Who We Are

The Northwest All-Hazard Emergency Management Region (NWAHEMR) is one of the nine Regions within Colorado. The primary funding source for the program is the Homeland Security Grant Fund (SHGP). The SHGP grant fund’s purpose is to allow the NWAHEMR to strengthen the Counties’ ability to prepare for, mitigate the impacts of, respond to, and recover from a disaster. After September 11, 2001, FEMA created this grant funding source so all the states could prepare for terrorist attacks, natural weather disasters, and or human-caused incidents. The States were required to establish Regions for distributing grant funds and to enhance regional collaboration. FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security allocate each States SHGP funds to share with the State Regions. NWCCOG acts as the fiscal agent for the grant and employs the Coordinator for the program via contract. A committee provides strategic direction for the program, and votes to approve all projects for funding. The NWAHEMR is an inclusive organization open to bringing in new partners who bring beneficial relationships. Please contact any of the County’s Emergency Managers or the NWAHEMR Coordinator, Deborah Bogan, dbogan@nwccog.org, with questions, additional information, and how to get involved in NWAHEMR activities.

Click to view a larger image of our service area.

Deborah Bogan

Coordinator
 Deborah Bogan is a finance and policy professional and has served in the public sector in the areas of financial resource management and strategic policy development. She has lived in Colorado since 2013, and after experiencing the 2013 Big Thompson Flood and the 2020 Cameron Peak fire, has become increasingly interested in Emergency Management. As...
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Success Story

Salamander Credentialing System

One example of grant purchased equipment used by every County is the Salamander Credentialing System which they share in massive disasters. The Salamander is a card ID system which can print new cards on site, and is used to track the location of personnel and equipment in real time. It keeps records of on-scene usage,…

Functional Areas

There are numerous functional disciplines within the region. Effective integration of functional areas is accomplished through a collaborative, multi-functional approach to planning and analysis and in training and exercise. Examples of the Functional Groups include and are not intended to exclude any group not named:
  • Animal Control
  • Communication
  • Coroners
  • Emergency Management
  • Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
  • Fire Service
  • Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
  • Governmental Administration
  • Hazardous Materials Teams
  • Health Care
  • Information Technology (IT)
  • Law Enforcement
  • Public Health
  • Public Works (Road and Bridge)
Throughout the region, the counties, cities and towns have different governing structures. There are organizations and committees throughout the region that work in an integrated, collaborative method with local emergency management:
  • CSU extension office
  • Colorado Red Cross Chapters
  • NWCCOG
The NWAHEMR region also works in collaboration with Colorado Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) and the Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC). Below are links to the Colorado Official Website Portal:
  • DHSEM
  • HSAC