{"id":15075,"date":"2021-03-13T06:00:51","date_gmt":"2021-03-13T13:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thorntonweather.com\/blog\/?p=15075"},"modified":"2021-03-14T06:29:55","modified_gmt":"2021-03-14T12:29:55","slug":"colorado-flood-safety-and-wildfire-preparedness-week-in-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thorntonweather.com\/blog\/education\/colorado-flood-safety-and-wildfire-preparedness-week-in-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Colorado Flood Safety and Wildfire Preparedness Week in Review"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Colorado
Colorado Flood Safety and Wildfire Preparedness Week, March 15 – 21, 2015.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Floods and wildfires are arguably the two most common disasters Coloradans face with numerous such events occurring each year.\u00a0 To better prepare residents for the danger of these disasters, this week is Colorado\u00a0Flood Safety and Wildfire Preparedness Week.<\/p>\n

Each day this week the National Weather Service will be posting public information statements covering a number of different topics about floods and wildfires.\u00a0 These important messages should be required reading for all Coloradans so they know what to do to prepare for these events and handle them when they occur.<\/p>\n

ThorntonWeather.com will be posting each of these messages as a service to our readers. \u00a0The first of these messages is below. \u00a0Check back each day this week for further topics.<\/p>\n

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
\nNATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
\n600 AM MDT SAT MARCH 13 2021<\/p>\n

…COLORADO FLOOD SAFETY AND WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS WEEK IN REVIEW…<\/p>\n

Colorado has more than its fair share of floods, flash floods, and wildfires. During the past week, in our effort to\u00a0build a Weather-Ready Nation, we have presented information to you on how to stay safe and minimize property\u00a0damage during flood and wildfire threats.<\/p>\n

When a flash flood warning is issued for your area, you need to quickly move to higher ground out of drainages or\u00a0other low spots. It may be just a short run or climb to that higher ground.<\/p>\n

Nearly half of all flash flood fatalities occur in vehicles. Do not drive through a flooded roadway. Instead turn\u00a0around…do not drown. The water may be much deeper than you think, because it may not be possible to see below\u00a0the surface of flood waters that the roadway has been washed away. One to two feet of water will carry away most\u00a0vehicles. Additional flood safety information can be found at www.floodsafety.noaa.gov<\/p>\n

Areas burned by wildfires are highly susceptible to flash floods, especially within the first two or three years after\u00a0the wildfire has occurred. Wildfires by themselves destroy much property and occasionally result in fatalities within\u00a0Colorado. There are actions you can take to protect yourself and minimize the wildfire threat to your property.<\/p>\n

If you live near or within a forest or rangeland, you are encouraged to make a defensible space around your home\u00a0and other structures. Information on how to make a defensible space around your home can be found on the\u00a0Colorado State Forest Service website at http:\/\/csfs.colostate.edu\/pages\/defensible-space.html<\/p>\n

River flooding from snowmelt or persistent rainfall can cause extensive damage to property. There are estimated to\u00a0be 65 thousand homes and 15 thousand commercial, industrial, and business structures in identified floodplains\u00a0within Colorado. FEMA has online maps that show if you are in a flood risk area. To access those maps, go to\u00a0https:\/\/msc.fema.gov<\/p>\n

If you live in a flood prone area, buying flood insurance is the best thing you can do to protect your home, your\u00a0business, your family and your financial security. To find an insurance agent and obtain other flood insurance\u00a0information, go to FEMA\u2019s National Flood Insurance Program web site at www.floodsmart.gov<\/p>\n

As a reminder, there is generally a 30-day waiting period from the time a flood insurance policy is purchased to\u00a0when it goes into effect.<\/p>\n

Additional information on floods and wildfires is available from your local National Weather Service web sites\u2026<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.weather.gov\/denver NWS Denver\/Boulder web site
\nhttp:\/\/www.weather.gov\/pueblo NWS Pueblo web site
\nhttp:\/\/www.weather.gov\/goodland NWS Goodland web site
\nhttp:\/\/www.weather.gov\/gjt NWS Grand Junction web site<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Colorado Flood Safety and Wildfire Preparedness Week<\/strong><\/p>\n