DHSEM Annual Award Recognition
On June 26, DHSEM conducted our Annual Staff Retreat and Awards Ceremony to focus on our employees. We recognized the dedication and hard work of the following staff members:
Go-To Award
Characteristics of a "Go-To" person include: diligent, selfless, consistent, pitch in to help, reliable, gets it done, team player, behind the scenes, and goes above and beyond what is expected of them to support their fellow team members.
Go-To Award Winners
- Syrita Garcia
- Ryan Mechem
Positivity Award
Characteristics of a "Positivity" person include: positive energy, inspiring, aloha spirit, optimistic, cheerleader, encouraging, happy, calm in a crisis, collaborative, fun, takes lemons and makes lemonade.
Positivity Award Winners
- Mikaela Ellenwood
- Amy Shish
Work Smarter Award
Characteristics of a "Work Smarter" person include: creative, thinks outside the box, innovative, change agent, fearless, cutting edge, idea person, progressive.
Work Smarter Winners
- Lucas Burr
- Sub-recipient Monitoring Team: Tiffaney Brooks, Patricia Crossley, Justin Willman
Mission Accomplished Award
Characteristics of a "Mission Accomplished" recipient includes: demonstrating leadership by example and forward thinking in accomplishing a specific task or goal on behalf of the division; a group that leads by example and inspires and motivates achievement by others or demonstrates success through coordination, collaboration and bridge building within the division, department or with our customer/community stakeholders.
Mission Accomplished Award Winners
- CDBG-DR Team: Teresa Cummins, Sara Rose, Morgaine Belanger, Michael Haney
- CIAC All-Hazards Threat Intel Unit
Denney Award
This award recognizes an 'unsung' hero whose performance is outstanding, yet the recipient remains "low profile". The award is aimed at an individual who provides exemplary conduct, service, or action that demonstrates a commitment to the values of the division.
Denney Award Winner
Division Director Award
Characteristics of a "Division Director Award" recipient include: "first amon equals", mentor, respected, leads by example, ethical, principled, inspiring, advocates on behalf of others, mediator, bridge builder, courageous and forward thinking.
Division Director Award Winner
DHSEM Annual Retreat Information
During the June 26 DHSEM Annual Retreat the division highlighted accomplishments by the numbers across all sections. The retreat also shared major accomplishments. View the DHSEM Annual Retreat slides to read through the highlights and accomplishments.
Below are photos of some of our award winners:
DHSEM Director's Award Winner Devon Rhoads with Director Kevin Klein [top left]
DHSEM Mission Accomplished Award [top right]
DHSEM Denney Award Winner Paul Eller with Director Kevin Klein [bottom left]
DHSEM Mission Accomplished Award Winners from CDBG-DR Team with Director Kevin Klein [bottom right]
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Job and Volunteer Opportunities
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Information Updates
Gap Filling Radar Installed on Missionary Ridge
Gap filling radar was installed on Missionary Ridge as a jointly funded project between the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) and the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM).
The agencies contracted with the University of Oklahoma to deploy this gap filling Doppler radar from July to October to better identify storms that are not visible by radar out of the Grand Junction or Albuquerque Weather Service Offices.
La Plata Electric Association installed a meter and is providing free electricity through October for the project. La Plata County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) worked to coordinate the location and installation of the unit on July 2, 2018.
In addition, DHSEM also worked with La Plata County OEM and the Rio Grande Watershed Emergency Action Team (RWEACT) to obtain and install real time rain gauges in order to better notify the public of the threat of flash flooding over the 416 Fire burn scar.
Photos of radar taken by Thomas McNamara with La Plata County OEM.
New Damage Assessment Process
Colorado Department of Public Safety is collecting initial damage assessment information from all sources that have sustained damages as a result of the recent fires. The deadline for damage assessment information is July 18, 2018. Please send your list of damages to the CDPS Watch Center at the following address: WatchCenter@state.co.us.
There are a variety of reasons to collect such information:
- It provides a view of understanding the magnitude of a disaster
- It allows the evaluation of a range of federal disaster relief programs
- It directs state resources towards the highest priority needs
- Allows emergency managers to tie different disasters together to understand the entire statewide impact.
With that in mind the DHSEM Watch Center is collecting and organizing damage assessment information. This listing will enable a comprehensive analysis of the statewide impacts. Please provide any information as it becomes available. The lists below are suggestions about what should be provided, all items are not required.
If you have questions about potential eligibility for certain programs please contact Michael Haney, Recovery Grant Section Supervisor, at 303.594.0572 or michael.haney@state.co.us. If you have questions about recovery and the use of such data please contact Jim Raymond, State Recovery Officer, at 303-870-4827 or james.raymond@state.co.us.
2018 LEPC Conference Information
Your new point of contact for registration is: Crystal Christensen by phone at 720-852-6609. In previous years, if DHSEM was paying for your room, we required that you register with the hotel on your own. This year we are eliminating that step so it is imperative that if your plans change and you are unable to attend, you notify us.
What
The Colorado Emergency Planning Committee (CEPC) is hosting this 2 ½ day conference for Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) members, first responders, and local, state and federal partners who are responsible for hazardous material response planning. LEPC101, designed for new LEPC members, will focus on the basics of EPCRA and hands-on ideas for creating/maintaining a successfulLEPC. Thursday and Friday will focus on hazmat-specific topics.
