The Strategic Communications team provides public information, crisis communication and social media support to the Colorado DHSEM. A public information officer is available 24/7 for media requests. The public information can be contacted by email or by calling 720-432-2433.
Information Topics
- DHSEM Reports
- CORA & Information Requests
- Colorado Virtual Operations Support Team (COVOST)
- Educational Messages
- Internships
- Public Notices
- Social Media & Website Guidelines
- Press Release Archives
Strategic Communications Director
Micki Trost is the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) Strategic Communications Director/ Public Information Officer (PIO). She is based in the Centennial DHSEM Office. She joined the State of Colorado in November 2011 as the division's PIO. Trost also acts as the lead public information officer in the Colorado State Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
Trost has worked numerous Colorado incidents in the State EOC, in the field and in local incident command posts. Incident support by Trost includes wildfires [High Park Fire, Waldo Canyon Fire, Cameron Peak, East Troublesome and Marshall fires], numerous flooding disasters including the 2013 multi-county flood disaster, Aurora Theater Shooting, King Soopers Mass Shooting in Boulder, several cyber attacks, COVID-19 State Joint Information Center, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), elections and several civil unrest events. She also led the Colorado Virtual Operations Support Team during the 2015 Planned Parenthood Shooting in Colorado Springs.
Trost currently works as a part-time public information officer for South Metro Fire Rescue providing social media and media updates through photos, videos, interviews and through social media channels.
Prior to joining DHSEM, Trost was a Public Information Officer and Life Safety Educator for nine years at West Metro Fire Protection District in Jefferson County, Colorado. In this role, Trost responded to large-scale all-hazards incidents and provided media/community relations, victim assistance and incident documentation through photography and videography. In addition, Trost lead life safety programs focused on fire safety and injury prevention.
Trost has been an active member of the Emergency Services Public Information Officers of Colorado (ESPIOC) for the past 20 years and is a current board member. She was awarded the ESPIOC 2014 Public Information Officer of the Year. In 2010, Trost was awarded the Shriner’s Hero Award for assistance to fire victims.
Education and Credentials
- M.A., (security studies), Naval Postgraduate School, 2017
- B.A., cum laude, (communications) Regis University, 1994
- Master PIO, FBI-LEEDA, 2023
- Master PIO, FEMA, 2018
- Advanced PIO, FEMA, 2005
- Advanced Professional Series, FEMA, 2013
- All Hazards Public Information Officer, FEMA & NWCG, 2013