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Emergency Response Plan

Table of Contents

Background....................................................................................................................... 3

Geography……………………………………………………………………………….. 4

Disaster 1........................................................................................................................ 5

Disaster 2........................................................................................................................ 6

Disaster 3........................................................................................................................ 6

Local

Government……………….…………………………………………………………… 7

Flow

Chart……………………………………………………………………………………… 8

Planning for

Disaster................................................................................................................ 10

Before............................................................................................................................. 11

During.............................................................................................................................. 11

After................................................................................................................................. 12

Communication

Plan................................................................................................................ 15

Overview……………………………………………………………………………….. 15

Radio or TV Script........................................................................................................... 17

Visual Component ........................................................................................................... 19

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Restoration

Plan........................................................................................................................ 23

Restoration Plan.............................................................................................................. 23

(short term and long term plan)

Financial

Plan............................................................................................................................. 27

(short term and long term plan)

Appendices....................................................................................................................... 28
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BACKGROUND & GEOGRAPHY OF PUEBLO, CO.

Pueblo has become a major

economic and social center of Colorado and was home to important
early Colorado families such as the Thatchers, the Ormans, and the Adams. A series of major
floods culminated in the Great Flood of 1921, Pueblo was considered the 'Saddle-Making Capital
of the World'. Roughly one-third of Pueblo's downtown businesses were lost in this flood, along
with a substantial number of buildings.
Pueblo's orphanages were an influential part of the city. The transformations that have occurred
throughout the three orphanages in the town of Pueblo, Colorado are important aspects of the
city's history. The transformations have occurred architecturally and economically within the
people from then to now.

Pueblo, Colorado is a consolidated city, considered a major social and economic center for
southern Colorado. Hailed internationally as a beacon of development within Colorado, Pueblo is
also a center for cultural diversity. Approximately 110,295 people live in Pueblo, which is 2,447
people/per sq mi. (square mile). Out of that approximate population, 76.21% are White, 2.41%
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are African American, and 1.73% are Native American.

Pueblo sits in a ​high desert​ area of terrain in southern Colorado and is near the western edge of
the ​Southwestern Tablelands​ ecology region. Pueblo has a steppe climate, with four distinct
seasons. The state of Colorado has an overall elevation of 6,800 feet, but Pueblo’s highest
elevation is 11,500 feet, it’s lowest being 4,608
feet, leaving it at an average of 4,692 feet. It is
also at the center of multiple bodies of water,
the majority of those being rivers with a couple
of lakes. Runyon Lake, Lake Isabel, Arkansas
River, Apishapa River, Chico River, Cucharas
River, Huerfano River, Saint Charles River are
those bodies of water.

The overall range of income within Pueblo adds up to approximately $38,380 per household,
with $21,905 per capita income, and this is thanks to the wide array of job occupations and fields
that Pueblo offers, like Retail, Health, Accommodation, and Manufacturing.
Pueblo has a total of two public transit systems, four small airports, and a mean travel time to
work of 18.3 minutes. This city is at harm of experiencing natural disasters, but since it is a
landlocked city, it is only at danger of flooding, landslides, mudslides, snow storms, fires,
tornadoes, droughts, and flash floods. Out of Pueblo’s entire history, there have only been six
Presidential Emergencies declared, and 6 Local Emergencies declared.
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DISASTER RESEARCH

FOREST FIRES
Forest fires are believed to be started by careless human behavior, but the infernos that
reach media attention are rarely started by careless human behavior. On a hot summer day, when
drought conditions have peaked in southwest and western states, something as small as a spark
from a train car’s wheel striking the track can ignite a wildfire. There are other natural causes,
like being ignited by the heat from the sun or a lightning strike, but the most common causes that
aren’t naturally caused include arson, campfires, discarded lit cigarettes, fireworks, or
improperly burning debris. There are also natural causes that fuel the fire, like a material’s flash
point, which is the temperature at which it will burst into flames. Wood’s flash point is 572
degrees Fahrenheit. When wood is heated to this temperature, it releases hydrocarbon gases that
mix with oxygen in the air, which combust and create fire. There is also something called the
“fire triangle,” which is what a fire requires to burn--this triangle includes fuel, air, and heat.
Without one of these three things, forest fires burn out and fizzle much quicker.

