DHSEM Update
September 2017
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Photos from the EOC Support Team deployed through EMAC to support Florida following Hurricane Irma.
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Information and Updates
State Homeland Security Strategy Development Survey
The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM), in collaboration with the Homeland Security and All-Hazards Senior Advisory Committee (HSAC), Strategic Planning Subcommittee is updating the State’s Homeland Security Strategy. The last state strategy the Homeland Security & All-Hazards Framework was effective January 1, 2014, and has been extended while we develop our new State Homeland Security Strategy. The goal is to have this new strategy completed by June 1, 2018.
The DHSEM and HSAC Strategic Planning Subcommittee determined that the most effective way to update our state strategy is to bring together a diverse group of partners and stakeholders to assist and provide feedback and input into the development of the strategy. We developed a multi-step planning process which includes the establishment of a State Homeland Security Working Group which includes state, local and federal partners from many different disciplines that are involved and/or impacted by this Strategy. The Working Group developed the questions in the attached survey and are looking for critical input from stakeholders through a number of different methods starting with this survey and subsequently holding regional meetings with our partners and stakeholders. Your participation in the survey and regional meetings as a subject matter expert and stakeholder is vital to guide the State Homeland Security Strategy Working Group in this initiative.
The purpose of this survey is to assist in the development of the State Homeland Security Strategy. The strategy will provide strategic direction and guidance for the stakeholders of Colorado’s Homeland Security program that are involved in the five mission areas (Prevention, Protection, Response, Recovery, and Mitigation). The end result will identify statewide strategies, goals and objectives and metrics to address mission area capability gaps and needs. Strategies will reach across various disciplines, agencies and will likely be designed to integrate state and local governmental efforts. Ultimately, the focus of this survey and regional meetings is on prioritizing threats, vulnerabilities, and hazards and identifying gaps in capabilities.
The State Homeland Security Strategy Working Group will collect and review survey responses to identify important functions of the 32 Core Capabilities derived from the National Preparedness Goals. Although each Core Capability is important, survey questions have been developed to focus on recurring Core Capability gap areas from Homeland Security and All-Hazards Senior Advisory Committee (HSAC) stakeholder feedback. Your responses will help us better identify the gaps and vulnerabilities that you believe are most critical in your jurisdiction so that we can focus our strategic efforts and our regional discussions.
Follow this link to the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HomelandSecurityStrategySurvey
The survey will be open through September 30, 2017. If you have working colleagues or know of other Colorado Homeland Security professionals who should participate and many have received the survey, please forward them this information. If a particular group needs additional time, please let us know and we will work with you to provide additional opportunities to take the survey. We hope that you take some time to respond to this important survey and we thank you in advance for your time and commitment to the safety of our State.
Colorado Support to Hurricane Impacted States
The State of Colorado has sent several resources to support states impacted by both Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma beginning on August 26 with two teams still deployed. The resources from the state included:
- Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) Deployments
- DHSEM Logistics Section Chief deployed to the FEMA National Resource Coordination Center in Washington D.C. as EMAC Liaison. The mission is complete.
- Colorado National Guard deployed a Chinook and 12 people for Air Support to Hurricane Harvey. The mission is complete.
- Colorado National Guard deployed for CERF Package to provide Medical Support to Hurricane Harvey. The mission is complete.
- Emergency operations center (EOC) Support Team with 24 Colorado emergency management staff deployed to Florida. The team is lead by six DHSEM field services and operations staff. Six members returned on September 18. The remaining 18 will return on September 26 after a 14-day deployment in the Florida Keys.
- DHSEM individual assistance staff deployed on September 18 to Tallahassee to provide Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (VOAD) support for a 14-day deployment.
- Federal Deployments Coordinated by DHSEM
- DHSEM field services staff deployed through the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) to provide logistics support in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. His mission is completed.
- Colorado National Guard deployed under Title 32 to provide communications support with six people to Florida.
- A 17-member Colorado incident management team (IMT) deployed on September 8 to Moody Air Force Base to provide support to law enforcement resources assigned to Hurricane Irma. The IMT will complete a 14-day deployment.
- Federal Deployment Through FEMA
- The Colorado Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Team deployed on August 28 to support Hurricane Harvey in Texas and then traveled to Florida with additional team members to provide search and rescue assistance to Hurricane Irma. The team has completed its mission.
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DHSEM Grant Information & Updates
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Job and Volunteer Opportunities
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DHSEM's Lindsey Shaw Earns CDPS "Get Stuff Done" Department Award
Lindsey Shaw is a Risk Analyst within the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. In 2017, Shaw lead the roll-out of a new the tool that the State of Colorado is using statewide to alert employees of emergency situations.
This was no small effort – in fact, it was so important that its successful roll-out was selected as a “wildly important goal” for both the division and the department. Director Hilkey committed to the Governor’s office to meet a Strategic Policy Initiative (SPI) goal of achieving implementation of the system across at least 75 percent of State Executive branch agencies by June 30, 2017. Shaw achieved 94 percent implementation by June 30 and is on track for 100 percent implementation by the end of September.
This project involved multiple facets including crafting policy, engaging stakeholders, delivering training, setting up the system, and providing technical assistance to each department’s point of contact. She listened to stakeholders’ concerns and applied her problem-solving skills to overcome barriers to participation in the program.
Implementation of this system supports our departmental vision, “creating safer and more resilient communities across Colorado,” because promoting safety and resiliency begins internally with our own staff.
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Educational Resources
- Colorado Wildland Fire & Incident Management Team Winter (CWFIMA) Academy is scheduled for January 6-12, 2018 in Colorado Springs. The academy brochure is available on the CWFIMA website.
- October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month. Find resources and tools to share with your communities online at www.staysafeonline.org or their campaign webpage.
- Plain language requirements and guidelines are in place so that we are able to communicate with everyone in our community. This article by Ashley Hennefter called When Emergency Alerts Are Written at a College Ready Level, Who Gets Left Behind? is a quick read with some important points about how to put write those public information emergency messages.
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Training and Exercise Information
DHSEM Training Courses
View all DHSEM training courses on the DHSEM website Training page or click the “Training Courses” image on the home page to be redirected to the course calendar.
FEMA Courses and Other Opportunities
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Important Reminders
Current Fire Restriction Levels
Do you have changes in your current fire restriction levels? Please send any new information that you have to Micki Trost at micki.trost@state.co.us and it will be added to the Colorado Fire Restriction map and information page posted at COEmergency.com. The map and the links were updated in February.
County Emergency Management Contact and Emergency Notification Links
DHSEM Strategic Communications will be completing the quarterly updates of the emergency notification links located on COEmergency and DHSEM websites in March. Please help us ensure the information is correct. If you have a change in staff or a new emergency notification web link, please email micki.trost@state.co.us with the current information for the web pages. Thank you for your assistance in keeping these community resources up to date.
Share Information in the next DHSEM Update
Do you have information to share that would benefit other agencies or stakeholders in Colorado, including job or volunteer opportunities? Simply send an email to micki.trost@state.co.us with your information and it will be included in the next Update. The DHSEM Update is published on the first Friday of each month.
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