Emergency Preparedness
Preparing for emergencies
Emergencies happen without warning. Make a plan now, before an emergency starts and know where you would go if you and your family need to leave the area.
Register for emergency alerts
Garfield County Emergency Alerts:
Register to receive text and email alerts for your geographic area in Garfield County.
Prepare before a wildfire or any emergency
Ready.gov prepare before a wildfire:
Garfield County Emergency Management evacuation preparation | Planificación de evacuaciones
Ready.gov provides a how-to guide for making your emergency plan, reviewing important documents, strengthening your home, knowing your evacuation zone, gathering supplies, learning how to stay safe during an event, and knowing what to expect when returning home after an emergency.
Emergency car kit:
Sometimes emergencies happen when we are not at home. Our canyons see frequent closures. Keep an emergency kit in your car with a change of clothes, extra medications, and food and water in case you are unable to return home.
Fire and air quality alerts
Air Now Wildfire and Smoke Map:
AirNow.gov offers an interactive, real-time tool that shows fine particle pollution (PM2.5) from wildfires and other sources, along with fire and smoke plume information across the United States
Watch Duty:
A nonprofit, real-time disaster app for cell phones that sends push notifications and provides live, interactive maps for wildfires and major flooding events
Colorado Air Quality Advisories:
CDPHE air summaries and advisories (current and forecasted)
Colorado Smoke Blog: The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment updates a state blog that provides information about smoke in Colorado
Fire and air quality alerts
Wildfire smoke and your health:
Garfield County Public Health offers guidance on the health effects of wildfire smoke, who is most at risk, guidance on whether you should exercise when it’s smoky, and actions to take to stay healthy during a smoke event.
Creating a clean air room: A clean room can keep levels of smoke and other particles as low as possible during wildfire smoke events.
Smoke-Ready Toolbox for Wildfires:
This EPA guide helps communities prepare for wildfire-related smoke events including how to identify resources, how to assess smoke, health, air quality and fire risk, and how to reduce smoke exposure.
Protecting outdoor workers from wildfire smoke:
Garfield County Public Health guidance for employers and outdoor workers.
Returning Home After a Wildfire
Safety recommendations for cleaning up after a fire:
Boulder County Public Health provides a wide range of information on cleaning up after fire.
How to mitigate post-fire smoke impacts in your home:
wildfire-related indoor air quality issues and tips on how to mitigate impacts.
Private wells after a wildfire:
CDC guide for what to do after a wildfire to determine if private wells are contaminated and unsafe to use for drinking water and other purposes.
Onsite wastewater (septic) systems after wildfire:
Wastewater systems have most of their functional components below ground. However, it is important to inspect systems for damage to piping above or near the ground that may have been impacted by heat.
Power Outages
Power outages are becoming more frequent. Emergency officials are urging residents to be prepared for up to 3 days of power outages.
Personal preparation is especially important for individuals who need power to operate medical life support systems such as oxygen.
Before, during, and after an outage:
Steps to take, about carbon monoxide and generator safety, food safety information
What to do to protect yourself during a power outage:
CDC information on carbon monoxide, generator safety, food, water and medication safety, extreme heat and cold, and other hazards
How to prepare for a power outage: Red Cross guide for power outages that could last hours or days
Medical needs – oxygen and life support systems during a power outage: How to be prepared if you depend on electrically operated equipment.
Generator safety: Red Cross guide for selecting the right generator and using it safely.
Food safety and power outages
Food safety graphic- what to do after a power outage: CDC guide on keeping food safe during a power outage.
Foods that can and can’t be saved after a power outage: FoodSafety.gov list of when to save certain foods, and when to throw them out.
Well Water Systems and Power Outages
During an outage, depressurization can cause contaminants to enter the water system.
Well water systems after power outages: A guide for what to do with your well water system.
Well water systems and power outage safety: Private wells and power outages safety checklist.
Onsite Wastewater (Septic) Systems and Power Outages
Power outage guide for OWTS systems.
Septic systems during a power outage, what works and what doesn’t.