Perhaps appropriately, given the times we find ourselves in, the month of April is recognized as Stress Awareness Month. It’s actually not new — Stress Awareness Month has been commemorated each April since 1992. Work and school, finances, relationships, parenting, caregiving, concerns for safety, life changes, finding one’s purpose, and even the weather can be […]
Tag: disasters
New Resources on Federal and State Laws Pertaining to COVID-19
Several new memos and Issue Briefs have recently been released by Colorado Legislative Council Staff that provide some guidance on how Colorado and federal laws address some of the issues brought about by COVID-19. Colorado Criminal Justice System Response to COVID-19 discusses the operations of the courts and correctional institutions during the outbreak. Expansion of […]
Fire and Flood Season is Coming – Is Your Library Ready?
Right now, as we focus on library closures and service reductions due to the global pandemic, it’s important to remember to prepare for other disasters, as fire and flood season will soon be upon us. Now is a great time to create a disaster plan for your library, or do a little spring cleaning and […]
Creating a Community Animal Disaster Plan
First responders and researchers have found that during disasters, people are far less likely to evacuate if they are unable to bring their pets. During Hurricane Katrina in 2005, rescuers were faced with a challenge because so many people elected to stay in the affected area with their pets rather than leave them behind. So […]
25th Anniversary of the South Canyon Fire
This past Saturday marked the 25th anniversary of the South Canyon Fire near Glenwood Springs, which claimed the lives of fourteen firefighters battling the blaze on Storm King Mountain. Caused by a lightning strike on July 2, the wildfire seemed manageable until July 6, when a shift in the wind caused the fire to suddenly […]
Time Machine Tuesday: 1984 Floods and Landslides
In May and June of 1984, unseasonably warm temperatures caused that winter’s heavy snowfalls to melt at a rapid pace. As a result, fifteen counties on the Western Slope experienced significant flooding and landslides. Two people died. The damage was so extensive that Governor Lamm renewed his initial disaster declaration over and over again well […]
Colorado Hazard Mapping Tools
Flood season has arrived, and the State of Colorado has a number of online tools useful for mapping areas at risk of floods and landslides. Colorado Water Conservation Board The Colorado Hazard Mapping and Risk MAP Portal from the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) provides a variety of tools for assessing hazard risk. In addition […]
New Report on the Health of Colorado’s Forests
How did the 2018 fire season affect our state’s forests? What impacts are insects having on our trees? And what can the State of Colorado do to protect our natural resources? All of these questions are explored in a new report from the Colorado State Forest Service released this month. Each year the Forest Service, […]
Avalanche Safety
This winter’s heavy snowfalls have created extremely dangerous avalanche conditions in the high country, and Colorado has already had seven fatalities so far this season. Many highways and ski areas are closed, but if you are planning on venturing out, take time to prepare yourself for what to do in case of an avalanche. The […]
Time Machine Tuesday: Anniversary of the 2013 Floods
Five years ago today, the rain began to fall in what became one of the state’s most significant flood disasters, impacting twenty-four counties and causing millions of dollars in damage. The Colorado communities affected by the September 2013 floods showed amazing resilience and are thriving once again. Here are some State of Colorado resources that […]
Is Your House on Shaky Ground?
Ground subsidence problems are very real in Colorado. Whether from naturally occurring elements in the soil or from the effects of Colorado’s mining history, the ground in certain parts of Colorado is susceptible to settling, collapsing, expanding, heaving, or swelling, all of which can have potentially hazardous effects on structures. So how do you know […]
Wildfire Information
Here’s where to go to get the latest on the multiple wildfires burning across the state: Updates and maps from the State Emergency Operations Center: http://www.coemergency.com/. Check here for a list of all Facebook/Twitter accounts for individual fires. Also, see CoEmergency Facebook page. Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) Division of Fire Prevention […]
Time Machine Tuesday: Summer Floods
As hot and dry as it has been so far this summer, it’s hard to believe that most of Colorado’s floods — the September 2013 floods being a significant exception — occur in June and July. In our library you can find many resources on the history of flooding in Colorado. Many flood events are […]
Get Ready for Wildfire Season
With this past winter being relatively dry, fire danger is expected to be higher than usual this year, especially in areas of lower elevation. The State of Colorado has numerous resources to help you prepare. This consumer alert from the Colorado Division of Insurance will help you determine if your property is adequately insured. The […]
Time Machine Tuesday: Salmonella Outbreak
It’s not a pleasant topic, but it’s certainly an important one for cities and towns to learn from. Exactly ten years ago, in March and April 2008, the city of Alamosa experienced a deadly Salmonella outbreak that caused at least 442 confirmed illnesses and, according to estimates, as many as 1,300 people – 15% of […]
September is National Preparedness Month
The recent hurricane events have demonstrated the importance of being prepared for disaster. Even though we don’t get hurricanes in our state, there are a number of other disasters to prepare for — including both natural disasters (floods, fires, tornadoes, storms, avalanches, rockslides) and manmade disasters (terrorism, active shooters, power outages). There are many personal […]
Hurricane Information
2017 is turning out to be a historic year for hurricane activity in the U.S., as the Gulf Coast works to recover from Hurricane Harvey and the Atlantic Coast braces for Hurricane Irma. While we don’t have to worry about hurricanes in Colorado, our state’s two largest universities both engage in significant research on hurricanes. […]
1997 Fort Collins Flood
Twenty years ago today a major flood hit Fort Collins. Heavy rainfall of 3 inches per hour began late in the evening of July 27 and continued throughout the day on the 28th. Homes were flooded, a train derailed, a gas leak caused an explosion near Prospect Road, and in the end, the flood left […]
Disaster Preparedness for Pets
‘Tis the season for fires and floods, and if a disaster threatens your home and family, your furry pals will be affected, too. According to the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM), “one of the biggest reasons people return to danger/evacuation zones is to save their pets.” DHSEM and the state’s emergency […]
Time Machine Tuesday: Severe Storms
Yesterday the Colorado front range was hit hard with a storm producing heavy rains, hail, lightning, and high winds. The months of May and June typically see the most severe thunderstorm activity on the Colorado plains…in fact, Colorado also experienced a severe storm exactly sixty years ago, May 8, 1957. I found this factoid by […]