DEM's Elizabeth Ownsby Receives U.S. Army and FEMA Award for Superior Service

In appreciation of Elizabeth's outstanding contributions to the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program, Carmen J. Spencer, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Elimination of Chemical Weapons) and James R. Kish, Director, Technological Hazards Division of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, recently presented Elizabeth with the "Program Manager's Award for Superior Service."  

The award was in recognition of Elizabeth's Information Technology and Telecommunications support to federal, state and local partners as a Team Leader for exercises and as an exercise Master Planner and evaluator.  The exercises are in integral part of the CSEPP process and form the backbone of first response and emergency preparedness competency and capability testing for communities, including Colorado's Pueblo community.

Reduce Flood Insurance Premiums in Your Community: Local Hazard Mitigation Plans and the Community Rating System

The CDEM Mitigation Team has developed a crossover guide to help community floodplain managers and other hazard mitigation professionals receive Community Rating System (CRS) planning credit through FEMA’s multi‐hazard mitigation planning process.

A community’s FEMA approved multi-hazard mitigation plan may receive CRS points if it was prepared in accordance with the process explained in the NFIP CRS Coordinator’s Manual or FEMA’s Local Multi-Hazard Mitigation Planning Guidance. The crossover guide provides assistance on how steps for mitigation planning intersect with the steps required for CRS floodplain management planning. CRS planning credit may come from submitting an existing FEMA approved multi-hazard mitigation plan or by following the mitigation planning process and paying special attention to the related CRS steps.

For every 500 CRS points a community earns, NFIP flood insurance premiums are adjusted downward to reflect the higher amount of planning in place to reduce the impact of flood hazards on the community. Some communities may reach their next 500-point threshold by earning points available for CRS planning credit.

CDEM expresses gratitude to the FEMA Region VIII Mitigation Section’s community planners and the Insurance Services Office (ISO) for their contributions and support in developing this tool.

Please feel free to contact Ken Brink, Mitigation Team Supervisor, with questions or comments at kenneth.brink@state.co.us or 720-852-6695.

Job Announcement - Colorado Volunteer Center Network VISTA Member

This service position is funded through the Corporation for National and Community Service. The Sponsoring Organization for this State-wide initiative is the Governor’s Commission on Community Service in partnership with the Colorado Volunteer Center Network (CVCN).

Assignment Description: Colorado Volunteer Center Network VISTA Member

Position Title: AmeriCorps*VISTA Member – Colorado Volunteer Center Network

Position Type: AmeriCorps*VISTA Volunteer Position; 12-month term of service full-time without regard to a regular schedule

Term of Service: Late August 2011 – Late August 2012

Location: Westminster City Hall,

4800 West 92nd Avenue, Westminster, Colorado 80031

Stipend: $891/month - Per AmeriCorps*VISTA guidelines

Benefits: Medical health coverage; Federal holidays; ten sick/vacation days; travel paid to training; relocation allowance of up to $550; $5,550 education award upon completion, or $1,500 cash stipend upon completion; child care allowance. For benefit & VISTA program details, please visit http://vistacampus.org/mod/book/view.php?id=2093/chapter1.html

Reports To: Colorado Volunteer Center Network VISTA Program Supervisor

Position Overview:

The Colorado Volunteer Center Network (CVCN) VISTA member will work to strengthen CVCN’s Disaster Preparedness and Response efforts. Assignments will include outreach on behalf of CVCN, volunteer engagement, training coordination, and expanding previously designed programming, including the Disaster Volunteer Coordination System and Continuity of Operations Training Program. The VISTA member will also work in conjunction with CVCN leadership on special projects to strengthen the network.

Position duties consist of the following:

• Orient new CVCN members and partners on CVCN’s Volunteer Coordination System and Continuity of Operations Training Program.
• Raise awareness of CVCN in Colorado by reaching out to potential CVCN members, local emergency managers, and disaster response agencies.
• Recruit volunteers and coordinate CVCN task teams.
• Ensure CVCN programs have plans and resources in place to be sustainable after VISTA service has ended.
• Attend Emergency Planning Meetings as requested.
• Assist with the continued development of the Colorado Volunteer Center Network.
• Work as a team member, participating in group meetings, retreats, special events, staff development and training opportunities.
• Act as an ambassador for CVCN throughout Colorado and the national community of Volunteer Centers.
• Coordinate training opportunities for CVCN members, partners, and volunteers.
• Work on special projects to strengthen CVCN and its programming.