When
- Wednesday, September 5, 2018 from 1- 4:30 p.m. for LEPC101
- Wednesday, September 5, 2018 from 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. for CEMA Business Meeting
- Thursday, September 6, 2018 from 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. for full day conference
- Friday, September 7, 2018 from 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. for final half day conference
Where:
Conference and Lodging is at the Beaver Run Resort, Breckenridge, Colo. at 620 Village Rd, Breckenridge, CO 80424
Lodging
This year, two LEPC members per LEPC (5 per Regional LEPC) are eligible for lodging Wednesday and Thursday nights. The LEPC Chair must designate the 2/5 LEPC representatives to Crystal Christensen.
- LEPC Chairs start by e-mailing Crystal at crystal.christensen@state.co.us no later than August 10. She will confirm the Thursday lunch attendance, if needed. Crystal will maintain a list of approved attendees and will make all reservations for the hotel directly that will be paid for by DHSEM.
- Attendees not covered by DHSEM must contact the hotel directly at 1-800-525-2253 (Group Code LEPC Conference) to arrange their own lodging.
- CEPC Members contact Crystal directly to arrange for lodging.
For our Federal and private partners, unfortunately, we cannot cover your lodging costs under the HMEP grant. Reservations can be made by calling the Beaver Run Resort at 1-800-525-2253 and identifying yourself as part of the State of Colorado CDPS/DHSEM LEPC Conference. The group discount will apply to all reservations made before August 10, 2018. Our agreement with the hotel includes Internet access, parking and breakfast. After reserving your room, please e-mail Crystalcrystal.christensen@state.co.us and let her know you are coming to the conference – she is tracking overall numbers for meeting space and lunch.
Registration
After Crystal has approved your attendance everyone must register for the conference by August 10, 2018 on co.train.org. If you have not created an account in co.train, you can create your user name and password on the upper left of the home page. Once you are logged in, search for the Course ID and register to attend. Please make sure you click the approval box and once you are approved, you will be confirmed by email and placed on the roster. Please use Course ID: 1052497.
2018 DHSEM Mitigation Project Outreach
Every year, FEMA releases a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) and Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) grant programs. PDM is designed to help communities sustain pre-disaster natural hazard mitigation programs and plans to reduce risk to the population and structures from future natural hazard events. FMA is available for flood mitigation projects and plans. Both programs reduce the impacts on, and costs to, communities during future natural hazard events. The State anticipates that FEMA will announce this year’s NOFO in August 2018, with September being set aside for webinars and technical assistance and the application window from October 2018 through January 2019.
The Colorado Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (DHSEM) is the designated applicant for these grant programs and is responsible for soliciting sub-applications from eligible sub-applicants. In this role, DHSEM assists in the preparation, review, and submission of eligible and complete applications to FEMA throughout the year- you do not need to wait for the NOFO to begin. For a list of eligible PDM and FMA projects, please click here.
To qualify for PDM or FMA grants, interested communities must have a current FEMA-approved Local or Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) by the application deadline and it must be valid at the time of Federal obligation of the grant funds. Please contact your Emergency Manager to confirm whether your community meets this requirement.
Please review the 2015 Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) Unified Guidance and Addendum thoroughly to determine if your project idea is eligible, whether match requirements can be satisfied, and what environmental and historic preservation requirements will be necessary.
Federal funding is available for up to 75 percent of the eligible activity costs. The remaining 25 percent of eligible activity costs must be derived from local match sources. Please be aware that there is no State funding available at this time.
Follow the links below for information on the Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) Programs:
For additional information, please contact one of the State Mitigation Specialists listed below.
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Educational Resources
2018 Colorado Wildland Fire Conference
The conference theme is People, Places and Perceptions-Wildfire and the Human Condition. This year’s conference will provide and in-depth exploration of how human dimensions affect community adaptation to wildfire.
Conference Details
- Date: September 18-20, 2018. Pre-conference social gathering the evening of the 18th. Conference sessions begin at 8:00am on the 19th.
- Location: The Lodge at Mountaineer Square, Mt. Crested Butte, Colorado.
- Cost: $295 Early Registration- Ends 8.31.18 / $350 Late Registration / $245 FACO Members Includes materials, breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Registration Link: Colorado-wildfire.com
- Lodging: Special rates for conference attendees at various area hotels, click HERE for more info- we recommend you CALL to reserve your room.
- Conference Agenda
- Scholarships: Fire Adapted Colorado (FACO) scholarships available to assist with conference registration costs. Apply for a scholarship online.
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Training and Exercise Information
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.
Benefit Cost Analysis Course
DHSEM is hosting a Benefit Costs Analysis (BCA) Course on August 21 and August 22 at the Colorado State EOC. Read the BCA Course Flyer for details on registration and pre-requisites.
Colorado Hosted FEMA 388 Advanced Public Information Officer Course
DHSEM is hosting an Advanced Public Information Officer course at the State Emergency Operations Center in Centennial, Colorado from November 26 to 30, 2018. View the course flyer. Registration is required on COTrain with Course ID# 1077400.
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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