General Preparedness

Staying informed about what's happening and knowing your options helps you make better decisions. Getting information early can help you avoid danger and stay safe. 

• This glossary of terms will help you to know what to expect to hear during an emergency communication.
• How you can stay informed and understand Emergency Alert terminology. 
• Outdoor Warning Siren information. 

Emergency Notifications

Boulder County and the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office share important updates through Everbridge (BOCO Alert) and ReachWell notification platforms. Both deliver the same information, with ReachWell offering built-in language translation for broader accessibility.  Make sure you are signed up and receiving real-time alerts.

• Everbridge (BOCO Alert): BOCOAlert.org
  Receive alerts by text, phone call, or email. You can register multiple addresses and phone numbers. 
  • If you block or filter messages, add 303-441-1400 to your contacts and name it “Emergency Alert.” Alerts may not ring or appear as texts if your phone is on silent or “Do Not Disturb.” To ensure you receive alerts, either turn off these modes or adjust your phone’s settings to allow messages and calls from 303-441-1400 to come through, following your phone’s instructions.
• ReachWell: ReachWellApp.com
  • Get Boulder County alerts with built-in language translation.  The app sends alerts directly to your device; just make sure app notifications are enabled. 

During an emergency, family members, including pets, may be separated. Make sure you have a plan for how to contact one another and have a safe location to reconnect until it's safe to return home. 

Creating a Disaster Preparedness Plan

1. Make a Plan with your family and close contacts.
2. Determine a designated meeting location. If there is an evacuation and the members of your household or family are separated, a safe reconnection location should be established. 
3. Consider your household's specific requirements.
   • Different ages of members within your household
   • Responsibilities for assisting others
   • Dietary needs
   • Medical needs including prescriptions and equipment
   • Disabilities or access and functional needs including devices and equipment
   • Pets or service animals
   • Transportation needs
4. Prepare an evacuation strategy. Become familiar with various evacuation routes around your home, work, and frequently visited locations. Practice your plan and evacuation with your family and household members to become familiar. 

For additional information on making a plan, including the needs of your household, and developing an evacuation plan, visit Homeland Security's Ready webpage and the Humane Society of Boulder Valley's Pet Preparedness webpage. 

If you or someone in your household has an access or functional need, being prepared for an emergency or disaster may require some additional steps or support.

Who are individuals with access and functional needs?

• Individuals with permanent or temporary physical, developmental, or intellectual disabilities
• Individuals with chronic conditions or injuries
• Individuals who require language translation
• Older adults and children
• Individuals who are unhoused or of low income
• Pregnant individuals
• Individuals who require service animals 

When developing a plan inclusive of individuals with access and functional needs, be sure to consider that you may not have access to critical medical facilities, pharmacies for medications, or other support systems for several days. 

Other considerations:

• Create a plan that includes family, caregivers, and close contacts using communication cards.
• Create a support network outside of your immediate household and community that can help you in a disaster. 
• Plan ahead for accessible transportation, if necessary. Check with local transit providers as well as with your local transportation organizations to identify appropriate accessible options. 
• If you or another member of your household requires dialysis or other life-sustaining medical treatment, know the location and availability of more than one facility that can support your needs. 
• If you rely on medical equipment in your home that is powered by electricity, speak with your health care provider about alternative power options during power outages.
• Organize and protect prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, and vitamins.
• Wear medical alert tags or bracelets. Also add pertinent medical information to your electronic devices. 
• Plan for children and adults who may have difficulty in unfamiliar or chaotic environments. Additionally, consider your service or support animal or pets and plan for food, water, and supplies in an evacuation situation. 

For additional information on planning for households with Access and Functional Needs visit the sites below:

Surviving in Place

Assisting Persons with Access and Functional Needs in an Emergency

A grab list is used to help you gather the most important items you will need to evacuate your home in an emergency. You will not only want to take emergency supplies like medications, but also irreplaceable items like family heirlooms. 

Use this grab list template to begin your planning. Encourage each member of your household to create their own list. 

Tips for your grab list:

• Consider prioritizing the items on your list
• Give a copy of your grab list and a key or access to your home to a close contact in case you are away from your home or unable to return
• Keep your grab list in a central and easily accessible location
• Remember to update your list frequently to keep the list current with the items important to you 

Enhancing your disaster preparedness through additional training, such as First Aid or CPR, is a valuable investment that can significantly benefit both yourself and those around you. Equipping yourself with a range of first aid skills can be indispensable in a variety of situations, regardless of when or where they occur. Some of the techniques that can prove invaluable include:

1. Effectively treating burns, whether they result from a wildfire or a kitchen fire, ensuring the right response to different levels of severity.
2. Addressing wounds caused by slips, falls, accidents, or even unexpected encounters like being hit by hail, ensuring swift and appropriate care.
3. Mastery of tourniquet application, which can be crucial in scenarios ranging from animal attacks to car accidents or even public threat situations, helping to control bleeding and save lives.
4. Proficiency in performing CPR, a skill that can be pivotal in instances of drowning or heart attacks, potentially making a life-saving difference.

By acquiring these skills and expanding your knowledge base, you not only empower yourself to navigate emergencies more effectively but also contribute to a safer environment for all. The ability to respond confidently and competently to unexpected challenges is a testament to your commitment to preparedness and the well-being of both yourself and your community. Not only are there programs offered in Superior found on the main Disaster Preparedness page but you can also sign up for a class through the Red Cross today.

Utilities can become dangerous when impacted by a disaster. It is critical to learn important utility safety skills to prevent gas leaks, creation of possible explosions and fires, and water breaks. Life saving supplies such as fire extinguishers, back up batteries or solar charges can be beneficial to prepare yourself for when things go wrong.

