Live Help  |   Advanced Search

• Department Home
• Division of Emergency Management

• Home
• About Us
• Our Director
• Our Staff
• Multi-Agency
  Coordination Center
• Preparedness Information
  for Hazards in Colorado
• Citizen Corps
• Colorado Emergency
  Planning Commission
• Chemical Stockpile
  Emergency Preparedness Program
• Disaster Declaration Process
• Disaster Business Planning
• Exercises
• Field Services
• Homeland Security
• Mitigation
• Operations
• Plans
• Press Releases
• Publications
• Recovery
• Training
• Colorado Emergency
  Managers & Sheriffs
• Colorado Emergency Management Association

SITUATION REPORT 2006-15a

December Blizzard

Report Date: December 20, 2006

Event Type: Blizzard

Situation: The severe winter weather has significantly impacted the entire State of Colorado. Schools, government offices, and businesses have closed Governor Owens has declared a statewide disaster emergency due to ongoing blizzard conditions across the State. The State Emergency Operations Center (720-852-6656/6657 fax 720-852-6753) has been activated and will remain so through Thursday.

The Governor has verbally approved the activation of the Colorado National Guard to support local jurisdictions. Requests for Guard support must be submitted to DEM with specific needs and requirements. Requests will be reviewed and prioritized with the on-going statewide needs.

Highway closures include: I-25 and E-470 ( Denver) to Kansas border; I-70 (Castle Rock) to New Mexico Border; I-76 from Denver to Nebraska border; from Eads, Colorado Hwy 96 and Hwy 287; Hwy 86 to Limon.

Southeast Region: Currently Huerfano County is conducting rescue missions primarily on I-25. They have opened shelters primarily in Walsenburg consisting of schools and churches functioning as shelters. Kiowa, Baca, Bent, Huerfano, and Crowley County emergency managers are coordinating response and operations.

Shelters: Red Cross has four shelters open and in various stages, DIA, Strasburg, Douglas County Fairgrounds, Chappell High School, and Westminster Recreation Center (104 th). In the northeast region five Shelter locations identified are in stand-by mode for Idallia, Keensburg, Fort Morgan, Sterling, Nunn or Pierce and Willington. The Town of Burlington has three shelters open at this time managed by local officials. In the southeast region: Eads, (First Christian Church), Trinidad ( Trinidad Community Center), and Fairfield (Ministerial Alliance).

Weather Report: Snowfall rates have been at 2 inches per hour in some areas and will continue at that rate through the evening. A BLIZZARD WARNING is in effect through noon on Thursday for the I-25 corridor from Monument Hill north through Denver, Fort Collins and into Cheyenne, Wyo. as well as the adjacent plains. The metro area is expecting 18 to 24 inches of snow by Thursday morning. The Front Range foothills and mountains could see up to 3 feet of snow by Thursday. A northerly wind gusting over 40 mph will create blowing and drifting snow, creating near impossible travel conditions. Air travel is also being impacted by this blizzard. Motorists are urged to use caution while traveling throughout the state and check with your airline for flight status before heading to DIA.

Agencies Involved: Adams County EOC, American Red Cross, Arapahoe County EOC, Aurora EOC, Broomfield City and County EOC, CDOT, Colorado Springs EOC, Colorado State Patrol, Denver City and County EOC, DMVA, Douglas County EOC, Logan County EOC, Loveland, Pueblo County EOC, Weld County EOC, Westminster EOC.

 

Misc. Info: CDOT has a website where they post the up-to-the-minute road conditions. http://www.cotrip.org , the upper left hand field is Travel Information, select the 1st entry, Road Conditions. This page has a scroll down bar, Select a Report to View, which will give you a more customized report tailored to your Regions.