FLOODING
Flooding is almost always caused by heavy rainfall and snow, but those causes are
considered meteorological phenomena. Since they are naturally caused, these causes are subject
to atmospheric and global driving forces which makes flooding much more complex and
complicated. There is something called the science of river flow and water movement on the
ground, which is also called the science of hydrology. A river forms from water moving from a
higher altitude to a lower altitude, all due to gravity. When rain falls on the land, it either seeps
into the ground or becomes runoff, which flows downhill into rivers and lakes, on its journey
towards the seas. But there are many sub-categories underneath rainfall and snow that can cause
flooding, such as over-saturated soil, frozen soil, and ice jams in rivers. There is also something
called “burning scars,” which is why flooding can occur after extreme fires. Burning scars is
when the burning from forest fires destroys soil and vegetation in the area, which prevents the
soil from being able to absorb rainfall, which then leads to flooding.

BLIZZARDS
In order for a snowstorm to be considered a blizzard, it needs to have winds in excess of
35 mph and visibilities of less than ¼ mile for at least 3 hours. Blizzard conditions often develop
on the northwest side of an intense storm system, which is where a mass of warm air rises over
cold air, and then the lower pressure in the storm and the higher pressure in the storm creates a
tight pressure gradient. This is the major scientific cause of the strong winds that are needed for
blizzards. Blizzards will also only occur if temperatures are below freezing at ground level and in
the clouds, which allows clouds and snow to form. They can also be caused by heavy snowfall
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and high winds. Which lead to whiteout conditions. Both types of leave little to no visibility and
are colder than normal snow flurries.

LOCAL & STATE GOVERNMENT

The legal system for Pueblo, Colorado is the same as the legal system used throughout
the state. The U.S. Constitution gives Congress the power to enact federal laws (“statutes”) on
certain subjects, but according to the Constitution, not all powers delegated to Congress are
reserved to the states. State legislatures can pass laws on matters for which share jurisdiction
with Congress, but they can also pass laws on matters in which the Constitution does not grant
jurisdiction to the federal government. The Courts enforce statutes and interprets them, invalidate
unconstitutional statutes, and make laws in areas not covered by statues. The four main roles
played by our courts include Enforcement, Interpretation, Invalidation, and Making Laws.

The branches of government for the United States are the executive branch, the
legislative branch, and the judicial branch. The executive branch of government is in charge of
enforcing laws--its power is vested in the President. There is also the President’s Cabinet, which
is made up of 15 leaders from independent federal agencies, and they act as an advisory board.
There is also the Vice President, who is second-in-command and is expected to take the place of
the President if he is unable to continue. There is also a state equivalent of the executive branch,
which is made up of the governor, state legislature, and general assembly. The legislative branch
is made up of the House and Senate, known as Congress collectively. The legislative branch’s
responsibilities include making laws, declaring wars, regulating interstate and foreign commerce,
and control taxing and spending policies--each state has representatives in the House and Senate.
The judicial branch consists of the U.S. Supreme Court and the Federal Judicial Center. It
includes criminal and civil courts and helps interpret the U.S. Constitution, and the judicial
branch limits the powers of the other branches of government. In the U.S. Supreme Court, there
is one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices.

Communication in Pueblo is vital. 1.072% are landline users compared to the world's
45.9%. Forty-six percent of Pueblo’s population are cellular users, compared to the world’s
62.9% There is a lot of broadcast media, including: Thrifty Nickel, The Pueblo Chieftain
(Print/Newspaper), 88.3, 89.5, 89.9, 91.9, 93.3, 94.7, 95.5, 96.9, 98.9, 99.9, 100.7, 104.9, 105.9,
106.9, 107.9 (FM Radio Frequencies), NBC, PBS, PBS Kids, Create/World, UniMas, Univision,
LATV (TV Stations). Internet users include 111,127 of people living in Pueblo (99% of its
population), compared to the world’s 48%.

