Information and Updates
DHSEM Leads State Team Focusing on Preventing Targeted Violence
On April 27, 2018, the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) announced that four states, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan and Virginia, have been selected for a policy academy aimed at developing strategic plans to prevent ideologically-inspired violence. DHSEM Division Director Kevin Klein will act as the Colorado team leader.
Background on the Academy
Ideologically-inspired violence is a multifaceted threat to localities, states, and the nation as a whole. Recent attacks in Charlottesville, Virginia; New York City, New York; and San Bernardino, California underscore that the threat landscape is diverse and a challenge for all levels of government. Governors have a role in building resilience to ideologically-inspired violence by convening resources, stakeholders and programs across their states. Governors have a long history of spearheading violence prevention efforts and can leverage lessons learned, relationships, and resources from those programs to prevent individuals from acting violently on the behalf of any ideology.
Funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Terrorism Prevention Partnerships, this policy academy will allow state teams to learn from national experts and their peers from other states as they establish their strategies. Each state will participate in two policy academy meetings, an in-state workshop and a series of conference calls and webinars during implementation of the plans.
An NGA policy academy is a highly collaborative, team-based process for assisting a select number of states in developing and implementing action plans that address complex public policy issues.
To learn more about the Homeland Security and Public Safety Division, click here.
Colorado Homeland Security Strategy Update
DHSEM led the first Colorado Homeland Security Strategy work group meeting on April 26, 2018 and accomplished the first steps of developing our state strategy. Nineteen work group participants discussed and reviewed the strategic planning process, work group charter, Strength, Weakness, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis and the stakeholder engagement meeting summary.
The kickoff meeting included engaged and thoughtful discussion resulting decisions for the strategy format, overarching goals tied to the mission/functional areas and focus area priorities.
The work group meets again in May to further refine the goals, develop strategies and objectives.
DHSEM Strategic Plan Update
The DHSEM Core Planning Team meets Wednesday, May 9 for a goals and objectives development workshop. DHSEM is on track to complete the division's strategic plan by the end of June. The completed plan will be shared with staff and external stakeholders.
DHSEM Staff Represent Colorado at the National Preparedness Symposium
The Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) will be well represented during the 2018 National Preparedness Symposium held at the Emergency Management Institute (EMI) in Emmitsburg, Maryland on May 21-24. DHSEM staff include:
- Lynn Bailey, the State Training Officer/Training and Exercise Section Supervisor will be co-presenting on the Emergency Management Accreditation Program - EMAP from the State and the Assessor's Points of View.
- Nowell Curran, Regional Training and Exercise Specialist, will also be a co-presenter on Training and Exercise Planning Workshop: Best Practices for Preparation.
- Cindy VonFeldt, SEOC Exercise Officer, is a co-presenter, discussing the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP): Beyond the Templates, and
- Elizabeth Ownsby, will be co-presenting on On-line Training Modules for WebEOC.
The National Preparedness Symposium targets training and exercise officers and other training and exercise staff at the state, tribal and territorial levels as well as our federal partners in the emergency management and homeland security training and exercise arena. The purpose of the Symposium is to provide a forum for sharing best practices and case studies in training and exercises as well as to review training and exercise programs within FEMA that are applicable to attendees.
FEMA Updates and Information
EMAP Releases 2019 Drafts for Public Comment
Emergency Management Standard
The EMAP 5-2019 Draft Emergency Management Standard has been revised by the EMAP Technical Committee and is being released for public comment. The Standard will be open for a 60-day public comment period and will close on June 28, 2018. All public comments received will be adjudicated by the EMAP Standards Subcommittee in December 2018 and formally voted on by the EMAP Technical Committee in 2019. All public comments should be submitted using the EMAP Public Comment link below, complete the excel form and then submit it to Ms. Christine Y. Jacobs via email at cjacobs@emap.org. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Jacobs at 859/494-0917.
The Emergency Management Standard is revised on a three-year cycle that consists of committee collaboration within the EMAP Standard Subcommittee; a public comment period; and support from the EMAP Technical Committee that provides recommendations to the EMAP Commission. The formal process is based on the combination of EMAP and ANSI Policy and Procedures.
Please click here to the provide public comment on the draft Emergency Management Standard.
Urban Search and Rescue Standard
The EMAP 2-2019 Draft Urban Search & Rescue Standard has been revised by the EMAP Technical Committee and is being released for public comment. The Standard will be open for a 60-day public comment period and will close on June 28, 2018. All public comments received will be adjudicated by the EMAP Standards Workgroup in November 2018 and formally voted on by the EMAP Technical Committee in 2019. All public comments should be submitted using the EMAP Public Comment link below, complete the excel form and then submit it to Ms. Christine Y. Jacobs via email at cjacobs@emap.org. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Jacobs at 859/494-0917
The Urban Search and Rescue Standard by EMAP is reviewed on a three-year review cycle that consists of committee collaboration within the EMAP Standards Workgroup; a public comment period; and support from the EMAP Technical Committee that provides recommendations to the EMAP Commission. The formal process is based on the combination of EMAP and American National Standard Institute (ANSI) Policies and Procedures.
Please click here to the provide public comment on the draft Urban Search & Rescue Standard.
San Juan County Awarded Disaster Assistance by U.S. Small Business Administration Due to Drought Impacts
On May 7, 2018 announced the U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses economically impacted by drought in San Juan County that occurred Jan. 2 - April 15, 2018, SBA Administrator Linda McMahon announced today. SBA acted under its own authority to declare a disaster following a request received from Gov. John W. Hickenlooper on May 2, 2018.
The disaster declaration makes SBA assistance available in Dolores, Hinsdale, La Plata, Montezuma, Ouray, San Juan and San Miguel counties.
“Small, nonfarm businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of any size may qualify for Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses which could have been met had the disaster not occurred,” said Director Tanya N. Garfield of SBA’s Disaster Field Operations Center-West.
Eligibility is based on the financial impact of the disaster only and not on any actual property damage. These loans have an interest rate of 3.385 percent for small businesses and 2.5 percent for private nonprofit organizations with terms up to 30 years and are restricted to small businesses without the financial ability to offset the adverse impact without hardship.
The Southwest Colorado Small Business Development Center is offering free, personalized counseling to help affected businesses in their recovery. Businesses may contact Deputy Director Mary Shepherd at (970) 247-7009 to schedule an appointment. The SBDC office is located at Fort Lewis College, Education and Business Building, Room 140, 1000 Rim Drive, Durango, CO 81301.
Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. Individuals who are deaf or hard‑of‑hearing may call (800) 877-8339. Completed applications should be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
The deadline to apply for economic injury is Feb. 7, 2019.
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