Board approves MOU with Telluride Foundation to coordinate disaster preparedness and response

The Board of County Commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Telluride Foundation Sept. 17 to establish a collaborative partnership on disaster preparedness, immediate relief and long-term recovery, with particular focus on wildfire risk.

Why it matters: The MOU formalizes ways the county and the foundation will cooperate on preparedness planning, public outreach, and the management of philanthropic funds that may support community readiness, immediate relief and recovery in the event of disasters. County and foundation officials said the goal is to align nonprofit and governmental capabilities so local philanthropy can support and supplement emergency management when needed.

What was approved: The MOU outlines mutual roles and responsibilities, including: coordination between county emergency management and the foundation; readiness and outreach projects; funding flow arrangements for community preparedness and short-term disaster relief; and participation in a regional network of community organizations active in disaster (COAD). The board voted to authorize the chair to sign the MOU; the motion carried unanimously.

Next steps: The foundation and county emergency management staff will convene local organizations to participate in coordinated preparedness work and a COAD, and will refine procedures for receiving and managing donated funds in an incident. Commissioners said they appreciated the foundation's outreach capacity and encouraged timely coordination with the county's emergency managers.

Ending: The MOU, which the county attorney reviewed, will remain an operational agreement and does not transfer emergency authority to the foundation; the county retains lead responsibility for emergency operations and incident command.