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SITUATION REPORT 2006-16g

Previous SITREPs posted at: http://dola.colorado.gov/dem/operations/sitreps/sitreps.htm

Press Releases posted at: http://dola.colorado.gov/dem/Press/press_releases.htm

Report Date: 0200 hours, 30 December 2006

Event Type: Blizzard

Situation: CSP reports at 01:47 hours, 2 medical emergency’s, the 1st is Prowers County, County Road PP - snow cat is on way to rescue. 2nd is ambulance at MM 20 Highway 287, Baca County with flat tire, a plow is on the way to help. This ambulance was reported previously as stuck at MM 13 or 14.

Baca County EOC Reports 3 missing teenagers in the Walsh area last heard from on a cell phone something about Stonington at 19:50. At 24:00 hours the cell phone service provider, Alltel, reported a ping off a tower located in Louisburg, Kansas traced back to the missing teens cell phone. Riley Frazee reports that the 18 vehicles stranded south of Springfield at 13:55 hours on Duty Officers Position Log entry 1760, were recovered. CSP and Baca County are investigating a new and unconfirmed report of an additional 8 to 10 vehicles are stranded in the same area after the road closure.

El Paso County Search and Rescue reports at 22:05 hours, beginning operations to clear 1 vehicle in Peyton Colorado and five vehicles in Black Forest area - All are stranded vehicles which local fire districts cannot reach.

Trinidad EM Bill Cordova reported at 21:40 hours, the community center in Trinidad is overloaded with stranded motorists, and currently has a total of 250 occupants. They are trying to open the Auditorium at Trinidad Jr. High School for an additional shelter. They are having problems with logistical support of food and water. Bill expressed his concern that I-25 being open to Trinidad and closed over Raton Pass is stacking up people in Trinidad.

Las Animas County is also concerned of the inability of responding to stranded motorist within the county and may be requesting NG resource to assist in rescue operations.

At 21:12 hours, Riley Frazee from Baca EOC requested NG assistance for extraction of stranded truck driver 14-20 miles west of Pritchett. The mission was approved.

DEM Field Manager and Emergency Manager from Baca County reported, southeast has 6 ft drifts and all roads are closed. CDOT plows are working. National Guard has two track oversnow vehicles in place and is starting operations to rescue stranded motorists. Will be working La Junta, Las Animas, Lamar stretch then up to Springfield. In addition they have two medical packages from La Junta they will deliver to Springfield hospital and La Mar nursing home. There are 5 shelters established in Springfield, 4 in La Mar, 1 in Eads, 1 in La Junta and one in Bent. Methodist Church serves as focal point for shelters and they are in good shape for logistics. Ranchers are trying to get out to feed stock resulting in stuck vehicles. There are 2 semis stuck and drivers refuse to leave vehicles. Snow is too deep for wheeled vehicles. They still have blizzard conditions

Accident Alert: From CSP, the following counties are currently on accident alert as of 2102 hrs.

Pueblo Regional Comm. Center: Cheyenne, Kiowa, Bent, Prowers, Baca, Las Animas, Otero, Crowley, Pueblo, Huerfano, Custer, Fremont, Teller, Park, Lake.

Denver Regional Comm. Center: Douglas, Kit Karson, Gilpin, Jefferson, Larimer, Arapahoe, Summit, Clear Creek.

No accident alerts have been reported by the CSP Alamosa, Montrose, or Craig Regional Communications Centers.

Disaster Declarations: Jurisdictions reporting after the 1900 hours publication of Situation Report 2006-16f.

• City of Trinidad
• El Paso County

Shelters Open: 20 shelters are available with 13 currently in use and a capacity to house 1410 people. 364 people are currently being sheltered.

  Weather Report:

Light to moderate snow is expected to redevelop over the Denver urban corridor tonight into Saturday, as a slow moving low pressure system over southern New Mexico moves into the Texas panhandle. The heaviest snowfall is expected to occur east and south of Denver, along the Palmer Divide. Strong northerly winds will also develop late tonight into Saturday.

Stronger winds over the northeast plains will also cause near zero visibilities in blowing and drifting snow. North winds from 15 to 30 mph can be expected with some gusts up to 40 mph. By midday Saturday, stronger gusts to 50 mph are possible. Due to the very slow movement of the storm system, strong winds are expected to continue over the northeastern plains through early Sunday.

There are still uncertainties regarding the duration of the heavy snow west of interstate 25 and whether heavy snow will redevelop near the mountains Saturday night into early Sunday. Because of this a winter storm watch continues Saturday night through Sunday morning for the Front Range foothills and adjacent plains. There is a potential for additional heavy snowfall and strong winds Saturday night into Sunday morning as the storm continues to move slowly northeastward. Additional snowfall accumulations of 4 to 10 inches will be possible along with areas of blowing and drifting snow. A blizzard warning means severe winter weather conditions are occurring or imminent. Sustained wind and/or frequent wind gusts of 35 mph or higher will combine with considerable falling and blowing snow to produce widespread visibilities below one quarter of a mile. Travel will be extremely dangerous and is discouraged in these whiteout conditions.

Agencies Involved: Adams County EOC, American Red Cross, Arapahoe County EOC, ARES/RACES, Arvada OEM, Brighton OEM, Broomfield EOC, Boulder EOC, Castle Rock OEM, Clear Creek EOC, Colorado Department of Agriculture, Colorado Department of Military and Veteran Affairs, Colorado Department of Transportation, Colorado Division of Emergency Management, Colorado Division of Fire Safety, Colorado Springs EOC, Colorado State Patrol, Denver EOC, Douglas County EOC, El Paso Count y EOC, Elbert County EOC, Jefferson County EOC, Lakewood OEM, Otero EOC, Salvation Army, Westminster OEM.

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 “Report to View”, which will give you a more customized report tailored to your Regions.

DEM Communications officer will be monitoring DTRS (800MHz) MAC 1, MAC 5, MAC 9, and MAC 21.

WebEOC information: http://www.dem.state.co.us/eoc6/ Incident name Winter Storm Dec 28.

The State is still investigating the possibility of snow emergency public assistance declarations. We are encouraging every jurisdiction to keep track of their costs.