The four actions the local government inside Pueblo takes when a disaster occurs
includes utilizing fire department NIMS (National Incident Management System), putting the
Pueblo County Emergency Operation Plan into place, proclaiming a local state of emergency,
and requesting assistance from the state of Colorado. The three state government actions in
response to a disaster that may lead to a Federal declaration are evaluating the severity of the
local situation, determining if the situation is beyond the capability of the state, and proclaiming
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a state of emergency If Federal aid is requested by the state. The three responsibilities of the
Federal government are to approve or deny requests for federal assistance, activating the federal
response plan, and sending an emergency support team that provides emergency support
functions. The common action phases of disaster response at the State level of government
include assessing the threat or impact, which then leads to the initial assessment. They then
respond with recovery efforts.

A disaster response role unique to the local government is they coordinate a response
with public and private organizations. The actions that must be taken at the State government
level before Federal resources are available for the disaster response include: determining the
severity of the emergency, and whether or not the state has the capabilities to solve it on their
own. If Federal aid is requested, they first conduct damage assessments with state and local
governments, and from there they approve or deny federal assistance

The common action phases of disaster response at the state level of government are
Threat or Impact​, which is determining if a state of emergency needs to be declared, and
assessing the threat of disaster. ​Initial Assessment,​ which is determining if the situation is beyond
capabilities of the state, and then requesting Federal assistance if needed. ​Response,​ which
includes activating the Crisis Action Team (CAT), and identifying tasks by determining what
needs to be completed in the next 12, 24, 48, etc. hours. And finally, ​Recovery​, which is
coordinating outreach efforts, and prepares for State/Federal meeting which decides on the next
steps for the disaster zone.

The five steps in the disaster recovery process include:

1. Governor requests Federal assistance
2. FEMA/State Emergency Management Agency establish DFO
3. Determine if DRCs are needed for individuals to visit to gather information
4. Prospective applicants fill out an RPA
5. FEMA and the state work with the applicant on hazard mitigation and insurance
requirements.
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CHAIN OF COMMAND FLOW-CHART

The flowchart showcases the chain of command needed in order to respond to natural
disasters and emergencies in the city of Pueblo, Colorado. The first five main components of this
chain include the Mayor, the Governor, the Colorado Director of Homeland Security, the
Department of Homeland Security, and the President--these are the leaders and directors who
start off the response to any emergency on the local level of Colorado.

The Mayor is in charge of communicating that federal aid is needed to the Governor, who
is the only one in Colorado who holds the power to make a request for federal aid from the
President. The Mayor doesn’t communicate directly to the Governor for the duration of the
disaster, as the Colorado Director of Homeland Security acts as a messenger between the two
leaders. This goes similar for the Governor and the President--after the Governor makes their
request for federal aid, the rest of the communication towards the President is done through the
Department of Homeland Security.

From there, those five leaders give their own instructions to the rest of the positions listed
on the flowchart. The Mayor has the most communicating to complete, seeing as they are the
leader of Pueblo and needs to act on a much more local level then the Governor and Director of
Homeland Security need to. The Mayor has to communicate with everyone from the Board of
Water Works to Xcel Energy, the EOC Representative to the Fire Department of Pueblo, and the
Director of Communications to the Director of Pueblo Media.

The Governor has to primarily communicate with the Mayor, and then standby for further
instruction from the Department of Homeland Security. If statewide aid is needed alongside local
and federal aid, the Governor makes that decision. Both the Director of Homeland Security and
the Department of Homeland Security have to communicate federal aid needs to the Deputy
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Administrator and U.S. Fire Administrator, who then go on to request aid from the FEMA
Deputy Administrator, Office of Response and Recovery, and the Red Cross. Those
organizations then complete the circle of communication by organizing with the Fire Department
of Pueblo on which specific areas federal help is most needed.
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PLANNING FOR DISASTER

BASIC PLANNING
In order to protect yourself, you need to understand how a fire operates. Fire spreads very
quickly, so there is little to no time to grab valuables. The heat and smoke can be even more
dangerous than the flames themselves. Things like seared lungs, asphyxiation, and extreme
smoke inhalation are the leading causes of why people die in fires.

