Preparedness
Preparedness: Measures taken to prepare for and reduce the effects of disasters
Disasters and emergencies can affect anyone at any time. It is important that every individual, family, business and organization are prepared to be self-sustaining should an emergency occur. This includes being prepared in your home, workplace and everywhere in between. Immediately after an emergency, essential services may be unavailable and local disaster relief and first responders may not be able to reach you. It is important that every individual, family, business and organization are prepared to be self-sustaining for the first 72-hours following an emergency.
Are you prepared for an emergency?
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. Keep in mind that in some circumstances regular phone service and cell phone service may be unavailable. Below are several links to information on emergency preparedness for you, your family, and your pets:
- American Red Cross Preparedness Information
- Colorado Office of Emergency Management
- READY Colorado - Preparedness Information
- Center for Disease Control - Emergency Preparedness
For all flood preparedness and floodplain development information for Gunnison County, please visit Gunnison County Community and Economic Development page here.
Emergency Preparedness Checklist
Register for emergency alerts
- Register for Gunnison Regional Alerts [EC1] (powered by GEM). Gunnison Regional Alerts is used to communicate critical public safety topics including evacuations, wildfire, flooding, and other emergency notifications. All residents, visitors, and family members living in Gunnison County or the Gunnison Dispatch area are encouraged to sign up for alerts at gunnison.genasys.com/portal/register.
- During the registration process, you can choose the types of alerts you receive and how to receive them, including landline phone, cell phone, text/SMS message, and email. This system replaces our previous Emergency Notification System, CodeRed. If you were registered for CodeRed, please sign-up for Gunnison Regional Alerts.
- Register with the Gunnison County website and subscribe to Notify Me! to receive emergency notifications (text message and/or email). Notifications you receive from Notify Me! will pertain to the local area and Gunnison County ONLY.
Create an evacuation plan
- Include at least two types of transportation you could use, multiple routes you could take, and where you would stay or meet up with loved ones.
Create a grab list
- Include irreplaceable or critical items that you would want to take with you during an evacuation.
Create an emergency kit
- This can consist of things like non-perishable food, water, a headlamp, backup battery for a phone, a weather radio, tools, etc. and is useful during evacuation, power outage, shelter-in-place, or any type of incident.
Review your insurance policy, and ensure you have adequate coverage.
Make a video or photo inventory of your property and belongings.
Know your hazards
Gunnison County and the incorporated towns and cities within are susceptible to a wide array of hazards both natural and man-made.
Personal Risk Assessment
A personal risk assessment can help you determine where to focus your efforts as you plan for disaster preparedness. Know what hazards could affect your area and complete a personal risk assessment to support your planning efforts.
Create a Plan
Learn about the hazards and risks in your area, talk to members of your household about what to do in different scenarios.
Grab List
Learn about items to consider and create your grab list of important items to take with you during disasters.
Access & Functional Needs
Read more for tips and resources for those with access and functional needs.
Pets and Animals
Learn about how to prepare your pets or livestock for times of disaster.
Emergency Kits
An emergency kit can be one of the items on that list that you put together ahead of time.
Insurance
Take these steps to be insurance prepared.
Resource Library
Access all info sheets, worksheets, graphics, videos, and other helpful resources here.
Evacuation
Read more for tips and things to consider for how you'll create your plans for evacuating.
Shelter-in-Place
Read more for tips and things to consider for how you'll create your plans for sheltering-in-place.
Resources
Fire Restriction & Wildfire Information Websites:
- West Slope Fire Information
- Colorado Fire Bans & Restrictions
- Colorado Map Restrictions (Interactive Map, click on shaded areas for more information)
- Colorado DFPC Current Wildfires (Interactive Map - click on blue markers for more information)
- Colorado Division of Fire Prevention & Control (DFPC)
- Inciweb (National)
- Colorado Fire Bans & Current Fires (COEmergency.com - Compiled Information)
- Live Fire Web App
- West Region Wildfire Council
- Montrose Inter-agency Fire Management Unit
- Guidance for Health & Home Safety (PDF)
- Guidance for Cleanup of Damaged/Destroyed Buildings