July 2, 2012
Like many of you, we packed up our “treasures” as residents of the pre-evacuation zone for South Boulder last week. I know that you anxiously looked west for signs of smoke and flames all week as I did. Who would have thought that the sound of the slurry bombers overhead would have been so comforting! This weekend as I unpacked my “treasures” from the car and gratefully hung up the pictures of family in our home again, I could not help but think of the folks in Colorado Springs who have lost everything. The stories have been heartbreaking. If you would like to help immediately , the site to provide immediate assistance to victims is www.helpcoloradonow.org.
The Governor’s office has asked me to serve on the Colorado Fire Relief Fund Board. Our first meeting was last Friday, June 29th and we meet again today. The focus of the Colorado Fire Relief Fund will be on funding intermediate-term needs. Immediate needs are being handled by first responders and by service provides such as the Red Cross.
The good work that The Community Foundation did with the Four Mile Canyon Fire Fund Advisory committee was the prototype for the Colorado Fire Relief Fund’s first discussion about policies and how we should administer relief for the victims and all those impacted by the fire. The Four Mile Fire Fund also focused their grants on funding intermediate needs.
As I reviewed the work that the Four Mile Canyon Fire Advisory Committee did two years ago, I was reminded of what an enormous challenge it was to put these policies in place, and while I regret that we must pull them out again, it will be a good start for statewide planning on how to assist fire victims. My special thanks again to Rich Lopez , Elvira Ramos and all the members of the Boulder Four Mile Fire Fund advisory committee who put so much time into thinking through how to be equitable and timely in reimbursing fire victims.
Speaking of—It’s a good time to make sure you are current on how you are to be notified in case of an emergency. Copy and paste this website to sign up for Boulder County notifications: https://ww2.everbridge.net/citizen/EverbridgeGateway.action?body=home&gis_alias_id=160781. If you live in the City of Boulder, be sure you are signed up here too: http://boulderoem.com/.
The Community Foundation is proud to have been able to step up to assist the victims of our fire and I am glad that we were called on now to use this work for the statewide effort. Thanks again to all of you who were a part of helping us to respond on that first round of devastating fires. In coming weeks, I will keep you posted on the fund distribution to fire victims. Have a safe and cool holiday!
Josie Heath President
