Dear Boulder County Residents,

Being prepared for and responding to disasters in Boulder County is an important part of the Sheriff’s Office’s commitment to keeping our residents and visitors safe. We are fortunate to have a highly skilled and dedicated team at ODM who are constantly working to improve our capabilities in anticipation of our next disaster.

Over the course of my career, I have worked fires, floods and weather events in Boulder County and had the opportunity to be involved in the work at the ODM Emergency Operations Center. I have also been directly impacted by disaster and understand the need for our community to be prepared and able to respond when there is a threat to our safety. Please review all the resources on the ODM website, sign up for emergency alerts and make a plan with your family and friends. If you must evacuate, know what you want to take and where to go.

Our whole community approach to disaster management takes into consideration the diversity of our community members and will help set the community up for a faster recovery.

Sheriff Curtis Johnson, Boulder County

Dear Boulder County Residents,

Stephen Redfearn was appointed Chief of Police for the Boulder Police Department in September 2024, after serving as Interim Chief since January of that year. He originally joined the department in 2021 as Deputy Chief of Operations. With more than 23 years of law enforcement experience in Boulder, Aurora, and Jefferson County, Chief Redfearn brings a deep commitment to community trust, organizational leadership, and operational excellence.

Since becoming Chief, he has launched several key initiatives to strengthen public safety and community partnerships. He developed multiple new police community liaison roles, instituted a faith leaders working group, re-established the Boulder Police Community Academy, and implemented programs such as the Blue Envelope initiative, the Autism decal program, and the Spanish-language traffic stop form to enhance inclusivity and accessibility. Chief Redfearn also helped establish the Boulder Police Foundation, rebuilt the department’s K9 Unit, and instituted over a dozen community dashboards to promote transparency, including dashboards on police stop data and uses of force. In 2025, he led the department’s response to the June 1st terrorist attack in Boulder, demonstrating steady leadership during crisis. He was also part of the team that helped secure Boulder as the host city for the 2027 Sundance Film Festival, a major community milestone.

Chief Redfearn began his career in policing as a Police Cadet with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, where he later worked as a 911 dispatcher during the Columbine High School mass shooting. He went on to serve two decades with the Aurora Police Department, rising through the ranks from Patrol Officer to Division Chief. As Division Chief of Operations, he oversaw more than 400 employees across patrol operations, SWAT, district detectives, and the field training program. Over his career, he has supervised units including Vice and Narcotics, Major Investigations, Homicide, and the East Metro Auto Theft Team, as well as commanding Aurora’s busiest and most diverse police district. In 2012, then-Sergeant Redfearn took a leadership role during the Century 16 Theatre mass shooting response, coordinating triage, victim transport, and the apprehension of the shooter.

A subject matter expert in line-of-duty death response and preparedness, mass violence prevention and response, and officer wellness, Chief Redfearn regularly trains and consults with law enforcement agencies nationwide. He has presented at the FBI National Academy, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), the National Homicide Investigators Association, the Los Angeles Police Department, and the International Association of Chiefs of Police, among many others.

Chief Redfearn holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Sociology from Metropolitan State University and a Master of Science degree in Organizational Leadership from Colorado State University. He has also completed executive training programs including the Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP), Leadership in Police Organizations (LPO), the University of Denver Daniels College of Business Public Safety Leadership Development Program, and the Harvard Kennedy School’s Senior Executives in State and Local Government program. In 2025, he was accepted into the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Executive Leadership Program at the Naval Postgraduate School.

In recognition of his leadership, Chief Redfearn was awarded the City of Boulder Values Award for Integrity in 2024.

Beyond his professional role, Chief Redfearn serves as President of the Colorado Fallen Hero Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring fallen officers and supporting their survivors. He also serves as a subject matter expert for the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police legislative committee and consults with the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Crime Victims on mass violence prevention.

Throughout his career, Chief Redfearn has been guided by the belief that effective policing requires integrity, collaboration, and compassion, and he remains dedicated to ensuring a safe and thriving community in Boulder.

Chief Stephen Redfearn, Boulder Police

Dear Boulder County Residents,

Effective disaster response is a collective effort. It begins with actions taken by each individual before disaster strikes. This guide provides information to help you survive a disaster.

Let me assure you that the Boulder Fire Department is committed to providing an effective disaster response, but we are limited in what we can do. No local agency or combination of agencies has the resources necessary to rescue every potential victim in a disaster. You are your first and best line of defense. You can take charge of your safety. Emergency preparedness is everyone’s responsibility.

The materials found at boulderoem.com provide important information regarding emergency preparedness. As Fire Chief, I urge you to take the time to review the material in this guide and put together a plan to allow you and your loved ones to remain safe during a disaster. A rescue avoided through proper planning is always better than a rescue properly executed in the field. An informed and prepared community makes everyone safer and more secure. It allows emergency responders to devote time and effort to those people truly unable to help themselves. Preparedness and individual planning have repeatedly proven to be effective in times of disaster. Please take the time to review the material and help us help you in the event the unthinkable happens. Together we can make a difference before disaster strikes.

Chief Mike Calderazzo, Boulder Fire-Rescue

Dear Boulder County Residents,

When disasters strike, local government agencies are the first to respond. Here in Boulder County, our natural environment of mountains adjacent to the plains means we unfortunately experience floods, fires, and other severe weather events. Being able to respond effectively during times of disaster is a core mission of local government, and I have a lot of gratitude for the first responders who work quickly and diligently to save lives and protect property whenever disasters occur.

As a community, there are many things we can do before a disaster occurs to make sure we’re prepared. The Boulder Office of Disaster Management is a partnership between Boulder County and the City of Boulder to ensure resources are available to help our community mitigate, prepare for, and respond to disasters. ODM works in partnership with state and federal agencies as well as local municipalities, organizations, community groups, and businesses to coordinate disaster management activities throughout the region.

As much as we all enjoy the beautiful local landscape, each resident of Boulder County has a role to play in disaster preparation. Please use the information provided by ODM to ensure you and your family are ready to act in the event of a disaster. Beyond this simple request, please consider what more you can do to support our community. Make plans with loved ones, friends and neighbors, especially those who are most vulnerable, such as people who have disabilities, don’t speak English, or face other barriers to accessing important public safety services. Consider volunteering to help with disaster preparedness if you have the capacity. Working together, we all can take action to help build resiliency throughout our community.

Jana Petersen, Boulder County Administrator

Dear Boulder County Residents,

Nuria Rivera-Vandermyde joined the City of Boulder in 2021 and currently serves as the City Manager.

Rivera-Vandermyde has been a local government leader since 2013 when she was hired by the City of Minneapolis, Minn., as the director of regulatory services.  She progressed to the roles of deputy city coordinator and city coordinator within that time. In 2019, she moved to Austin to take on a deputy city manager role. Rivera-Vandermyde received her Juris Doctor degree from New York University School of Law and her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and English from Amherst College.

Nuria Rivera-Vandermyde, City of Boulder Manager