American Red Cross New Volunteer Orientation
 
Tomorrow, Wed. Sept. 6, 2017
5:00-6:00 PM
Northern Colorado Chapter Office
120 Saturn Drive, Fort Collins

Take this first step in becoming a Red Cross volunteer, ready to deploy to Texas or Louisiana to support Harvey Disaster Assistance.  

Get the information you need to decide if you are ready to respond to the growing need for shelter and support volunteers.

What you will learn:

• What Colorado Red Cross volunteers are doing now in Texas and Louisiana
• What Red Cross' plan is for the coming weeks/months to respond to the needs
• How to start your application and screening process
• When training will occur to prepare you to deploy
• What supports Red Cross offers to its volunteers 

Questions? Email Jason Godinez or Shelby Hinze.  

Can't make tomorrow's meeting?  These orientations will be repeated every Wednesday through September.  ​

RSVP TODAY: 
How to Prepare for Everything
Monday, August 14
2:00 - 5:00 PM

LDS Church-Big Thompson Ward
3800 Mountain Lion Drive, Loveland, 80537
 

Empowering you to Face Disruption with your Community, and to Feel Good about the Future.
 
We prepare better when we prepare together. The public is invited to join us to learn a simple, step-by-step method to empower yourself, your family, community, church, school, and neighbors to prepare for any disaster, disruption, emergency, adventure, or life's ups and downs.

Learn and share with peers how to prepare for disruptions, not disasters. By preparing for a few  disruptions, you will prepare for any disaster.

About the Presenter- Aaron Titus
Aaron Titus is a Colorado VOAD representative for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and President of Mountain West VOAD. He has coordinated 30,000+ volunteers during disaster responses, created an open source collaborative work order system that has helped more 27,000 families in 66 disasters, and regularly presented to emergency professionals around the country about emergency preparedness and response.

Questions about this training?  Want to schedule one for your own community?  Contact Aaron at aaron@crisiscleanup.org
 

October 22, 2016, 1 to 3:30 p.m.
Drake Center - 802 W Drake, Fort Collins, CO 80526

​If you were the mayor of your town, how would you help your citizens recovery from a major tornado?

How could you verify post-disaster information posted on social media was accurate?

​If you had only 10 minutes to evacuate your home, which items would you grab?

The Whole Community Disaster Simulation is a fun, hands-on role-playing activity that addresses these and many more questions. Through guided roleplaying and facilitation, participants dive into the challenges facing individuals, communities and emergency managers after a major disaster.

This simulation is a FREE event hosted by Larimer County VOAD, Volunteers of America, American Red Cross and other local agencies.  This unique award winning program is being presented by Ready Montana through a grant from FEMA. 

During this 2.5 hour session participants receive a role to play - whether it be as a first responder, a nonprofit director, a city council-person, a media rep., a victim, etc. - and together participants work to engage and solve the proposed problem with the greatest efficiency. The time will consist of 30 minutes of briefing and receiving roles, 1 hour of active simulation, and 1 hour of debrief, review, and planning for future disasters. 

This is a fun and informative way to become more aware and better prepared to handle disaster events that affect our community. No prior knowledge of disasters or emergency management is needed. All you need to do is click on the link below to reserve your space. Spaces are limited.

If you would like to host a similar event in your own agency, please join us in the morning of 10/22 at the Drake Center for a special "Train the Trainer" session. This will be held from 9:30 - noon and you can learn how to create your own simulation from the award-winning developers of this program. Click HERE to reserve your space for the Train the Trainer session. 
​
Ages: 12 and up

CLICK HERE TO RESERVE YOUR SPACE FOR THE 10/22 DISASTER SIMULATION (each person attending needs to register) 

Join us for this very informative and important meeting where we will learn from several key presenters about key online websites and tools for your organization. 

• Learn what is available to help your organization meet community unmet needs after disaster. 
• Discover lessons learned from past disasters. 
• Discuss possible best practices for putting these tools into action on future disasters.

