Southeast Colorado Blizzard Response Case Study

CHALLENGES Federal Team Called Out by a State in January Gerald Ford Holiday Change Over of State Government Large Geographic Area

Southeast Blizzard Response Organization EOC (MAC) Type II IMT Support Branch Roads (CDOT) Hay CONG DOW Intelligence Branch (Liaison) BACA Kiowa/Crowley Bent/Otero/Prowers Huerfano/Las Animas Air Ops Branch CONG Civil Air Patrol Baca Branch Type III IMT (Smith)

State EOC (MAC) CONG State Health Department DOW FEMA IMT CDOT BLM JIC

Lessons Learned Need to Establish Long-Term Pre-Incident Agreements with Federal Land Management Agencies. The Team Liaison Officer assigned to EOC proved vital. The early establishment of Joint Information Center (JIC) was critical. Establishing the MAC Group at the EOC worked well.

Lessons Learned The utilization and flexibility of the Incident Command System (ICS) works. Single Point Ordering (SPO) from the EOC provided accountability since the incident was on a budget. The ICP was established at Lamar and became known inappropriately as Area Command.

Lessons Learned The ordering of a Type II Team was a prudent and the most appropriate action. The development and support of Type III Teams is working. Having diverse (local, state, federal) expertise on all IMT’s is important. Take advantage of the incident to provide training.