Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program

FY2023 Alert & Notification: CSEPP funded the procurement of mobile signboards which will alert motorists to hazardous conditions in the Pueblo Community. The FEMA-Pueblo County IPAWS Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is valid through June 2023. In addition to the required monthly tests and notifications associated with the pandemic, Pueblo County launched an IPAWS notification in July 2021 in response to an emergency water shortage in Colorado City. They also conducted a successful demonstration of the alerting system with the national test laboratory during the 2022 CSEPP exercise, with messages in both Spanish and English.
Communications: Interoperability of the digital trunk radio system (purchased through CSEPP) among a range of local response organizations—including the PCD, the City of Pueblo, and Pueblo County. Upgrading mobile and portable radios and accessories for additional community responders, was completed in 2022. CSEPP Kentucky acquired a communications tower from East Kentucky Power, and upgrades and improvements were completed for all CSEPP towers to enhance their capability.
Emergency Operations Center: The emergency operations centers (EOCs) in both CSEPP communities remained activated in 2022 in response to wildfires and windstorms. Backup power and communication systems were successfully implemented for these types of occurrences. System upgrades have enabled broader remote/virtual participation by local, state, and federal partners in EOC planning and response activities. An upgrade to the audio-visual systems in the Pueblo County EOC, JIC, and supporting rooms, encompassing cameras, projectors, sound equipment, and video screens, was completed in 2022 Kentucky Emergency Management replaced its ECIC Dispatch Console at the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) to better support the 24-hour warning point. In addition, KYEM completed a parking lot upgrade, which allowed local, state, federal, nongovernmental organizations, and private sector partners access to the SEOC during the Eastern Kentucky Flood Response. The server farm replacement was also completed, which has enabled KYEM to begin the transition to a cloud-based environment.
Exercise: The Pueblo CSEPP Community Exercise 2022 (PCD EX22) was conducted on May 4, 2022, to demonstrate the emergency response capabilities of the Colorado CSEPP community and to validate the correction of findings identified during past CSEPP exercises. Exercise design and planning were accomplished by U.S. Army and FEMA co-directors and representatives from the PCD, Pueblo County. The 2022 Blue Grass CSEPP Exercise successfully returned to a full-scale event. The CSEPP Health and Safety Plan was followed to ensure evaluators and exercise participants who were onsite practiced established pandemic protocols.
Protective Actions: CSEPP Pueblo County demonstrated AFN capability on how to perform a loop system during an IPT to ensure voice communications were accessible to anyone with a disability. CSEPP Kentucky conducted a table-top exercise (TTX) to exercise the applicability of the regional shelter plan on the CSEPP footprint when American Red Cross resources are depleted and review operational concepts and responsibilities outlined in the plan. Lessons learned will be incorporated into the regional shelter plan and tested in a drill or functional exercise in the future.
Public Outreach: The “Prepare Pueblo” campaign continued in FY 2022 in conjunction with ongoing pandemic response communications. This outreach campaign includes using a website, social media, and paid advertising (theater advertisements and roadside billboards) for public messaging. Social media campaigns were conducted throughout the year, including during National Preparedness Month.