Requirements for the volunteer position include:

Bachelor’s degree is preferred; however, some college combined with work experience may substitute for a degree.

• Self-directed, highly motivated, reliable, with a results and solution oriented perspective, organized, flexible with strong time-management skills.
• Computer proficient, including experience with Windows and related MS computer software.
• Excellent written and oral communication, facilitation and public speaking skills.
• Good interpersonal skills, team-oriented, enjoy working with others.
• Demonstration of the highest standards of professionalism, personal initiative and integrity.
• Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to high-quality work.
• Passion for and commitment to volunteerism.
• Demonstrated interest in emergency preparedness/response and knowledge of nonprofit dynamics.
• Background check, valid driver’s license, clean driving record, reliable transportation.
• Travel expected to Boulder, Colorado Springs, Denver Metro Area, Fort Collins, Greeley, Routt County, and other areas of Colorado as necessary.

Application Deadline: Applications must be received no later than 5:00pm on June 30th.

Interviews will take place July 5th – July 7th.

The position start date will be August 22nd, 2011.

Please mail or email a resume, cover letter and three references to:

Nancy Schoemann 

Colorado Volunteer Center Network 

1355 S. Colorado Blvd., Suite C-601 

Denver, CO 80222 

nancys@metrovolunteers.org 

Please note that this is an AmeriCorps*VISTA volunteer position, with a living allowance stipend. VISTA is a unique national service program and not traditional employment. Please review the VISTA Handbook (link above) prior to applying.

Maxwell Fire Info Sources - Boulder, CO

The Boulder County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) has been activated in response to a fire in Lefthand Canyon being referred to as the Maxwell Fire.  Response information - including evacuation and shelter information - is being posted on Boulder's Office of Emergency Management Emergency Information Page at http://boulderoem.com/emergency-status.  Boulder OEM is also providing information via their Twitter feed (@boulderoem) at http://twitter.com/boulderoem, their Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/BoulderOEM and via Boulder County's Twitter feed (@bouldercounty) at http://twitter.com/bouldercounty or Boulder Police's Twitter feed (@boulderpolice) at http://twitter.com/boulderpolice.

Fire Fight/Suppression information for the Maxwell Fire is being by the U.S. Forest Service Incident Command on Inciweb at http://inciweb.org/incident/2384/. Recorded fire information is being made available by incident command at (970) 498-1030.

An evacuation center was established by the Red Cross at the YMCA at 28th and Mapleton in Boulder.  Red Cross Shelter information is being posted at http://twitter.com/redcrossdenver, although as of 9:30 pm on June 26, all shelters are closed.

The Rocky Mountain Area Coordination Center (@rmaccfireinfo) is also posting fire-related information at http://twitter.com/rmaccfireinfo as is the Arapahoe National Forest at http://twitter.com/usfsarp.

Boulder County also maintains a txt/email alert system - register for alerts online at https://ww2.everbridge.net/citizen/EverbridgeGateway.action?body=home&gis_alias_id=160781.

There are two hashtags currently being used on Twitter for fire-related information:  #maxwellfire and #boulderfire.  Search for fire info using the hashtags at http://search.twitter.com

Job Announcement - Regional Colorado Information Analysis Center (CIAC) Analyst

The Regional Colorado Information Analysis Center (CIAC) Analyst would report to the Northeast All-Hazards Region Homeland Security Coordinator, the Northeast All-Hazards Region Chair/Designee(s) or the Colorado Information Analysis Center (as subject matter requires).

NEAHR CIAC Analysts will coordinate and facilitate information sharing between the State of Colorado’s North East All Hazards Region (NEAHR) and the Colorado Information Analysis Center (CIAC). The analysts will be the primary contact for the NEAHR concerning current threat intelligence, critical infrastructure protective measures, and industry best practices. In this role, the NEAHR CIAC Analysts will facilitate and produce intelligence products that are disseminated by the CIAC and/or products that will be focused on the NEAHR. The position is primarily located within the North East All Hazards Region.

