Don’t Forget the Pets! Officials strongly urge fami- lies to include animals in ev- ery emergency plan. Create and practice a full evacua- tion plan that includes pets, ensuring everyone knows exactly where they will go and what supplies will be needed ahead of time. A pet emergency kit should be prepared in advance and stored in a waterproof, easy-to-carry container with essentials such as food, water, medications, medical records, leashes, carriers, and comfort items, along with updated identification like microchips and ID tags. It’s also important to identify pet-friendly shelters, hotels, or trusted family and friends who can take in animals if evacuation is necessary, and to keep a list of those Air quality meteorologists at the Colorado Depart- ment of Public Health and Environment use a system that is designed to address public awareness of fire risks, including smoke. You can use it too to help you categorize the risk from smoke where you are. Find more information on reading air quality alerts at colorado. gov/airquality. WINTER STORM SURVIVAL KIT A winter storm survival kit should be designed to help households stay safe during power outages, road closures, extreme cold, and options in the kit. Air Quality Alerts
heavy snow. Consider including: - At least one gallon per per- son per day for 3-7 days - Extra water for pets - Non-perishable foods that require little or no cooking - Manual can opener - A first-aid kit - Prescription medications - Clothing such as extra warm layers, winter coats, - Safe backup heat source - Flashlights and headlamps - Portable power banks or charging cables for devices - Vehicle emergency kits MOUNTAIN TRAVEL EMERGENCIES wool socks, and waterproof boots - Extra blankets and sleeping bags Colorado’s mountains offer incredible opportunities, but changing weather, limited cell service, difficult terrain, and avalanche hazards can quickly turn a day trip into an emergency. Before heading into the mountains, families should prepare for the possibility of becoming stranded or needing to wait for rescue. If you’re stranded in the mountains, stay calm and stay put. Call for help, like dialing 911, if possible. Send a text message if calls won’t go through, as texts often require less signal. Seek shelter from wind and pre- cipitation and put on extra layers before you become cold. Stay dry by avoiding sweat and changing wet clothing when possible. Other tips include checking
weather forecasts before departure, reviewing ava- lanche forecasts during snow season, downloading offline maps, keeping phones charged, and bringing an
emergency kit. HELPFUL RESOURCES American Red Cross – Colorado Region redcross.org
Colorado 211 Dial 2-1-1
Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) colorado.gov/avalanche Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) dhsem.colorado.gov Colorado Information Analysis Center (CIAC) coemergency.com Colorado State Patrol Road Conditions cotrip.org
Colorado Wildfire Information coloradofirecamp.com National Weather Service (Colorado) weather.gov
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