Colorado DEM Information Report
Centennial, Colorado February 22, 2008 Contact: Polly White 720-852-6630
Regional
Animal
AgroSecurity
Conference
May 21-22, 2008
Holiday Inn
Denver International Airport
&
John Q. Hammons Convention Center
An animal disease outbreak, especially one
involving an emerging or foreign animal
disease, creates devastating effects not only
upon producers affected but the industry as a
whole and the general population as well as
local, national and international economies.
Effects are obvious when tens of thousands of
animals are involved but can also occur from a
single case on an isolated premises.
Extension professionals can play a very
significant role in preparing their state,
counties, communities and individuals to
prevent, protect, respond to and recover from
adverse events. What current efforts are being
undertaken and what methods are proving
successful in enhancing preparedness?
Any disaster presents a multitude of challenges that result in far reaching impacts into all sectors of a community. What animal diseases, among many, truly are a risk? One of these, avian influenza, affords a model to address impacts not only upon livestock production but also upon human health and subsequent community challenges that must be addressed.
Our ultimate goal should be to prevent a disaster or at least mitigate its effects. This requires a mindset change from ‘it won’t happen to me’ to understanding risks, collaborate with others to gain and share information, assess vulnerability, establish protective measures and participate in broader based protective programs.
Click here for the flyer & registration for this conference.
CDC Releases State-By-State Public Health Report
On Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Coordinating Office for Terrorism Preparedness and Emergency Response released a state-by-state report on public health emergency preparedness. The report, Public Health Preparedness: Mobilizing State by State, outlines the progress made in public health emergency preparedness since 2001, including improvements in data collection and information sharing, additional planning and exercises, and an influx in the number of epidemiologists in public health departments working in emergency response.
The report also identifies some of the current challenges to public health preparedness including the need for expanded interoperable communications, the need for public health departments to sustain a system of all-hazards planning and training, and the need to strengthen disease surveillance systems and increase the use of advanced testing technologies. Additional information on this report and supporting materials may be found here: http://www.bt.cdc.gov/publications/feb08phprep/.
General Professional III - Finance Officer - CDEM
Salary: $3728-$5376/mo. .... Apply By: March 5, 2008
This position in the Finance/Administration section will assist with financial reporting for the division utilizing Excel macros, Access queries, and the Colorado Financial Reporting System (COFRS); performing frequent expenditure monitoring and status review; monthly budget/expenditure reconciliations, as well as monthly COFRS/Oracle reconciliation. The position will constantly monitor the status of all open division grants and ensure timely action throughout the grant and closeout process. In addition, the position will prepare for, coordinate and conduct monitoring visits with DEM grantees. Grant monitoring includes: review of past records and identification of issues; on-site review and analysis of grantees' financial records; identification of possible findings and recommendations; and presenting monitoring reports.
Position will provide financial support of the mitigation/recovery section by reviewing reimbursement requests, working with subgrantees to create reports, maintaining program files, and contacting subgrantees for additional information as needed. In addition, position will coordinate Emergency Management Assistance Compact reimbursement and collection process, and train to serve as the backup to the section Chief.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Qualified applicants must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in finance, accounting or a related field and two years professional experience in financial analysis, accounting, auditing or grants monitoring/management. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: The preferred candidate will have previous COFRS experience. NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENT: Must possess and maintain a valid Colorado driver's license. SUBSTITUTION: Professional work experience in financial analysis, accounting, auditing or grants monitoring/management which provided the same kind, amount and level of knowledge acquired in the required education may be substituted on a year-for year basis for the bachelor's degree. NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENT: Financial background check required.
How To Apply: Submit your completed State of Colorado Employment Application for Announced Vacancies and a current resume directly to the Department of Local Affairs, Human Resources Office, 1313 Sherman Street, Room #315, Denver, CO 80203, or fax 303-866-2251, by 5:00 p.m. on the announcement closing date. If your application and resume are not received by the closing date of this announcement, you will not be considered for this position. If you have any questions, please call (303) 866-5884 or email susie.esparza@state.co.us. For full job announcement including application, Appeal Rights and Important Information About Your Application please go to our employment website at http://dola.colorado.gov/employment.html .
Emergency Preparedness for Children with Special Needs
The Center for Children with Special Needs—a program of The Children's Hospital and Regional
Medical Center in Seattle, Washington—has established web page on Emergency Preparedness for
Children with Special Needs. Check it out at:
http://www.cshcn.org/resources/EmergencyPreparedness.cfm
This tutorial allows CERT-trained individuals to review and refresh their skills in sizeup and search and rescue techniques. Teams can use the tutorial as a group refresher activity. Those who are not yet CERT members can also use the tutorial for background on the CERT basic training.
At the end of this tutorial, you will have applied your CERT training to:
FEMA Requests Applicants for the National Advisory Council
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is requesting individuals who are interested in serving on the National Advisory Council (NAC) to apply for appointment. Current Council members, whose (one) 1 year terms end in June, 2008, are also encouraged to apply. All future appointments will be for three-year terms.
The NAC was established to ensure effective and ongoing coordination of Federal preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation for natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters. The NAC assists FEMA in carrying out its missions by providing advice and recommendations in the development and revision of the national preparedness goal, the national preparedness system, the National Integration Management System, the National Response Framework, and other related plans and strategies.
The Council consists of thirty three members, all of whom are experts and leaders in their respective fields. The following discipline areas for the one (1) year expiring terms will be open for applications and nominations: emergency management, emergency response, health scientist, standards setting, infrastructure protection, communications, disabilities, local government official (non-elected), and tribal elected official.
Individuals seeking to be considered for an appointment on the Council should submit a resume or CV detailing their experience in the arena of emergency management and related fields, along with letters of recommendation. Resumes must be received on or before 5:00 pm EST on Friday, March 14, 2008, and sent to Alyson Price via one of the following outlets:
Mail: Alyson Price
Designated Federal Officer
FEMA, National Advisory Council
500 C Street, SW
Washington, DC 20472
Email: alyson.price@dhs.gov
Fax: (202) 646-3347
Some select members will be appointed as Special Government Employees (SGE) focused on the following discipline areas: health scientist, infrastructure protection and communications. Interested applicants are required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) which can be found on the Office of Government Ethics website, www.oge.gov.
The development of the National Advisory Council was set into motion by the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 and held its first inaugural meeting October 22-23, 2007.
Dues for 2008 membership for the Colorado Emergency Management Association (CEMA) became due at the first of the year. Many have already sent yours' in or are submitting with your Colorado Governor's Emergency Management Conference fees. If you have not yet submitted your 2008 membership dues, please go to the CEMA website, print out and complete the application, and mail in it with your payment.
If you're not sure if you have paid for 2008, please contact Polly White.
Thought for the Day
"No one has a finer command of language than the person who keeps his mouth shut."
~ Sam Rayburn, Texas legislator, congressman, and
longtime speaker of the United States House of Representatives
(1882 - 1961)