FEATURED PRESENTER:
Aaron Titus, Vision Link 
Aaron Titus will demo the brand new recently launched version of Crisis Cleanup. Crisis Cleanup empowers relief organizations to instantly coordinate response efforts in real time, redirecting thousands of volunteers from to waiting lines to survivors' basements.

Crisis Cleanup was developed by and for field volunteers, team leaders, canvassers, and the people who work one-on-one with survivors whose homes have been affected by flood, tornadoes, earthquakes, wind, fire, or other disaster. Crisis Cleanup can respond to a new disaster the same day, permitting relief organizations to instantly coordinate efforts.
 
FEATURED PRESENTER:
Michael Mersman, 2-1-1 (United Way of Larimer County)
Michael Mersman will discuss all of the capabilities of 2-1-1 including their online database. 2-1-1 is a free, confidential, multilingual service that refers callers to non-emergency health and human services.

2-1-1 Colorado employs trained information and referral specialists who assist individuals and families that are seeking answers regarding community services in times of need.
 
FEATURED PRESENTERS:
Cathy King, American Red Cross
Mark Jones, American Red Cross

Mark and Cathy will show you how to use online tools developed by the American Red Cross.... Safe and Well and Ready Rating.

Ready Rating is a program that helps businesses, schools and organizations become prepared for disasters and other emergencies. All in one place, Ready Rating members have access to one-of-a-kind tools, resources and information for evaluating and improving their ability to withstand disaster, maintain operations, and protect lives and property. Whether you are taking your first steps or have a full emergency management program, the Ready Rating program can help you achieve a higher level of preparedness.

Safe and Well: After a disaster, letting your family and friends know that you are safe and well can bring your loved ones great peace of mind. This website is designed to help make that communication easier.  

MEETING LOCATION / TIME:

2500 Rocky Mountain Ave, Loveland, CO 80538
Medical Center of the Rockies
Longs Peak Conference/Media Room (basement level)

There is a cafeteria across the hall so feel free to stop by 
earlier and have lunch. 

April 11, 2016
2:00 PM - 4:00PM

Please RSVP to Laura@larimerLTRG.org 

Push Notifications to Remind Users to Take Simple Steps to Prepare for Disasters, Provide Easy Access to Information on How to Be Ready for Fires, Severe Weather, and other Hazards


WASHINGTON – Today, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) launched a new feature to its free smartphone app that will enable users to receive push notifications to their devices to remind them to take important steps to prepare their homes and families for disasters. The reminder feature allows users to receive pre-scheduled safety and preparedness tips, including testing smoking alarms, practicing a fire escape plan, updating emergency kits and replacing smoke alarm batteries.
“Our lives are increasingly busy and on-the-go,” said Deputy Administrator of Protection and National Preparedness Tim Manning. “Today, we turn to mobile devices and technology to help us stay more organized and connected. This new feature to FEMA’s app will make it easier for families to remember to take potentially life-saving actions that we all should be thinking about more often.” 
“In just two minutes, a home fire can become life-threatening,” said U.S. Fire Administrator Ernest Mitchell Jr. “Remembering to take small steps to prepare, such as ensuring your smoke alarm is properly maintained and practicing your home fire escape plan, will reduce fire fatalities and ensure our communities are safer. We hope this new feature to FEMA’s app will help save lives by encouraging more families to be prepared.”
The new reminder feature builds upon several innovative tools already built into the app.  In addition to push notifications, the app also provides a customizable checklist of emergency supplies, maps of open shelters and open recovery centers, and tips on how to survive natural and manmade disasters. The FEMA app also offers a feature that enables users to receive push notifications of weather alerts from the National Weather Service for up to five locations across the nation.
Some other key features of the app include:

• Weather Alerts: Users can elect to receive alerts on severe weather happening in specific areas they select, even if the phone is not located in the area, making it easy to follow severe weather that may be threatening family and friends.
• Safety Tips: Tips on how to stay safe before, during, and after over 20 types of hazards, including floods, hurricanes, tornadoes and earthquakes.
• Disaster Reporter: Users can upload and share disaster-related photos.
• Maps of Disaster Resources: Users can locate and receive driving directions to open shelters and disaster recovery centers.
• Apply for Assistance: The app provides easy access to apply for federal disaster assistance.
• Information in Spanish: The app defaults to Spanish-language content for smartphones that have Spanish set as their default language.

