Recovery and Resiliency Division

Boulder County is known for its natural beauty. Along with the breathtaking scenery comes a harsh truth: the county faces frequent natural disasters. From wildfires to blizzards, flash floods or heat waves, these aren’t just possibilities—they happen regularly. Because the effects of disasters can last for months or even years, the county needs a team that stays focused on recovery and long-term resilience every day, not just during an emergency. The Recovery and Resiliency Division (RRD) serves as that central coordinating point. The division brings together county departments and community partners, supports residents through complex recovery needs, and helps keep efforts organized and aligned from one disaster to the next. This dedicated team strengthens the county’s ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from the impacts of natural hazards.

By linking recovery, mitigation, and preparedness, the Division helps ensure that Boulder County is better positioned to adapt to future hazards and maintain essential services when they matter most. 

“Our mission is to lead equitable and effective disaster recovery by coordinating resources, supporting communities, and strengthening systems that reduce future risk.”

Contribute to the 2027 Boulder County Hazard Mitigation Plan Update

Fire Recovery Links

Flood Recovery Links

RRD Work

Response and Preparedness

During major emergencies, Boulder County agencies and partners work together across jurisdictions to deliver a coordinated response built on years of planning, training, and exercises.

The Boulder County Office of Disaster Management (ODM) leads preparedness and response efforts, including training and exercises, and coordinates countywide activities before and during disasters.

The Recovery and Resiliency Division supports the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) during activations and leads Emergency Support Function (ESF) 6 (Mass Care, Housing, and Human Services) and ESF 19 (Volunteer Engagement and Donations Management). The Division also helps integrate recovery into preparedness efforts and plays a key role in facilitating the transition from response to recovery—aligning early decisions, coordinating resources, and positioning recovery efforts for long-term success.

Recovery

Disaster recovery involves coordinated internal and external efforts to restore services, rebuild infrastructure, and support community needs following major events.

RRD leads countywide recovery coordination, aligning departments and partner agencies while navigating complex state and federal requirements. Central to this role is securing and managing financial resources—including funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other programs—to maximize reimbursement, support eligible projects, and ensure the long-term sustainability of recovery efforts.

In parallel, the Division supports residents and communities as they navigate recovery, including access to financial assistance, insurance coordination, connection to any Long Term Recovery groups, VOAD coordination and other post-disaster needs.

Through this approach, Boulder County advances a recovery process that is coordinated, well-resourced, and designed to reduce future risk. 

Mitigation

Mitigation focuses on reducing long-term risk to people, property, and community systems before disasters occur. In Boulder County, mitigation includes actions such as improving infrastructure, addressing flood and wildfire risks, and integrating resilience into planning and development decisions.

The Recovery and Resiliency Division serves as the steward of the county’s hazard mitigation planning efforts, including the Boulder County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP). This includes leading regular plan updates, coordinating with participating jurisdictions, and ensuring the plan reflects current risks, community priorities, and regulatory requirements.

Beyond planning, the Division supports implementation by helping departments and partners advance mitigation projects, align priorities, and pursue state and federal funding opportunities. This includes identifying eligible projects, strengthening applications, and positioning the county to compete for programs such as FEMA mitigation grants.

Through this work, the Division helps translate planning into action—ensuring mitigation investments are coordinated, data-informed, and aligned with long-term resilience goals. 

Resiliency

Resiliency is the ability of individuals, communities, and systems to withstand, adapt to, and recover from disruptions. In Boulder County, resiliency means not only bouncing back after disasters, but also reducing future risk and strengthening the systems that support our community.

The Recovery and Resiliency Division advances resiliency through both internal coordination and external partnerships. Internally, this includes strengthening connections across county departments, aligning recovery and mitigation efforts, and integrating resilience into planning, policy, and day-to-day operations. Externally, the Division works with communities, jurisdictions, and partners to promote equitable outcomes, support local capacity, and advance projects that reduce long-term risk.

