SITUATION REPORT 2006-16l

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: 0715 hours, 31 December 2006

Event Type: Blizzard

Situation: This week’s storm system has moved out of the state, which will provide some relief to the southeast region by allowing CDOT teams to work on clearing the highways. This will provide the opportunity for ground search and rescue operations to continue as well as the public to dig out.

The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is commencing operations this morning with fixed wing aircraft conducting reconnaissance throughout the southeast region, depending upon the local weather conditions. Aircraft are based out of Colorado Springs. CAP’s primary mission is to locate stranded motorist and relay that information to a team of National Guard helicopters (who will be staged at 10am from Buckley AFB) who will attempt to pick up these individuals. A proposed message has been sent to the region for broadcast by the local radio stations to those who may be stranded regarding several different methods to attract the attention of the aircraft.

Type III Incident Management Team (Short) from Jefferson County is enroute to the area command center in Pueblo.

The availability of fuel within the region is a concern along with the potential for the discovery of large numbers of dead animals.

Current National Guard / Colorado State Patrol Missions (delayed / pending)

  • Additional truckers / vehicles on Highway 287 near Springfield and Lamar
  • Stranded motorists highway 109 near mile marker 58-59
  • Vehicles broken down along highway 160 between Trinidad and Springfield
  • Stranded motorists north of Springfield on highway 287.
  • Highway 109, 2 miles south of Highway 50, semi-truck in ditch
  • EMS mission with gallbladder patient near the city of Kim (Las Animas County)
  • Medical re-supply to nursing home in Holly

Supply mission (awaiting road clearance by CDOT):

  • Otero County re-supply Pueblo Red Cross to La junta
  • Multiple county delivery of emergency rations
  • Otero County delivery of emergency rations

Accident Alert:

  • Baca County Lake County
  • Cheyenne County Larimer County
  • Clear Creek County Las Animas County
  • Crowley County Otero County
  • Custer County Park County
  • Fremont County Huerfano County
  • Gilpin County Pueblo County
  • Prowers County Kit Carson County
  • Kiowa County Teller County
  • Summit County

Highway and Road Closures and Restrictions:

  • CO 59 Holly – Lycan Adverse conditions
  • CO 86 Franktown – Limon Closed
  • I-25 South Bound Pueblo – New Mexico Closed
  • I-70 East bound Denver – Kansas Closed
  • I-76 Brush – Ordway Closed
  • US 160 Trinidad – Kansas State border Closed
  • US 287/385 Lamar – Oklahoma State border Closed
  • US 36 Airpark Road – Kansas State border Closed
  • US 385 Lamar – Oklahoma State border Closed
  • US 40 Kit Carson – Kansas State border Closed
  • US 50 Pueblo – Kansas State border Closed
  • US 94 Colorado Springs – US 287 Closed

Shelters Open: Thirteen shelters are open with a current occupancy of 658, with a capacity of approximately 1,155.

Southeast Region Sunday, mostly sunny. Areas of blowing snow early in the morning. A 10 percent chance of snow in the morning. Highs near 30. Northwest winds 10 to 20 mph. Sunday night, partly cloudy. Lows 2 to 7. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph. Lowest wind chill readings 3 below to 13 below zero after midnight. New Years Day, mostly sunny. Highs in the lower to mid 30s. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph. Monday night, partly cloudy. Lows 4 to 9. Light winds.

Agencies Involved: American Red Cross, ARES / RACES, Arvada OEM, Baca County EOC, Castle Rock Fire, Civil Air Patrol, 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 State Fire Chiefs Association, Colorado State Patrol, Cunningham Fire, Elbert County EOC, Elizabeth Fire, Otero EOC, Jefferson County, Parker Fire, Prowers County EOC, Salvation Army,.

Requests for Assistance: Looking for any assistance regarding the availability of snow cats / snow mobiles that could be used to assist in search and rescue operations.

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 will be monitoring DTRS (800MHz), MAC 10 and MAC 11, MAC 9, and MAC 21. Adding National Law (NLEEC)(VHF) and State Patrol Channel 3

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