CO Governor Polis, Department of Local Affairs Commemorate the 6th Anniversary of 2013 Floods
DENVER – Colorado has been marked by a record number of natural and human-caused disasters ranging from wildfires and floods, to housing and substance abuse crises, which has disrupted the health, safety and economic stability of communities statewide. Six years ago, Colorado was struck with unprecedented flooding and in return, the Colorado Resilience Office (CRO) was formed to help communities coordinate overarching recovery and resilience activities. The CRO has worked tirelessly with federal partners and state agencies to set priorities, leverage resources, communicate transparently and adapt for our future.
“Colorado has seen our fair share of natural disasters, but each time we have built ourselves back up stronger than before. Our state has become a leader in recovery and resiliency, and is a model for the rest of the country,” said Gov. Jared Polis. “On this anniversary, as we continue to support communities who are still recovering, we want to ensure our local communities are prepared for anything that lies ahead. Colorado’s Resilience Playbook is an important tool in these efforts.”
In August 2019, Governor Jared Polis signed a letter to all Colorado State agency Executive Directors providing guidance for the use of materials and training available giving communities the opportunity to rebound positively, adapt, and thrive.
In his letter, Governor Polis highlighted that recovery from a natural disaster and other disruptions can be a large, complex, and collaborative task. “Colorado’s Resilience Playbook is the result of the Colorado Resiliency Office’s bold efforts and strategic coordination with state agencies and federal partners,” he stated.
The CRO within the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) published the 2019 Colorado Resilience Playbook for state agencies and local governments and launched Resilient Colorado Communities Workshops. Both are resources for communities and regions to address the disruptions and ongoing challenges they face, empowering action to reduce vulnerability, improve adaptability, and build social capital in the face of hazards and changing conditions.
Disaster and resilience resource training needs were identified in research from surveys conducted across Colorado by Deserai Crow, Ph.D., an Associate Professor at the University of Colorado – Denver, School of Public Affairs. “The CRO can support local governments and meet them where they are,” she said.
“With the support of every state agency and local government, Colorado can effectively utilize the Colorado Resilience Playbook to ensure a more sustainable, safe, and resilient future for everyone who calls this state home,” Polis wrote.
For more information and resources available to Colorado communities from the Colorado Resiliency Office, visit www.coresiliency.com