BEFORE
In order to prepare for house fires and wildfires, Install fire alarms. Properly working alarms
decrease your chance of dying in a fire by half. Make sure to place fire alarms on every level of
your residence, clean them once a month, and change the batteries once every year. Fire alarms
will need to be replaced every 10 years to ensure that they are working properly. Review escape
plans with your family. Practice escaping from each room and make sure that windows are not
painted or nailed shut. You should also consider investing in escape ladders if your house has
multiple levels. Clean out storage areas, and do not let old papers such as newspapers and
magazines accumulate. Never use extreme flammable liquids such as gasoline, benzene, or
naphtha indoors. Also, make sure to never smoke near flammable liquids. Discard all rags or
other materials that have been soaked in flammable liquids after use. Safely discard them
outdoors in a metal container. Be careful when using alternative heating sources, and check with
your local fire department on the legality of using kerosene heaters in your community.

DURING
If your clothes should catch on fire, do the “stop, drop, and roll” method to extinguish the
flames, running will only increase the blaze and worsen your injuries. To escape a fire, you
should first check closed doors for any heat, if the door is hot, do not open and escape through a
window. If the door is cool, open slowly to ensure that there aren’t any signs of smoke or fire
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blocking your escape path. If the route is blocked, escape through a window or another source. If
the path is clear, proceed slowly. Be ready to crawl.

AFTER
If you are a burn victim or with a burn victim, call 9-1-1 and cool and cover burns to reduce the
chance of further injury or infection. If you are a tenant, contact the landlord. If you must leave
the establishment because an inspector says it’s too dangerous, have someone you trust to watch
the residence.

FOR WILDFIRES

BEFORE
If you are living in a remote location, make sure you have address markers that are visible from
the road, it will help authorities in locating rural residences. Maintain lawns and roof and rain
gutters to ensure there are no excessive dead leaves, and stack firewood at least 30 feet away
from the residence. Landscape your residence with fire-resistant plants and vegetation to prevent
the fire from spreading too quickly. Make sure to cover all exterior vents, attics, and eaves with
metal mesh screens no larger than ¼ of an inch to prevent debris from collecting and to keep
sparks out, and use fire-resistant draperies for added window protection. Make sure water
sources are accessible to the fire department and sign up for your community’s warning system.
Be sure you know what emergency alerts from the EAS and NOAA sound like and what key
terms they use in regards to wildfires. Know your community’s evacuation plans, and find
several ways to leave the area. Find shelter locations and have a plan for pets and livestock.
Gather emergency supplies listed above, keep enough protein and food to last you for at least 72
hours. Keep important documents in fireproof containers, and have password protected digital
copies of each document. Find an outdoor water source with a hose that can reach any part of
your property and create a fire-resistant zone that is free of leaves, debris, or flammable materials
at least 30 feet away from your home. Review insurance coverage to make sure it is enough to
replace damaged property. Pay attention to air quality alerts, since debris and smoke can still
linger in the air weeks after the initial fire.
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FOLLOW BURNING LAWS

Before burning debris in a wooded area, make sure you notify the local authorities, obtain a
burning permit, and follow the listed guidelines. Use an approved incinerator with a safety lid or
covering with holes no larger than ¾ of an inch, and create at least a 10-foot clearing around the
incinerator before burning debris. Have an extinguisher or hose on hand while burning debris.

DURING
If a wildfire threatens your home and time permits it, turn off the gas at the meter, turn off
propane tanks, place combustible patio furniture inside. Try to connect a garden hose to outside
tap and place lawn sprinklers on the roof and above ground fuel tanks. Wet the roof. Close all
interior windows and doors to prevent drafts. Evacuate immediately if told to do so. If trapped,
call 911 and give them your location, make sure to turn on lights to help emergency responders
in finding you. Listen to EAS, NOAA, or local weather alert systems for current emergency
conditions and instructions. If you are not ordered to evacuate but smoky conditions exist, stay
inside a safe location or go to a community building where the smoke levels are lower.

