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On July 26, 2017 seven DHSEM staff members supported a fullscale exercise at Denver International Airport. In this photo North Central Regional Field Manager Cory Stark and State EOC Exercise Officer Cindy Vonfeldt manage the staging area and resources for the exercise.
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Information and Updates
DHSEM Staffing Changes and National Search Underway
Office of Emergency Management (OEM) Director Marilyn Gally is transitioning to a role with the Colorado Recovery and Resiliency Office effective August 14, 2017.
DHSEM Director Kevin Klein stated, "I want to take this opportunity to thank Marilyn for her service to the State, the Division and, and specifically, the Office of Emergency Management for many years. Marilyn played critical roles in many of the State’s worst moments. From mitigating known hazards, to emergency response, to long-term recovery, Marilyn has been there to help. Marilyn was there for community meetings; putting humanity and hope for disaster survivors. Please join me in wishing Marilyn the best in her new role."
National Search Underway
The search for Gally’s replacement will be a nationwide search began on August 14, 2017. The job announcement for the Director of the Office of Emergency Management will close on September 1, 2017. We will aggressively recruit qualified candidates. Our goal is to have a replacement named within 60 days.
The Acting Office of Emergency Management Director duties will be effective August 14, 2017.
Acting Director of the Office of Emergency Management: Ezzie MichaelsDirector Michaels will continue in his role as director of the Office of Preparedness but he will also assume an acting role for the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) while DHSEM conducts a national search for a new OEM Director. In his acting capacity, Michaels will be responsible for the management, direction, and supervision of all sections within the OEM.
Acting Director for Emergency Response Operations: Bruce Holloman will be acting director during a state declared disaster or emergency or other significant event, and will ensure appropriate state response activities and coordination across all levels of government (federal, tribal, state, and local) and the private sector (non-governmental, voluntary, and for profit agencies). He will continue to ensure operational readiness of the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) pending the selection of a new OEM Director.
U. S. Small Business Administration Disaster Assistance Approved
- U.S. SBA offers assistance to Colorado businesses and residents affected by a severe thunderstorm in Walsh, Colorado that occurred on June 25, 2017. The SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center opened on August 15 and will close on August 24. Read more about the disaster assistance on our COEmergency website.
- U.S. SBA offers disaster assistance to Colorado small businesses economically impacted by the Western Excelsior Plant Fire in Mancos, Colorado. Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Additional information is posted to our COEmergency website.
- U.S. SBA disaster assistance is available to businesses and residents impacted by the hailstorm that occurred on May 8, 2017. The deadline to apply for SBA federal disaster loans for property damage is August 29, 2017. The deadline for economic injury disaster loans on March 30, 2018. Additional information is posted to our COEmergency website.
FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant Application Period Open
The open application period began on August 14 for two competitive Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant programs. Eligible applicants including territories, federally recognized tribes, states and local governments may apply for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) and Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) grants at https://portal.fema.gov through 3 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on November 14, 2017.
Grant Funds Available for Agricultural Producers Affected by 2012 and 2013 Floods and Fires
In a news release published by the Colorado Department of Agriculture the following grant information was shared:
Applications are being sought for grants to assist farmers and ranchers who were impacted by 2012/2013 floods and fires. The grant amounts can range from $15,000 to $150,000 and approximately $900,000 is available for this round of grants.
Applicants must meet the Housing and Urban Development income limits for moderate-income households which are based on the county, personal income, and family size of all owners. Farms and ranches with employees can also qualify if over half of their employees meet the moderate income limits.
Financial assistance can include:
- Reimbursement for disaster-related expenses that were incurred from the date of the disaster to one year after
- Operational expenses to support your business moving forward - hay or feed, livestock or crop related expenses, equipment, insurance, ditch assessments, payroll
- Disaster-related projects to finish recovery efforts - fencing/corrals, barns/outbuildings, pasture restoration, irrigation systems, land leveling, debris removal
This funding is part of the Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) allocated to the State of Colorado from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) is working in partnership with the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) in to assist farmers and ranchers who were impacted by the 2012/2013 disasters through the Agriculture Business Grant Program.
The program is providing the grant funding to agricultural businesses in counties affected by:
- 2012 High Park Fire
- 2012 Waldo Canyon Fire
- 2013 Black Forest Fire
- 2013 Royal Gorge Fire
- September 11, 2013 Flood
The counties affected by these events are Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Clear Creek, Crowley, Denver, El Paso, Fremont, Gilpin, Jefferson, Lake, Larimer, Lincoln, Logan, Morgan, Sedgwick, Teller, Washington, and Weld.
Applications are being accepted until September 29, 2017. Visit www.colorado.gov/pacific/dola/agriculture-business-grant or call (303) 869-9028 for program information including eligibility requirements, the application, and other materials.
Feedback Sought for Proposed Changes to 6 CCR 1009-7
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has recently reviewed Board of Health Rules and Regulations 6 CCR 1009-7, Detection, Monitoring, and Investigation of Environmental and Chronic Diseases and is proposing some changes. The purpose of this memo is to engage our stakeholders early by informing you about the upcoming proposed changes and solicit your feedback.
Please read and share the attached memo that summarizes the proposed changes to
6 CCR 1009-7, and your opportunities to provide feedback. If you have any suggestions, concerns, or questions, you may submit them via our online form by August 25, 2017. Attached is the proposed rule language and the current rule language for comparison.
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DHSEM Grant Information & Updates
Monthly updates are posted to the MARS website with the follow information:
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Job and Volunteer Opportunities
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Kudos and Congratulations to DHSEM Staff
- Several DHSEM staff have recently completed courses at the Emergency Management Institute. Congratulations to all of them on their dedication to continuing education: Trevor Denney, Robyn Knappe, Jennifer Hillmann, Jaclyn Kurle.
- Nice job to our DHSEM Mitigation and Recovery Staff Robyn Knappe and Jaclyn Kurle as well as the Regional Field Managers Riley Frazee, Cory Stark and Trevor Denney for working to secure three U.S. Small Business Administration Disaster Assistance Declarations including support to Jefferson County, Walsh, and Mancos.
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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.
Upcoming DHSEM Courses:
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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