Colorado Emergency Preparedness: A Regional Approach

Susan Jones-HardEmergency Response Coordinator

Colorado Region VIII RRT Representative

Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment

HSPD or Not HSPD? That is the Question… What roles do Presidential Directives play in

Colorado Emergency Preparedness and Response??

What Does it Mean???? HSPD 5 and 8

can contribute to improved nation-wide approach to preparedness and response.

How will state and local governments be trained, funded, supported and measured for nationwide uniformity?

National Strategy for HS

HSPD 5

HSPD 8

NIMS NRP

Goals, Scenarios, UTL, TCL, Grant Guidance, Prep Guidance

Results

Common Approach to Natl Preparedness

Common Approach to Natl ResponseCommon Approach to Natl Incident Mgmt

HSPDs in Colorado Reformatting

Emergency Plans to conform with the NRP for better emergency response connectivity.

ICS to NIMS… National Strategy to

State Strategy to Grant Applications

Performance Metrics

Regional Approach

Integrated exercises across disciplines. “Nine Counties in Nine Hours” - Oct 19, 2004. Enhanced Evaluation Process. Strengthen medical surge capacity

Prowers County reports 1,000 people in line at 0900Prowers County reports 1,000 people in line at 0900

Counties Involved: Baca Bent Cheyenne Crowley Huerfano Kiowa Las Animas Otero Prowers

Full Scale ExerciseMulti-Disciplinary ApproachMulti-Jurisdictional Area Implementing nine mass clinics

simultaneously (some EOC’s)Vaccinating the public/flu vaccinePandemic Influenza Scenario

Who was involved?

858 Volunteers were recruited and trained 7,965 members of the public were recruited &

vaccinated 37 ARES personnel built a system where

none existed before and provided communication to all facilities

31 Exercise Support Staff (Eval/Cont) 72 Observers 3 radio stations and 11 newspapers

Agencies Involved: EMS and Fire Departments Law Enforcement and OPSFS Elected Officials and local government Hospitals, Public Health and Mental Health Long Term Care Facilities and Social

Services Emergency Management Agencies Private Industry and Media Volunteer Associations & Organizations

Who supported this Exercise?Colorado Department of Public Health

and Environment (Staffing and CDC funds)

Office of Preparedness, Security and Fire Safety (DHS funds)

One Homeland Security/Public Health Region (Nine counties and many local communities and community organizations)

Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES)

What Now?? Are We Prepared?? Activities are underway

but how do the HSPDs contribute? Can they?

Training on key aspects of HSPDs – particularly NRP and NIMS…NOW

Develop uniform performance measures and measure outcomes

Fully Integrated Intergovernmental Collaboration…it’s more than the $$$

Thank You!

Susan Jones-Hard

303-692-3020

susanhard@aol.com