AFTER
Listen to authorities on when it is safe to return, and whether or not the water is safe to drink.
Avoid hot ash, charred trees, smoldering debris, and live embers. The ground can contain heat
pockets that will either burn you or spark another fire. Consider the dangers to pets and livestock.
Send text messages or use social media to talk to family. Phone lines can be busy after a disaster
so only call in case of emergency. Wear a NIOSH certified respirator dust mask and wet down
debris to minimize breathing dust particles. Document property damage with photographs.
Conduct an inventory and contact your insurance company for assistance. Flooding risk remains
significantly high after fires, or at least 5 years after the fire or until vegetation is restored.
Consider buying flood insurance to protect your home and property.
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FLOODING

BEFORE

For flooding, you want to make sure that you have everything you need to be prepared in case of
an emergency. You need to make sure that you know evacuation routes, shelter plans, and flash
flood response. It is also good to know where everything you need like medications, pet food,
food, and water. If flash flooding is a big problem in your area then you might want to monitor
any heavy rain. It is also a good idea to renew, or even purchase, flood protection in case of
floods. Homeowner’s policies do not cover flooding. Keep important documents in a waterproof
container. Create password-protected digital copies. Protect your property. Move valuables to
higher levels. Declutter drains and gutters. Install check valves. Consider a sump pump with a
battery. For the safety of your house and important documents. If your house is in a flood area
there is most likely going to be damage to your house. With the sump pump, you will most likely
be able to get most of the water out before you have to deal with any electrical.

DURING
Depending on where you are and the severity of the flooding you will head to the safe location
that you previously decided. If told to evacuate, do immediately. You don’t want to drive around
barricades that are in place because they are in place to keep people safe. It is advised to listen to
EAS (Emergency Alert System), the NOAA weather system (National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration), or local alerting systems for current instructions and emergency information.
Don’t drive, swim, or walk in water. Don’t drown, turn around. If water is rising inside the
vehicle, then seek refuge on the roof. If your vehicle is trapped in rapidly moving water, then
stay inside. If you are trapped in a building go to the highest floor without going into the attic. If
you go to the attic and get stuck, it will take longer to get you out of your house. What you want
to do is get on your roof and wait for help there. Once there you will want to signal for help. It is
safer to stay on the roof than to go search for it. At 6 inches water will sweep anyone off their
feet. At one foot it will start to move cars.
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EXTREME COLD & WINTER STORMS

Winter storms create a higher risk of hypothermia, frostbite, car accidents, and heart
attacks from over exertion. Winter storms and blizzards can bring freezing rain, ice, snow,
extreme cold and high winds. These storms can blast a few hours or days; Knock out power,
communication, heat; and place older adults,young children, and sick individuals at greater risk.
If you are in a place that is under a winter storm warning, you need to find shelter right away.
You need to stay off roads, stay indoors and dress warmly in case of power outages. Use
generators outside and away from windows because of sound pollution. Listen for emergency
information and alerts either on the radio or the television. You will want to look for signs of
hypothermia and frostbite in order to to immediate action.

BEFORE
In order to ensure that you can properly prepare for winter storms and extreme winter cold, there
are multiple things that community members will need to either strongly consider completing or
getting done completely. You will need to prepare your home, which includes including rock salt
to melt walkways, sand to improve traction, and snow shovels along with other snow removal
tools to your emergency kit. You will also need to prepare for possible isolation in your home by
making sure that you have sufficient heating fuels since mainline heating may be involuntarily
cut off. You will also need to ensure there are enough survival supplies such as food, water, and
medicine to last you for at least 72 hours. If possible, you should also winterize your car to
prevent accidents, injury, and possible death. You can do this by making sure battery and
ignition systems are in top condition, cleaning battery terminals, ensuring that antifreeze levels
are sufficient to avoid freezing, ensuring that the heater and defroster are working properly,
checking/repairing windshield wiper equipment, keeping proper washer fluid levels, and
checking for leaks and crimped pipes in the exhaust system. Carbon monoxide is a deadly
chemical and usually gives no warning. Also consider investing in snow tires or chains to
prevent sliding, and replacing fuel and air filters.