Regional CIAC Analysts are responsible to:

• Provide outreach and education on information sharing systems and processes to NEAHR membership; attend NEAHR meetings to facilitate this outreach as required.
• Promote and educate NEAHR membership on the Terrorism Liaison Officer (TLO) program. Develop relationships with a primary point of contact within law enforcement and emergency management agencies throughout the Region.
• Study a variety of criminal intelligence products and prepare link analyses to reflect contacts and associations among criminals and criminal organizations and domestic and international extremist organizations. Develop and disseminate a wide variety of CIAC reports and products as needed.
• Review intelligence and open source information contained in automated information systems; refer to databases, periodicals, and electronic media to remain aware of current events as they pertain to homeland security and related criminal activity; and obtain relevant information from other agencies.
• Analyze intelligence to support law enforcement investigations and critical infrastructure protection preparations in order to develop security alerts for government and private entities, and to link cases, investigations and information with the goal of preventing acts of terrorism and criminal activities.
• Prepare written reports and Intelligence Bulletins; assist with threat assessments on persons and infrastructure; update and maintain intelligence databases; develop and maintain working partnerships with state, federal and private sector intelligence professionals; and collaborate with other analysts and outside agencies to fully develop case analyses.
• Develop and complete the Regional Risk Assessment in concert with relevant NEAHR stakeholders.
• Support and participate in exercises (HSEEP compliant) within the North East All Hazards Region. Participation will include exercise design team membership.
• Provide monthly summary/update briefings to the NEAHR Steering Committee and relevant groups, which are identified by the Analyst selection/monitoring committee as required.
• Promptly respond to/answer all requests for information (RFI) from agencies and jurisdictions within the North East All Hazards Region.
• Participate in Regional Committees as required, or directed
• Participate in State, ODP and FEMA training classes/sessions as required.
• Provide a variety of administrative support functions (e.g., meeting/conference notices & support packages, plan documentation, trip reports, AAR documents, etc.) as required.
• Perform other duties and functions as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• U.S. citizenship required.
• Must be able to pass a Background Investigation, Polygraph Examination and have the ability to obtain a Secret security clearance from the Department of Homeland Security. Signing a statement of acknowledgment and consent to release information form will be required.
• Selected candidate must have a valid Colorado driver’s license, ability to drive and attend meetings within the Region.
• Bachelor’s Degree (or equivalent transferable experience and training) from an accredited college or university with major coursework in a field appropriate to the assigned areas of responsibility.
• Must be able to work with multi-disciplinary and diverse groups.
• Ability to maintain deadlines, work independently and adapt to flexible and changing requirements.
• Proficiency with the Microsoft Office Suite (MS Word, Excel) software suite.
• Selected candidate must reside within the NEAHR.
• Selected candidate must be willing to work nights and weekends in support of an ongoing emergency within the Region and/or State.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Criminal intelligence analyst training from an accredited organization such as the International Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysts (must be completed within 6 months of hire).
• Familiarity with Homeland Security directives and guidance (DHS publications, State strategy, etc.). Specifically, knowledge of HSPD-5, HSPD-8, HSPD-9, the National Incident Management System (NIMS), the National Preparedness Goal, the National Response Framework (NRF) and the National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP).
• Familiarity with emergency management function and structure within the NEAHR.
• Experience as a First Responder (e.g., Law Enforcement, Firefighter, Emergency Medical Technician, Emergency Management, and Military).

Position Type:
Entirely Grant Funded, full time position with benefits supporting the North East All-Hazards Region. Continuation of the position is dependent upon annual grant and/or local governmental budget funding. Current grant funded amounts are expected to support the position for an estimated duration of two years with an expectation that the positions will be renewed depending upon annual grant and/or local budget funding.

Monthly Salary Range:
$3500 to $4500 per month depending on qualifications. A benefit package is currently being considered.

Education and/or Experience:
4 Year Baccalaureate Degree (or equivalent training & experience) in Public Administration, Management, Finance, Political Science, Fire Science, Criminal Justice, Emergency Management or other related field. Experience in Homeland Security, Emergency Management or Emergency Response fields is highly desirable.

Those interested in being considered for the position should send a cover letter, resume and salary history to:

NEAHR Coordinator
Re: Analyst/Planner
16527 WCR 70
Greeley, CO. 80631

All Application packages are due by July 8, 2011