Purpose
The purpose of this activity is to learn about how your community can support the State’s emergency declaration process.
Why?
In larger disasters, when long-term recovery capacity is exceeded, state and/or federal resources may be required and communities should be prepared to engage with the State to better facilitate this assistance. Only the Governor can request Federal disaster assistance through FEMA, but disaster-impacted local governments can support this request in several ways. For more information see, FEMA’s How a Disaster Gets Declared. In consultation with the State OEM Director, the Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Public Safety (CDPS), and/or the Governor’s staff, the Director of DHSEM will determine what the State can and will do to provide response and recovery support, including through the deployment of the Colorado National Guard. If assistance is provided, your community will need to work directly with the State, which then works with the Federal Government.
When?
During the initial days of the disaster event. (Days 1-30)
Tips
- Municipalities and counties can prepare their state counterparts for a possible future request for assistance by transmitting an emergency or disaster declaration to the State Emergency Operations Line (303-279-8855) as early as possible.
- There are differences between a municipal and county declaration in Colorado. If a municipality declares an emergency or disaster but the county does not meet declaration thresholds, the county helps the impacted municipality to make a declaration to the state, but if the county does meet necessary thresholds, the county should provide a coordinated declaration between all impacted local governments in the county.
How does my community do this?
- Transmit the local disaster or emergency declaration to the Colorado DHSEM by calling the State Emergency Operations Line (303-279-8855). State and Federal disaster assistance is always provided in support of and at the request of the local government. As such, disaster impacted governments need to keep state and federal counterparts informed as early and accurately as possible.
- Establish communications with the State EOC. Local recovery stakeholders establish and maintain communication and coordination with their relevant counterparts in the State EOC.
- Request state guidance and support to ensure assessment information meets state recovery assistance information requirements. Proactively coordinating with the State before collecting assessment information or transmitting that information will help make the process more seamless. For more information, see the Colorado State Emergency Operations Plan.
- Update the State EOC with new assessment information as it becomes available. Local recovery stakeholders also support state operations by participating in damage assessments, especially where recovery is concerned, and provide updates as new assessment information becomes available.