DURING
Stay off road at all times. If you are trapped in a car stay in your car. Limit your time outside. If
you do have to go outside wear layers of warm clothing. Watch for frostbite and hypothermia,
and begin treatment right away if there is anything that is seen.Avoid carbon monoxide
poisoning by not running your car in your garage. Only use generators and grills outdoors and
away from windows. Never heat your home with a gas stovetop or oven, this will lead to carbon
monoxide poisoning and possibly blowing up your home. Reduce the risk of a heart attack by not
shoveling snow. Avoid overexertion when shoveling snow. Check on neighbors if you have the
chance and there is no risk to you. Older adults and young children are more at risk in extreme
cold because of their weakened immune systems.
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COMMUNICATIONS

AFTER
Listen to authorities on when it is safe to return, and whether or not the water is safe to drink.
Once you have returned to Pueblo, you will need to look out for anyone who is injured. Do not
attempt to move any seriously injured person unless they are in immediate danger of death or
further injury. If you must move an unconscious person, first stabilize the neck and back, then
call for help immediately. You and your family members will also need to look out for their own
health--be aware of exhaustion, don’t try to do too much all at once, be sure to set priorities and
pace yourself. Drink plenty of clean water, eat well, and wear sturdy boots and gloves. If you
find yourself working with debris, wash your hands thoroughly with clean water and soap. When
returning home, you will need to make the decision on whether or not to relocate or restore the
residence--if your home wasn’t affected by the fire, you will still need to follow safety protocols
and watch out for any remaining hazards once returning home. Keep a battery powered radio to
continue to listen to post-fire updates, and a battery powered flashlight to navigate throughout
the property. Only use the phone to call in life-threatening emergencies. Avoid hot ash, charred
trees, smoldering debris, and live embers. The ground can contain heat pockets that will either
burn you or spark another fire. Consider the dangers to pets and livestock, and do not bring them
back to your property until authorities deem it safe for them to do so. Send text messages or use
social media to talk to family. Phone lines can be busy after a disaster so only call in case of
emergency. Wear a NIOSH certified respirator dust mask and wet down debris to minimize
breathing dust particles. Document property damage with photographs. When going through the
residence, you will need to watch out for the following things:
- Natural gas leaks
- Sparks, broken wires, or frays
- Roof, foundation, and chimney cracks
- Appliance damage
- Water system damage
- Contaminated food supplies
- Chemical spills
Conduct an inventory and contact your insurance company for assistance.
Flooding risk remains significantly high after fires, or at least 5 years after the fire or
until vegetation is restored. Consider buying flood insurance to protect your home and
property.
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EVACUATION MAP
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RADIO SCRIPT

English
Attention all citizens, there is a fire headed for your homes and businesses. If you are at your
residence you need to collect what you can to survive and leave immediately. If you do not you
will most likely perish. If you do perish your family will not know you perished until several
weeks after the fire. Some things you will need to survive are any medication, food, water, pet’s
medication, pet’s food, water dish for animals like cats and dogs and gasoline for your vehicle.
Anything like family pictures, and anything else sentimental is not top priority, but if you have
time to get it and not be at more risk of dying then get it. After you leave your place of residence
and make it out of the danger zone, you will want to get to a police staging area to see where to
go next. They will tell you where you need to go. If your house didn’t burn down but did have
damages then you will have to repair those damages. If you were unfortunate and your house
burned down you will have to either rebuild your house or find a new house. Your house wasn’t
the only house to burn down so you will need to fight in the house market.