The latest version of the FEMA app is available for free in the App Store for Apple devices and Google Play for Android devices.  Users who already have the app downloaded on their device should download the latest update for the reminder alerts feature to take effect. The reminders are available in English and Spanish and are located in the “Prepare” section of the FEMA App.
To learn more, visit: The FEMA App: Helping Your Family Weather the Storm.

If you haven't registered for the Spiritual and Emotional Care in Disasters Summit and If you are intending to register, we ask that you proceed as the " Breakout Choices" are filling and you will insure your choice by taking action today!
The April 20th, 2016 deadline is fast approaching. To register go to:
http://search.guestdesk.com/reservations/GlenEyrie/search/16726.   

The cost for the conference is $60 for two days.  The flier for the event is attached as is the agenda.

When you register for the  Spiritual and Emotional Care Summit  your confirmation email will ask you to select the afternoon breakout sessions for each day. Breakout sessions will be held in the afternoons of both days.These options are outlined in the attached agenda.  You will note that the afternoon breakout sessions on both days will have an option of two hour and a half presentations or a single four hour presentation. Plenary sessions on Tuesday, May 24 and Wednesday, May 25 will be held from 8:30-11:30.  Attendees must register in advance for breakout sessions. 

If you have questions or concerns please call or email me:

We look forward to seeing you on May 24/25 at Glen Eyrie

Contact: 
Nancy Gorsich Bracken
Chairperson COSCRVOAD
coscrvoad@gmail.com
415-317-2525 cell/text

March 23, 2016 - 1:00 PM
 
The Larimer VOAD is monitoring this latest spring storm and is working closely with local communities and Larimer County Office of Emergency Management. There are no activations at this time. This update is purely to share information.

Road conditions are treacherous and have deteriorated in the last few hours.

Please stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary!

To get latest weather updates please CLICK HERE to visit the National Weather Service website. 

JUST IN: Denver International Airport closed until further notice; 730+ flights canceled CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO

How will you communicate with staff, volunteers, family, clients,
and the Emergency Operations Center? 
 
How will you coordinate your activities with other organizations
to meet the community's needs?
 
Lori Hodges, Director of Emergency Management - Larimer County, will discuss how the Emergency Operations Center manages the community's response to a disaster and the role of VOAD organizations in the response and recovery effort. This brief presentation will be followed by a table-top exercise that will help participants evaluate and improve their organizations' emergency communications plans.

This exercise provides VOAD meeting participants an opportunity to evaluate current company or agency response concepts, plans, and capabilities in the event of a major earthquake in Larimer County region that would include disruption of 
utilities and transportation. 
 
The exercise will focus on VOAD members' ability to communicate effectively in order to respond meet the needs of county residents in the days and weeks following a disaster. It will also serve as a guide for each agency to evaluate their current strengths, weaknesses and opportunities for improvement.

Facilitated by: 
Lori Hodges
Director of Emergency Management and Recovery - Larimer County
 
2501 Midpoint Dr. Fort Collins, CO 
Sheriff's Administration Building, East Training Room 

January 11th, 2015
2:00 PM - 4:00PM

Please RSVP to Laura@larimerLTRG.org so that we can make sure we have enough seats and handouts for everyone.


IMPORTANT UPDATE: The Larimer VOAD Executive Team will continue to meet monthly but we've decided to change our General Membership Meeting schedule. Meetings will now be held quarterly on the 2nd Monday of the first month of the quarter. The first 2016 meeting will be held on January 11th. The next meeting will be held on April 11th. Reminder notices will be sent out in advance of upcoming meetings. Please save these dates in your calendar.