Preparedness
Being prepared is perhaps the most important step you and your family can take to get through, and possibly even survive, emergencies and disasters.
Preparedness means not only having the appropriate gear and supplies necessary to cope with emergencies, but also having a plan for your family to follow in these situations. An important component of this plan should be how family members would communicate, keeping in mind that in some circumstances, regular phone service and cell phone service may be unavailable.
Flood Insurance
In the event of a flood, are you and your family adequately prepared? There is a 30 day waiting period for new flood insurance policies to take effect once they are purchased. Floodplain residents should consider buying flood insurance if you think your home is potentially vulnerable. Historically, about one-third of all flood insurance claims come outside of the mapped regulatory floodplain area (for 100 year floods).
For more information about flood insurance, contact your local insurance agent, or contact Thuy Patton, State Coordinator for the National Flood Insurance Program at 303-866-4803, email: thuy.patton@state.co.us or go to: http://www.fema.gov/hazard/flood/index.shtm.
Spring Runoff
Are you concerned about potential high water and flooding this spring? Prepare now using these valuable resources. For information on flooding, check the following web sites:
With the large snowpack Gunnison County is experiencing this year comes the potential for flooding during spring run-off. If you are a property owner in an area prone to high water or flooding, please consider the following: Is your property flood insurance in force and up to date? What is covered by your flood insurance? Have you taken steps to prepare your property for flooding (berms, sandbags etc)? Are there items that could be moved to higher points on your property or in your home in the event of a flood? Have you and your family identified where you would go and what you would take with you should you need to evacuate? Prepare early – don’t wait until the last minute.
For additional information, contact Gunnison County Emergency Management 641-2481 or smorrill@gunnisoncounty.org.
Are You and Your Family Ready for Emergencies?
Being prepared is perhaps the most important step you and your family can take to get through, and possibly even survive, emergencies and disasters.
Preparedness means not only having the appropriate gear and supplies necessary to cope with emergencies, but also having a plan for your family to follow in these situations. An important component of this plan should be how family members would communicate, keeping in mind that in some circumstances, regular phone service and cell phone service may be unavailable.As you put together your emergency kits, and develop your plans, it is important to remember that while livingBelow are several links to information on emergency preparedness for you, your family and your pets:
Are You a Business Owner in Gunnison County?
Think About This . . . .
As you put together your emergency kits, and develop your plans, whether for your family or business, it is important to consider the following facts about Gunnison County.
- One of the appealing aspects of living here is how rural and isolated this area is. While most of us embrace this type of lifestyle, it presents unique challenges in terms of preparing for and responding to large scale emergencies and disasters. Gunnison, Crested Butte and the smaller towns in the County are some of the most isoalted and hard to reach communities in the State. If the unthinkable happens, it takes outside help longer to get here on a good day. Inclement weather could further complicate the issue by potentially closing roads and the airport.
- Our winter-time temperatures are frequently some of the coldest in the nation. Sub-freezing, and even sub-zero tempartures are not uncommon, and can last for weeks at a time. As such, when putting together your emergency kits and plans, measures should be taken to address the extreme cold that can occur here.
Avalanche Information
For helpful avalanche information, please visit the Colorado Avalanche Information Center website.
Wildfire Information
Montrose Interagency Fire Management Unit
Burn Ordinance
If you are going to burn ditches, fields, slash piles, leaves or other organic material, you must first call the Gunnison Communications Center at 641-8200, option 1. The dispatcher will advise you as to whether a Red Flag Warning (no burning) has been issued. If burning is permitted the dispatcher will ask for your name, address/location of the burn, and your phone number. You will be asked to call Gunnison Communications and advise them when the burn is out. Burning during a Red Flag Warning, failure to notify the Communications Center or leaving a fire unattended can result in a ticket being issued, and fines imposed. Either of these two situations also increases personal liability, should the fire get out of control and/or damage other property. Open burning is not permitted in the Towns of Crested Butte, Mt Crested Butte or the City of Gunnison. For further information in the Gunnison area, contact Fire Marshal Dennis Spritzer at 641-8153 or dennis@cityofgunnison-co.gov, and for the Crested Butte area, contact Crested Butte Fire Chief Ric Ems at 349-5333 or rems@crestedbutte.net.
Agricultural Buring in Gunnison County
If you plan on doing any type of open burning in Gunnison County, please observe and follow these guidelines:
- Notify the Gunnison Communications Center at 641-8200, option 1. The dispatcher will need to know the location, size, and approximate start and finish times of the burn, as well as your phone number – preferably a cell phone. If a Red Flag Warning in effect or anticipated, the dispatcher will advise you of that, and you will not be allowed to burn. Failure to notify the Communications Center could result in the Fire Department arriving at your burn, should someone call it in as an actual fire. This could result in a summons and a fine up to $500.00
- You will also be required to call Gunnison Communications and advise them when the burn is extinguished.
- Plan your burn for the early morning hours, 6:00 AM – 9:00 AM, or later in the evening after 6:00 PM, when the winds are generally calmer. Check local weather conditions and forecasts prior to starting your burn, paying special attention to wind conditions.
- Ensure that there is an adequate water supply, and that you can reach the perimeter of the burn area. Wet down and/or mow the perimeter of your burn area to keep the fire from getting out of the planned burn area.
- If you are burning a large area, it is best to burn in small sections, lighting and maintaining only one section at a time.
- It is always best to have someone help you with your burn – never burn alone. Ensure there are no structures, or vehicles within 50 feet of the burn area.
- If your burn gets out of control, call 9-1-1 immediately. Any delay in calling 9-1-1 only causes the problem to get worse, potentially threatening lives and property.
- Remember, if your burn gets out of control and damages others property, you could be held civilly liable, and possibly receive a summons with fines. Failure to notify Gunnison Communications of your burn, burning during a Red Flag Warning or leaving the burn unattended can also result in a summons and fines.
- Open burning is not permitted in the Towns of Crested Butte, Mt Crested Butte or the City of Gunnison.
- For further information in the Gunnison area, contact Gunnison Fire Marshal Dennis Spritzer at 641-8153 or dennis@cityofgunnison-co.gov and for the Crested Butte area, contact Crested Butte Fire Chief Ric Ems at 349-5333 or rems@crestedbutte.net.
Office Staff
Emergency Manager
Scott Morrill
970-641-2481
Email Scott
Contact Information
Office of Emergency Management
200 E. Virginia
Gunnison, CO 81230 |
Phone: (970) 641-2481
(voicemail is available 24 hours/day)
Fax: (970) 641-7693 |
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