date:   Monday, May 12, 2014

Time:  11:15 a.m. – Media and Community Briefing

Location: Centennial Airport, Hanger A, 7625 South Peoria Circle, Englewood, Colorado

Park in the big lot just outside of the Jet Center. Check in at the desk to gain access to the hangar.

Who

• Governor John Hickenlooper

• Director Paul Cooke, Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control

• Brian Ferebee, Deputy Regional Forester, US Forest Service

• Todd Richardson, State Fire Management Officer, Bureau of Land Management

Photo Opportunities

• Single Engine Air Tanker (SEAT), pilot and base manager
• DFPC fire apparatus
• Department of Corrections crew vehicle
• Colorado National Guard Blackhawk Helicopter
• Early Detection/Remote Sensing Aircraft and technology
• Colorado Wildfire Information Management System (CO-WIMS)

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)

Colorado Daily Status Report May 8

View or download the complete Colorado Daily Status Report for May 8, 2014.

Rebuilding stronger and better

Rebuilding after a disaster can present opportunities as well as challenges.

The challenges include getting the job done quickly and efficiently. The opportunities involve rebuilding stronger and better.

When it comes to repairing and rebuilding infrastructure damaged in last September’s floods, FEMA’s Stafford Act Section 406 can provide mitigation funds for risk-reduction improvements to roads, waterways, bridges, dams, buildings and other public structures already eligible for Public Assistance reimbursement.

Mitigation projects are being undertaken throughout the 18 Colorado counties designated eligible for FEMA Public Assistance, particularly in Boulder, Larimer and Weld counties. The goal is to reduce risk, reduce damages, and reduce the threat to life and property from future flooding events.

As Coloradans continue recovery efforts, nearly 200 Public Assistance repair projects now include some form of Section 406 mitigation. Many of these projects involve “armoring,” or shoring up, stream banks scraped and weakened by the flooding. Workers are also elevating electrical equipment out of harm’s way in public buildings and in the field, and doing what they can to strengthen piers and other supports under bridges.

FEMA typically reimburses at least 75 percent of eligible costs for projects that return infrastructure to its pre-disaster condition. Under certain circumstances, FEMA can also fund Section 406 mitigation measures as long the project is cost effective.

Most types of mitigation projects in this disaster recovery can be considered cost-effective and eligible for funding if they are performed on disaster-damaged infrastructure and reduce the potential for damages from similar events in the future.

Cost-effectiveness, along with other conditions for eligibility, are determined on a case-by-case basis. Applicants for 406 mitigation should consult with their FEMA Public Assistance Coordinator for more detailed information and guidance.


Download the news release.

Colorado Daily Status Report May 7

View or download the complete Colorado Daily Status Report for May 7, 2014.