SITUATION REPORT 2006-16h

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: 0700 hours, 30 December 2006

Event Type: Blizzard

Situation: CDOT reports heavy snow and wind in Region R2 (southeast) and multiple equipment failure. 3 snow blowers are currently enroute from Alamosa with 1 snow blower operating on US 50.

CSP Trooper Pryor , stationed at the road block east of La Junta on US 50 reports visibility under 50 feet, and people continuing to attempt to run the barricade.

CSP Trooper embedded with National Guard SUSVEE's reports mission to extract stranded motorists on Highway 385 in currently underway. At 05:20 hours the elements location is reported a 1/2 mile south of Granada by CSP

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 an ambulance at MM 20 Highway 287, Baca County with flat tire, a plow is on the way to help. CSP reports the Ambulance enroute from MM 20 on Highway 287 has reached to hospital at 03:27 hours. 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. No updated information is available at this time.

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: as of 0535 hrs.

Denver Communications Center Accident Alert List

  • Kit Carson
  • Gilpin
  • Jefferson
  • Larimer
  • Summit
  • Clear Creek

The Pueblo Communications Center

  • Cheyenne
  • Kiowa
  • Prowers
  • Baca
  • Las Animas
  • Otero
  • Crowley
  • Pueblo
  • Huerfano
  • Custer
  • Fremont
  • Teller
  • Park
  • Lake
  • El Paso

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

  • City of Trinidad
  • El Paso County
  • Baca County
  • Bent County
  • Fort Collins
  • Logan County
  • Kiowa County
  • City of Westminster

Shelters Open: No Change to 0200 hrs. report.

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

Weather Report:

A large, slow-moving winter storm will continue to impact the far eastern plains of Colorado through the weekend. Life-threatening blizzard conditions are in progress east of Limon and south of Interstate 70. Snow and wind will continue over southeast Colorado today. Some light snow showers are possible in Denver and the foothills, with only minor accumulations.

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.

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