Colorado Division of Emergency Management Weekly Information Report

Colorado Severe Weather Awareness Week

Governor Ritter has proclaimed April 19 - 25, 2009 Severe Weather Awareness Week in Colorado. The National Weather Service (NWS) will be issuing daily statements on the varied severe weather hazards.

The Governor's Proclamation and supporting documentation may be found on our website at: http://www.dola.colorado.gov/dem/public_information/severe_weather/spring_weather_awareness.htm.

Critcal Infrastructure Sector Level Exercise

This is a reminder that the Denver Infragard Members Alliance, along with the Colorado Emergency Preparedness Partnership (CEPP), and the Colorado Division of Emergency Management will be hosting a "Facilitated Exercise" on April 16, 2009. From 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon, at the Westminster Public Safety Center, 9110 Yates Street, Westminster, Co. 80031.

Registration starts at 8:30 a.m., Meeting concludes at 12 noon.

Please RSVP to denver@infragard.org by April 10, 2009.

Purpose: The purpose for this exercise is to build better partnerships between the private and public sector for a more coordinated approach to emergency preparedness, critical infrastructure, and disaster response.
(Please click here for additional details)

Fire & Life Safety Educators Conference of the Rockies

The 2009 conference will be April 22 - 24, 2009 at Winter Park Mountain Lodge in Winter Park, CO. Registration information will be available in January 2009. Registration rates will be $225 per person before March 25, 2009 and $275 per person after March 25, 2009. Agencies that pay for two registrations will receive a third registration for free to invite anyone that they wish. Room rates at the Winter Park Mountain Lodge will be $70 per night with either single or double occupancy. These rates are good through the weekend if you should decide to extend your stay.

Re-start of the Homeland Defense Equipment Reuse Program

The Homeland Defense Equipment Reuse (HDER) Program is managed by the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Its purpose is to deploy emergency response equipment no longer needed by the federal government to local emergency response organizations at no cost to the recipient. The program was inactive for approximately 18 months and was restarted in March.

Through the HDER program, responder agencies across the nation now have access to a substantial inventory of radiological detection instrumentation and other equipment that is no longer required by the Federal government. This equipment is rehabilitated and provided at no cost to the recipient.

Training on the use of the equipment is available to the emergency responders through G&T’s Domestic Preparedness Equipment Technical Assistance Program (DPETAP). This program assists responders in the proper operation and maintenance of their radiological, chemical, and biological detection and response equipment by providing detailed technical information and hands-on equipment operation and maintenance training.

Click here for ht HDER program factsheet.

Click here for more information.

The Governor's Office of Homeland Security (GOHS) is the point-of-contact for the program in Colorado. For additional information, contact GOHS at 720-852-6602

Basic Public Information Officer (PIO) Course G-290
June 1-2, 2009
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily
Hosted by: Grand County Office of Emergency Management
Grand Fire Protection District
60500 US Hwy 40
Granby , CO 80446

The two day course is intended for new or less experienced public information officers (PIO’s). The emphasis is on the basic skills and knowledge needed for emergency management public information activities.

Register: http://dola.colorado.gov/dem/. Click on Training and complete the 75-5 EZ Form. This course is first come, first served.

Target Audience: Potential Emergency Management and Response Public Information Professionals

Recommended Prerequisites: NIMS IS 700, IS 800, ICS 100

For more information contact: Robyn Knappe: 720-852-6617

Request For Comments on Cap for Emergency Alert System

FEMA is urging emergency management industries, state and tribal leaders and first responders across the country to review and comment on the open standardization process for the Emergency Alert System (EAS) Profile for the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) Version 1.1 OASIS Standard. The EAS profile is a component of the agency’s Integrated Public Alert and Warnings System (IPAWS) program.

Click here for more information.

Thought for the Day

"How would you like a job where every time you make a mistake,
a big red light goes on and 18,000 people boo?"

~Jacques Plante (1929-1986)
Hockey player