Office of Emergency Management prepares for storm
(EL PASO COUNTY, Colo.) — City and county officials joined the Pikes Peak Regional Office of Emergency Management on Wednesday, March 13 to discuss preparations ahead of a weather system that is forecasted to bring heavy snow, winds, and possible storm damage to southern Colorado beginning Wednesday night and lasting into Friday morning.
The National Weather Service in Pueblo is predicting that the storm will begin as rain for much of the Pikes Peak region, which will turn to snow overnight on Wednesday. Corey Farkas, the Public Works Operations and Maintenance Division Manager with the City of Colorado Springs, explained that the early moisture will result in slush predominantly on the roads first, as the warm temperatures leading up to the storm have kept the ground and roadways warm.
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However, the conditions will deteriorate throughout the night on Wednesday, and Farkas asked that if you are able, stay off the roads, as it allows accessibility to the more than 50 city snowplows that will be deployed.
Jack Ladley, the Deputy Director of El Paso County Public Works, echoed that warning, and stressed why this storm should not be taken lightly.
“We’re looking at snowfall rates up to two inches an hour,” said Ladely. “Traditionally, with snowfall in El Paso County, what we’ll find is we’ll get a lot of snow, say, in the north, not so much in the south, and it gives us the opportunity to move our resources where we are getting the more substantial snow. I don’t think that this snow event is going to allow us to do that.”
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Just as the city is seeing a full callout of crews and equipment, the county said the same is true, with snow blowers, scrapers, plows, and sand/salt trucks ready to respond to the highest priority roads, Priority One and Two roads, before moving to residential neighborhoods.
Another looming danger of this storm, because of the wet, heavy nature of the snow, is downed trees and power lines.
“When you have these springtime heavy, wet snows, that’s when we grow concerned about our overhead lines and poles, and also areas that are surrounded by established vegetation,” said Steve Berry, Marketing and Communications Manager at Colorado Springs Utilities. “In instances like this, with that snow, it puts a lot of stress on those overhead lines, it can bring tree limbs in contact with those lines, or actually bring those lines down.”
Berry stressed that anyone who sees a downed power line should always treat that line as if it is energized. Stay at least 35 feet away from the line, and if a line comes down on your property, stay inside your home unless emergency responders instruct otherwise.
If you see a downed tree in the road within city limits, you can report it to City Forestry at (719) 385-5942 or use the GoCOS! mobile app. In unincorporated El Paso County, if a tree is blocking the road, you can call 719-520-6460 or use the EPC Citizen Connect App. Downed trees on private property are the owner’s responsibility.
As for those who will be hunkered down and staying safe, Ladley reminded the community to watch out for each other, and keep your vulnerable neighbors in mind.
“If you have a neighbor that needs help, please help them out, particularly with a snowfall like this, this is going to be a heavy wet snow, so let’s help one another out.”
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