Natural Gas can be dangerous as it causes a significant number of fires after disaster. It is essential to know how to shut it off, as it can be different from house to house. Contact your gas company to help guide you through the turn off procedures for your home. If you smell gas or hear a blowing or hissing noise, open a window and get everyone out of the house. Turn off the gas using the outside main valve, if you can, and call the gas company.

Electricity can ignite natural gas if it's leaking. Learn how to shut off the electricity and make sure everyone in your household knows how to as well. Locate the electrical circuit box and shut off all the individual circuits before shutting off the main circuit. For more information, visit Xcel Energy Wildfire Mitigation Program.

Water is one of the most precious resources during and after a disaster. Its important to know how to shut off the main water valve to the house if needed. Show everyone in your household where the main water valve is and have a identification tag for it. Keep the valve maintained and replace it if it becomes rusty or you are unable to close it off all the way. If there are cracked lines, shut it off and wait for it to be evaluated for safety. Any break in the line can lead to contamination, and as breaks are common in emergencies, the water may need to be flushed before it is drinkable again.

Fire extinguishers are a life safety tool to keep in your home. Show everyone where its kept and how to use it. Consider an ABC type fire extinguisher (for ordinary combustibles, flammable liquids, and live electrical equipment) at minimum. Contact your local fire department for information on training in how to use it. Also, watch Fire Extinguisher Safety on our video library.

Back up batteries, solar chargers, or a car adapter to be back-up power sources for your mobile device, tablets, or laptops are an essential part into your preparedness planning. Learn to utilize apps and digital tools to keep records of important documents, save helpful links, and save and/or identify your emergency contacts in your mobile devices. Your local provider may be able to offer a product designed to provide few hours of connectivity if the power goes out. Another great way to keep track of your treasured personal items such as your pet or your child's favorite toy, you can place a digital tracker to monitor is location in the event you get separated from it. For more information, visit Xcel Energy Public Safety Power Shutoffs.

Colorado Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Division

For more information or question, visit CDPHE.

Contact Information:
Phone: 303-692-3320
Email: comments.hmwmd@state.co.us

Check out Smoke 101 for science behind wildfire and prescribed fire smoke.

How to Mitigate Post-Fire Smoke Impacts in Your Home

Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences is a partnership of CU Boulder and NOAA. The organization has compiled a resource of post-wildfire indoor air quality facts and solutions to mitigate smoke impacts in your home or business.

Smoke Mitigation for Homeowners - A Quick Review.
Trustee Tim Howard interviews resident Shawn Bisaillon regarding smoke mitigation in homes impacted by the Marshall Fire. To view the interview, visit the YouTube video Smoke Mitigation for Homeowners - Marshall Fire.

If you want to further your involvement in disaster planning and preparedness, there are several meaningful ways to make a lasting impact:

Volunteer for Your Community: Joining your community's efforts as a volunteer can provide invaluable support during times of crisis. By offering your time, skills, and dedication, you become an essential part of the network that ensures safety and response coordination. Consider signing up for an on-call volunteer list, where your willingness to step in during emergencies can truly make a difference: Sign up to volunteer for a Town of Superior disaster event and to help one of our neighboring municipalities.

Consider Donating: Financial contributions to organizations focused on disaster relief and preparedness can play a pivotal role in bolstering resources for response and recovery efforts. Your donation, no matter the size, can help procure supplies, offer training programs, and enhance overall readiness in your community.

Educate Others with Beneficial Skills: Sharing your knowledge about essential skills for disaster preparedness is a powerful way to empower those around you. Organize workshops or seminars that teach basic first aid, CPR techniques, and other crucial abilities. By educating others, you create a ripple effect of preparedness that extends beyond your immediate reach.

Embracing these avenues not only enhances your personal readiness but also contributes to a collective resilience that is vital in times of uncertainty. Your involvement can inspire a culture of preparedness within our community, fostering a safer and more secure environment for everyone.

May & June  

May recognizes Wildfire Awareness Month, and June observes Lightning Safety Awareness Week, making this an important time to highlight wildfire preparedness and outdoor safety. 

Throughout May, communities are encouraged to prepare for the dry, low-humidity, and often very windy conditions that come with the approaching summer. As our Front Range experienced a very dry winter and spring season, the need for wildfire preparation and awareness is essential. Below are important actions you can take to protect yourself, loved ones, pets, your home, and your community. 

• Create or maintain defensible space around your home
• Harden your home with recommended home and landscape improvements for wildfire risk reduction (Spanish)
• Sign up for emergency alerts through BoCo Alerts
• Develop an emergency plan and prepare a grab list with essential items in case an evacuation becomes necessary

We encourage residents to visit the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) section of the Town's website for more information and to learn more about Colorado and the Town of Superior's adoption of the statewide WUI code. 

Get your children involved with preventing, preparing for, and protecting against wildfires with these coloring books from FEMA and the USFA. (English,Spanish)

Did you know that Colorado Ranks 3rd in the nation in lightning fatalities? In an average year, roughly 500,000 lightning flashes strike the ground throughout the state (weather.gov). Lightning Safety Awareness Week in June highlights safety actions you can take when lightning is possible or present. 

• When thunder roars, go indoors! Move from outdoors into a building or a car with a roof
• Pay attention to alerts and warnings
• Avoid using electronic devices connected to an electrical outlet
• Avoid running water
• Watch for fallen power lines and tress. Report them immediately
• Turn Around. Don't Drown! Do not drive through flooded roadways. Just six inches of fast-moving water can knock you down, and one foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away