Chinese (Simplified)

所有市民都在关注，有一场火灾冲向你的家园和企业。如果您在您的住所，您需要收集您
的生存和立即离开。如果你不这样做，你很可能会灭亡。如果你灭亡，你的家人将不会知
道你在火灾发生几周后就会死亡。你需要生存的一些东西是任何药物，食物，水，宠物的
药物，宠物的食物，猫和狗等动物的水盘以及你车辆的汽油。任何像家庭照片和任何其他
感伤的东西都不是最优先考虑的事情，但是如果你有时间去做它并且不会有更多的死亡风
险那么就得到它。离开居住地并将其带出危险区域后，您将需要前往警察集结区，看看下
一步该去哪里。他们会告诉你你需要去哪里。如果你的房子没有烧毁但确实有损坏，那么
你将不得不修理这些损坏。如果你不幸和你的房子被烧毁，你将不得不重建你的房子或找
到一所新房子。你的房子不是唯一烧毁的房子，所以你需要在房屋市场上打架。
Suǒyǒu shìmín dōu zài guānzhù, yǒuyī chǎng huǒzāi chōng xiàng nǐ de jiāyuán hé qǐyè. Rúguǒ
nín zài nín de zhùsuǒ, nín xūyào shōují nín de shēngcún hé lìjí líkāi. Rúguǒ nǐ bù zuò, nǐ hěn
kěnéng huì mièwáng. Rúguǒ nǐ mièwáng, nǐ de jiārén jiāng bù huì zhīdào nǐ zài huǒzāi fāshēng jǐ
zhōu hòu jiù huì sǐwáng. Nǐ xihuan shēngcún de yīxiē dōngxī shì rènhé yàowù, shíwù, shuǐ,
chǒngwù di yàowù, chǒngwù de shíwù, māo hé gǒu děng dòngwù de shuǐ pán yǐjí nǐ chēliàng de
qìyóu. Rènhé xiàng jiātíng zhàopiàn hé rènhé qítā gǎnshāng de dōngxī dū bùshì zuì yōuxiān
kǎolǜ de shìqíng, dànshì rúguǒ nǐ yǒu shíjiān qù zuò tā bìngqiě bù huì yǒu gèng duō de sǐwáng
fēngxiǎn nàme jiù dédào tā. Líkāi jūzhù dì bìng jiāng qí dài chū wéixiǎn qūyù hòu, nín jiāng
xūyào qiánwǎng jǐngchá jíjié qū, kàn kàn xià yībù gāi qù nǎlǐ. Tāmen huì gàosù nǐ nǐ xūyào qù
nǎlǐ. Rúguǒ nǐ de fángzi méiyǒu shāohuǐ dàn quèshí yǒu sǔnhuài, nàme nǐ jiāng bùdé bù xiūlǐ
zhèxiē sǔnhuài. Rúguǒ nǐ bùxìng hé nǐ de fángzi bèi shāohuǐ, nǐ jiāng bùdé bù chóngjiàn nǐ de
fángzi huò zhǎodào yī suǒ xīn fángzi. Nǐ de fángzi bùshì wéiyī shāohuǐ de fángzi, suǒyǐ nǐ yào
zài fángwū shìchǎng shàng dǎjià.
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EMERGENCY INFO PAMPHLET

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RECOVERY AND RESTORATION PLAN

