DEL NORTE- During a meeting held by the Rio Grande County Commissioners last month, the board received an update from the new Emergency Manager Nicolle Rosecrans. By Lyndsie Ferrell
DEL NORTE- During a meeting held by the Rio Grande County Commissioners last month, the board received an update from the new Emergency Manager Nicolle Rosecrans. Rosecrans began her position with the county in September and has been busy attending trainings, helping with the emergency situation in Moffat, Colorado and working to build an emergency website for the San Luis Valley.
Rosecrans has spent a considerable amount of time helping the town of Moffat recover from the recent fire that burned an entire city block. Through networking she has partnered with other Valley emergency managers to create San Luis Valley Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (SLV VOAD) for the region.
According to the website, “San Luis Valley Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters is working to build relationships between disaster relief and community organizations throughout the San Luis Valley before we are impacted. Our disaster response systems involve government, nonprofit, and community groups. We believe that acknowledging and strengthening these relationships makes us better able to respond successfully when help is needed.
A VOAD facilitates a coordinated volunteer response to a disaster. Its regular members are nonprofit and/or volunteer organizations. VOAD networks complement the efforts of official emergency response entities by identifying volunteer capabilities within the member organizations. In a disaster, volunteer needs identified by Emergency Managers or response agencies prompt referrals to the VOAD. VOAD member organizations then coordinate volunteer support activities
Being part of a VOAD allows you to better maximize the impact of your volunteers. It helps prevent duplication of efforts among organizations. It helps ensure that community needs are met. And it helps ensure that suggestions, opinions, and concerns from different response and relief organizations are met.”
Rosecrans explained that, “The SLV VOAD helps members and partners to create coordinated, cooperative, collaborative and communicative disaster response and relief. The VOAD facilitates a coordinated volunteer response in a disaster. Regular members are nonprofit volunteer organizations. VOAD work complements the efforts of official emergency response entities. Volunteer capabilities are identified by member organizations.
In a disaster, volunteer needs that are identified by Emergency Managers or response agencies prompt referrals to the VOAD. VOAD member organizations coordinate volunteer support activities. Being part of a VOAD includes being knowledgeable about response plans and being prepared for emergencies.”
The website also includes by-laws, contact information for each county in the Valley and offers advice in the event of an emergency. For more information, visit www.slvvoad.org.Rosecrans began her position with the county in September and has been busy attending trainings, helping with the emergency situation in Moffat, Colorado and working to build an emergency website for the San Luis Valley.
Rosecrans has spent a considerable amount of time helping the town of Moffat recover from the recent fire that burned an entire city block.  Through networking she has partnered with other Valley emergency managers to create San Luis Valley Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (SLV VOAD) for the region.
According to the website,  “San Luis Valley Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters is working to build relationships between disaster relief and community organizations throughout the San Luis Valley before we are impacted. Our disaster response systems involve government, nonprofit, and community groups. We believe that acknowledging and strengthening these relationships makes us better able to respond successfully when help is needed.
A VOAD facilitates a coordinated volunteer response to a disaster. Its regular members are nonprofit and/or volunteer organizations. VOAD networks complement the efforts of official emergency response entities by identifying volunteer capabilities within the member organizations. In a disaster, volunteer needs identified by Emergency Managers or response agencies prompt referrals to the VOAD. VOAD member organizations then coordinate volunteer support activities
Being part of a VOAD allows you to better maximize the impact of your volunteers. It helps prevent duplication of efforts among organizations. It helps ensure that community needs are met. And it helps ensure that suggestions, opinions, and concerns from different response and relief organizations are met.”
Rosecrans explained that, “The SLV VOAD helps members and partners to create coordinated, cooperative, collaborative and communicative disaster response and relief. The VOAD facilitates a coordinated volunteer response in a disaster. Regular members are nonprofit volunteer organizations. VOAD work complements the efforts of official emergency response entities. Volunteer capabilities are identified by member organizations.
In a disaster, volunteer needs that are identified by Emergency Managers or response agencies prompt referrals to the VOAD. VOAD member organizations coordinate volunteer support activities. Being part of a VOAD includes being knowledgeable about response plans and being prepared for emergencies.”
The website also includes by-laws, contact information for each county in the Valley and offers advice in the event of an emergency. For more information, visit www.slvvoad.org.