For information about how to prepare for Colorado specific hazards including wildfires and floods, take a look at the Colorado DHSEM Hazard Information webpage.

Winter Storms and Blizzards

• Every area in Colorado has the potential to be impacted by severe winter weather. Some winter storms are large enough to affect several states, while others affect only a single community.  Winter storms can range from a moderate snow over a few hours to a blizzard that lasts for several days.
• Familiarizing yourself with the terms below may help with what to expect so you can properly prepare.  
  • Winter Weather Advisory ─ Winter weather conditions are expected to cause significant inconveniences and may be hazardous. When caution is used, these situations should not be life threatening.
  • Winter Storm Watch ─ A winter storm is possible in your area. Tune in to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or television for more information.
  • Winter Storm Warning ─ A winter storm is occurring or will soon occur in your area.
  • Blizzard Warning ─ Sustained winds or frequent gusts to 35 miles per hour or greater and considerable amounts of falling or blowing snow (reducing visibility to less than a quarter mile) are expected to prevail for a period of three hours or longer.
  • Frost/Freeze Warning ─ Below freezing temperatures are expected.

The Colorado Access and Functional Needs Program continues to host monthly meetings, and provide trainings upon request. Below is a list of resources to connect with the program, and build your Whole Community's resilience.

Register Now for the 2024 Access and Functional Needs University!

• January 9 - 11 and 23 - 25, 2024

Save the Date: 2024 Access and Functional Needs Conference at Great Wolf Lodge

• April 9 - 11, 2024
• Sponsor and Exhibitor Announcement | View the Flyer

More Resources

• DHSEM Access and Functional Needs Website
• Monthly Access and Functional Needs Meetings
• Access and Functional Needs Training Resources
• COEmergency App Flyer.pdf 
• CMIST Newsletter Resource and Information - Resource Library

Colorado's Access and Functional Needs Program wants to give all Colorado level partners "How to" resources before, during and after disasters an opportunity to identify different ways to support working towards whole community inclusion and applying the Access and Functional Needs Resource Framework using the CMIST Resource Memory Tool to the "Must dos". While it is important to know and understand what must be done, it is more important to know how to accomplish this.

• Cal OES’ The Office of Access and Functional Needs 
  • Released the Access and Functional Needs Library
• Domestic Preparedness Journal
  
  • "National Preparedness Efforts Among Tribal Communities"

As we respond to and support events, CMIST resources are important to share in a timely and organized fashion. In this section, Current Response & Resources are detailed and tracked so that individuals can find and access them quickly. Colorado's Marshall Fire Recovery and important COVID 19 information are just a few of November's response and recovery efforts. 

• FEMA Region VIII
  • Individual Assistance Training Series - Resources
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  
  • Get 4 Free COVID-19 Tests

Planning is an essential part of Emergency Preparedness, and this section contains resources and articles to help support Whole Community Planning for CMIST resources in your area. 

• Domestic Preparedness Journal
  • Volume 19, October 2023
    • "Technology: Can't Live With It, Can't Live Without It."
• Rocky Mountain ADA Center
  • "Collaboration with Law Enforcement/Corrections Should be the Norm, Not the Exception"

This section highlights upcoming trainings and webinars that increase Whole Community Inclusion. It is important to "use it so you don't lose it" as we continue to learn, practice, refresh and/or share so that you do not lose the knowledge and understanding so that it becomes universal. Check out the New Trainings and Webinars to stay up to date on opportunities available! 

• Colorado South Central Healthcare Coalition
  • MGT 418 - Readiness: Training Identification and Preparedness Planning (RTIPP)
    • Dec. 6-7 | 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. MT
    • Teller County Sheriff's Office
    • Registration Flyer with Instructions
      • Register by Nov. 7, 2023
• Arizona Partners in Preparedness
  • Beyond Registries: Better Solutions for People with Disabilities
    • Dec. 6 | 1 p.m. MT
    • Register on Zoom
• New Mexico Tech
  • New Mexico Tech is offering explosives training. The training, your flight, hotel room, rental car, are all paid for by New Mexico Tech. The program is DHS/FEMA funded so there is no cost to you or your department.
    • View the 2024 Training Calendar/Schedule
• FEMA Region II
  • Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Centers
    
    • Nov. 21 | 1 - 2 p.m. MT
    • Register on FEMA's website

It is beneficial to identify and share Partner Updates so that we are not recreating the wheel and duplicating efforts. There are many partners and organizations doing good work that should be spread far and wide! July was a productive month and as we move into August, please use this opportunity to catch up on what our partners are doing and have coming up.

• CDPHE
  • What's the 411? - October 2023
    • Health Disparities and Community Grant Program Request for Proposals
• Colorado Commission for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind (CCDHHDB)
  
  • The Navigator Newsletter - October 2023
• Colorado Governor's Office of Information Technology
  
  • State of Colorado Accessibility Newsletter - October 2023

We have collected information about upcoming and current funding opportunities to share with our partners to help with identifying possible funding sources to support Whole Community Inclusion in Emergency Management.

• Department of Health Care Policy and Finance (HCPF)
  
  • 7.02 Member Emergency Preparedness 
    • With funding made available through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and in collaboration with The Center for Inclusive Design and Engineering (CIDE), we will be distributing Battery Backup Power Supply Systems to eligible Health First Colorado members.
    • If you are interested in getting a Backup Power Supply System, please complete the application.
  • 1.05 Training Fund Grants Open for Individual Direct Care Workers and HCBS Providers
    • HCPF is offering short-term grant funding to incentivize and expand training opportunities for the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) workforce. The grants will fund higher-level skills that will promote greater retention within the HCBS workforce. The maximum award amount per application for direct care workers is $500 and for HCBS providers is $100,000.
    • Visit the grant program information page to get more details and apply today!
• Rural Health Information Hub
  • One-time grants for small nonprofit organizations in Colorado to meet an urgent need that would have an immediate impact on an organization's capacity to serve older adults. Priority will be given to projects that target disabled, low income, rural, ethnic minorities, LGBTQ, and homeless populations.
    • Click here for more information

Check out this month's Career Opportunities if you, or anyone you know might be interested in a career change or advancement! 

Local

• The Independence Center - Colorado Springs
  • Veteran Case Manger
    • $19.00 - $21.00 / hour
  • Home Health Administrative Assistant
    
    • $18 - $21 per hour
  • Advocacy Specialist
    • $23 - $25 per hour
  • More Opportunities Available Here
• Center for People with Disabilities (CWPD)
  • Independent Living Advisor
    • $24 - 27 per hour

State

• Apply for a State of Colorado Job