Following our recent post about emergency preparedness, we wanted to share a few additional resources that you and your family may find helpful.
Creating Cleaner Air During a Wildfire
Colorado communities face the threat of wildfires every year, and wildfire smoke can affect air quality far beyond the immediate fire area. While a commercial air purifier can be helpful, not every family has the ability to purchase one.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Chemical Insights Research Institute (CIRI) of Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) have studied a more affordable option: a do-it-yourself (DIY) air cleaner made with a box fan, an air filter, and materials to securely connect the two. You can learn more about how to make one through the EPA's DIY air cleaner guide.
A DIY air cleaner can be a useful short-term option during periods of poor air quality. However, it is important to remember that an air cleaner cannot protect your family from all of the hazards associated with an emergency. If an evacuation is ordered, your family's safety plan should take priority.
Finding Emergency Shelters
If you are in an evacuation zone or need to leave your home because of an emergency, knowing where you can go ahead of time can make a stressful situation a little easier.
In Colorado, you can call 2-1-1 or visit 211 Colorado to find local resources and assistance. You can also text 4FEMA (43362) or check out their website to receive emergency safety information. Depending on the emergency, you can text keywords such as SHELTER, WILDFIRE, or WINTER, along with your ZIP code.
The American Red Cross Find an Open Shelter tool can also help you locate open emergency shelters. The official FEMA app provides emergency alerts, weather information, shelter locations, and other disaster-related resources.
Know Who to Contact in Your Community
During a large-scale emergency, your local Emergency Operations Center and emergency-management agencies help coordinate the response and connect communities with the resources they need.
The appropriate agency will depend on where you live. For example, families in the Colorado Springs area can follow Pikes Peak Regional Emergency Management for emergency information. In Arapahoe County, the Office of Emergency Management works through the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office. In Douglas County, the Douglas County Office of Emergency Management coordinates emergency preparedness and response efforts.
It is also important to know who your local emergency manager is and sign up for emergency alerts that apply to your area. Local alerts can provide critical information about evacuations, road closures, severe weather, shelters, and other rapidly changing conditions.
Your local public health agency can also provide important information about health-related concerns in your county. Families may also benefit from connecting with their Regional Healthcare Coalition. These coalitions bring together public and private healthcare and emergency-response organizations to help communities prepare for and respond to emergencies.
Understand the Risks Where You Live
Preparedness starts with understanding the hazards that could affect your family. The National Weather Service's Natural Hazard Risk Assessment provides information about environmental threats such as flooding, wildfires, severe weather, and other hazards. Understanding which risks are most likely to affect your community can help you make a more informed emergency plan.
Find Help With Everyday Needs
Emergencies can create or worsen challenges that families are already facing. Resources such as food assistance, housing support, transportation, and other basic needs can become even more important during a disaster.
Mile High United Way connects people with community resources through 2-1-1 Colorado. You can call 2-1-1 or visit 211Colorado to find assistance with food insecurity, housing, healthcare, and other essential needs.
The Salvation Army also provides support during emergencies through its Emergency Disaster Services program. Services can include immediate disaster relief and assistance for individuals and families affected by natural disasters and severe weather.
A Little Preparation Can Go a Long Way
Emergency preparedness does not have to happen all at once. Take some time to identify the hazards most likely to affect your family, sign up for local alerts, know where you would go if you needed to evacuate, and keep important resources easily accessible.
For families of children with disabilities or medical needs, it can be especially helpful to consider how an emergency could affect medications, medical equipment, communication, transportation, mobility, and access to necessary caregivers or healthcare services.
The goal is not to predict every possible emergency. It is to take a few steps now that can make your family safer and more prepared when something unexpected happens.