Grand County CARES Program

To commemorate the East Troublesome Fire's fifth anniversary, in October of 2025 Grand County Emergency Management introduced the Grand County Community Assistance, Resilience and Emergency Support (CARES) program. 

CARES is a volunteer-based program with a mission to enhance and supplement services that mitigate against, prepare for, respond to and recover from all disasters. The program is built from the idea of neighbors helping neighbors - as that is what strengthens and binds a community. Whether you're a business owner, seasonal resident, or have called Grand County home for decades, you play a vital role in helping our Grand community build resilience.

The program’s goals are to:

  • Effectively address unmet needs through a planned, coordinated and managed involvement of community volunteers and donated resources.
  • Minimize the economic impacts of disasters.
  • Cultivate a program that encourages consistent and sustainable engagement.

The powerful impact of coordinated response

However well intended, volunteers and donations that are not coordinated with the response activities can quickly become overwhelming. What is most important is matching resources to unmet needs. The CARES program is a formalization of the processes that match resources, human and otherwise, with identified needs. 

We are asking that all community members, 18 or older, join the program and register with the online form. Registration does not commit you to volunteer or donate resources. The registration process provides Grand County Emergency Management with visibility on what skills and resources exist and could be made available. While the type and quantity of resources needed will vary by event, this program is meant to support pre-planning efforts that help ensure the most efficient and effective use of volunteers and donated resources.

The CARES program is primarily designed to provide for the coordination and management of individuals who desire to help in a disaster, as well as the ability to do so. If an incident occurs or is anticipated that warrants additional support, then Grand County Emergency Management will provide the CARES program registrants with information and requests. 

Additional Engagement Opportunities

To provide for engagement opportunities when there is not an active incident, volunteer events, trainings, and classes will be offered. Both events and training would vary throughout the year but could consist of the following: 

  • Neighborhood fire mitigation projects;
  • Local disaster preparedness drills;
  • Participation in outreach events;
  • Emergency preparedness training;
  • Classes on understanding community hazards and risks; and
  • CPR training.


Register for the CARES program

CARES program information packet

Frequently Asked Questions