Meet the Recovery and Resiliency Team

Michelle Stinnett, Division Manager
mstinnett@bouldercounty.gov

Michelle is the Division Manager for Boulder County’s Recovery and Resiliency Division. In this role, she is responsible for leading Boulder County’s overall recovery efforts, acting as a liaison between disaster survivors, recovery partners, and government agencies while ensuring a smooth transition from emergency response to recovery. Prior to joining Boulder County, Michelle worked in both the nonprofit sector and state government on disaster recovery and resilience initiatives in Colorado after the 2013 flood and 2021 Marshall Fire, Louisiana after Hurricanes Laura, Delta and Ida, Kentucky after the December 2021 tornadoes and July 2022 floods, and Florida after Hurricane Ian. Michelle’s area of expertise is in disaster finance, and she has been responsible for the effective deployment of $500 million in federal and state grant programs over the last eight years.

Michelle earned her Bachelor of Science in Accounting and MBA degrees from Metropolitan State University of Denver and Liberty University respectively. She currently resides in Aurora, Colorado with her husband and children.

Katie Arrington, Program Manager
karrington@bouldercounty.gov

Katie is a Program Manager with Boulder County’s Recovery and Resiliency Division. She’s been working for Boulder County since 2013 when she was hired to help with flood recovery. She found her way into this work based on experiences as a child; she experienced both the 1994 Northridge earthquake and regular wildfire risks. Katie has her M.P.H. with a specialization in emergency preparedness from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Katie’s passion is in community engagement during recovery and examining racial equity issues in disaster recovery. She is a certified practitioner in the Courageous Conversations About Race protocol and is deeply committed to racial equity work both in disaster recovery and in Boulder County at large.

Katie lives in Lafayette with her family and loves biking on all the open space trails in her community. Katie learned to sew when she was 11 and has been quilting ever since, some of her quilts hang in the Boulder County Courthouse. As a committed public servant, Katie is committed to serving the community through any future recovery efforts for many years to come.

Ryan Airey, Program Manager
rairey@bouldercounty.gov

Ryan is a Program Manager with Boulder County’s Recovery and Resiliency Division. He is a native of New Jersey and a Hurricane Sandy survivor who embarked on his emergency management journey in 2011. As a consultant, he has contributed to response and recovery efforts across the country, working with organizations such as the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the City of Virginia Beach, the Port of Galveston, the City and County of Napa, and Boulder County.

Following the 2013 floods, Ryan was hired by Boulder County to manage disaster recovery grant programs. Since then, he has played a pivotal role in response and recovery operations, serving as a section lead in the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and as the program lead for FEMA Public Assistance, overseeing $150 million in federal awards.

Ryan is a dedicated public servant whose contributions to the community don’t end with his “day job.” He has been with Team Rubicon, a nonprofit volunteer organization since 2017, where he has helped plan and execute numerous response, recovery, and mitigation projects throughout the state. He also proudly serves as a Reserve Deputy with Boulder County Sheriff’s Office.

Joycelyn Fankhouser, Emergency Management Coordinator
jfankhouser@bouldercounty.gov

Joycelyn is an Emergency Coordinator with Boulder County’s Recovery and Resiliency Division. She has more than 25 years of experience supporting communities through crisis, bringing a human‑centered approach grounded in both professional expertise and lived experience. She specializes in disaster response and the transition to long‑term recovery, with practice in Mass Care, volunteer and donations management, Disaster Assistance Centers, and mass fatality operations.

Joycelyn has supported over 15 Emergency Operations Center activations and completed multiple EMAC deployments across the country, collaborating closely with FEMA, DOLA, VOAD partners, and local organizations to meet community needs during rapidly evolving events. She is also an experienced presenter and facilitator, contributing best practices and lessons learned at regional and national conferences.

Across her work, Joycelyn is committed to strengthening community resilience and ensuring coordinated, compassionate support for people affected by disasters.