In order to begin recovery after a wildfire, the people of Pueblo, CO. will need to start on
both an individual and short term basis. If authorities have deemed it safe to do so, you and your
family will return home to assess the damages and decide if rebuilding is the best solution for
your family, or if relocating is.
Every homeowner will need to talk to an insurance agent before anyone else, taking
pictures of the damage, and then securing the property to prevent any further damage. Even after
the fire is out, property and content damage can still continue to occur, water left behind from
firefighting efforts can become a source of mold and mildew growth, and chemicals used can
damage surfaces and other areas in your house. ​Soot and ash create air quality hazards, and
unsound roofs and floors can cave in. Unsecured property is susceptible to looting, which can
damage the property further. By communicating with your insurance agent, emergency
restoration efforts can be arranged for you, by both the insurance company and the City of
Pueblo, but be sure to leave it up to the experts. They will be able to provide fencing, shoring,
board ups, and will have the equipment and experience for proper water extraction and dry outs.
They will also be able to begin demolition and remove fire debris, and get you in a position to
move on to rebuilding your home or business. You will also need to collect damage information,
clean undamaged items and move them to safety, and remove smoke and soot throughout the
building. Cleaning after a fire is not a straightforward task, seeing as burning different materials
creates different kinds of smoke that need specific types of cleaning. Different building materials
on floors and walls and cabinetry call for different cleaning materials, so having a reliable
restoration company will be able to provide comprehensive smoke and soot removal services to
ensure that all surfaces and systems can be returned to pre-fire condition.
On a community wide level, there will need to be safety assessments of public and
private buildings in condensed areas, such as Downtown Pueblo. Experts need to look for
structural issues along with other dangers, such as asbestos or chemicals that could harm people
reentering the building. They also need to determine if anything in the building requires special
disposal considerations. There will also be community efforts to prevent any additional damages;
before the real restoration work can begin on the community wide level, there will be steps
Pueblo needs to take in order to prevent further damage from the elements to exposed areas of a
building. Along with the safety assessment, a damage assessment will begin after officials
determine that the building is safe. Only then can experts look more closely at potential damage
to building features, such as the HVAC and electrical systems and determine what property,
documents and goods might be salvageable.
Finally, the clean up process starts; since the damage from smoke and water increases
quickly with time, restoration providers aim to start the clean-up process as soon as it is safely
possible. The process itself can involve a host of steps, usually starting with addressing water or
chemical damage from sprinklers and other fire-fighting efforts. Restoration teams may use
cleaning agents and structure cleaning solutions in an attempt to salvage flooring, furniture and
any equipment or other items impacted by soot and smoke. It’s especially important to begin
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document and book recovery processes as quickly as possible, since paper begins to disintegrate
as soon as it is exposed to water.
Pueblo’s 2019 Annual Budget stated having $ 10,164,009 set aside for emergency funds,
which could cover costs from anywhere between rebuilding to paying emergency responders, but
in order to fully recover from a disaster, Pueblo has had to spend anywhere between $20,000,000
to $35,000,000 in order to fully recover and return back to normalcy.

LONG TERM
In order to be prepared for the long term, the people of Pueblo, CO. will need to follow
the advice given here. They will need to have fire and life insurance in place in case another fire
were to occur; fire insurance for if any property is to burn and life insurance if someone in their
family would to perish in the flames. If the family doesn’t wish to rebuild their home in Pueblo,
then relocation may be necessary. If they don’t have any family that lives close then they will
have to wait until everything is built back up, or move out of state. If they choose not to move
out of state they will need to find a place to stay within or near the town, and start the
homebuying process once again. After they buy a house they will need to start rebuilding their
collection of stuff they had before the fire. If they were lucky, they grabbed all their family
photos. Fortunately, these are short term concerns and tasks to be completed immediately after
the disaster, but the long term of the community needs to be looked into as well. Since vegetation
and Pueblo’s beautiful community has the possibility of being completely destroyed, there are
multiple steps that need to be taken in order to restore it:
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1. Save the oldest trees.

- Extreme logging in the beginnings of Colorado’s history have lead to the scarcity
of yellow-barked ponderosa pines. These trees tend to be resilient to fires, but the
older trees are declining in health which leaves them vulnerable to wildfires. This
can be done through thinning of other trees around the older trees. When thinning,
retain trees that predate grazing and fire exclusion, these typically fall between
150-200 years old. Thin out trees that are shade tolerant and become fuel ladders
during fires.

2. Reduce stocking levels.

- Reduce tree densities to numbers more closely resembling pre-1870 conditions.
Trees-per-acre prior to European settlement are estimated 25 to 50 more.

3. Distribute trees in groups.

- Standing trees left after thinning operations should be grouped and clumped in a
fashion that closely resembles pre-1870s conditions. Even spacing of trees is not
desirable, density should vary throughout forest stands from open pockets with no
or few trees to dense pockets of trees with the equivalent of up to 150 trees per
acre.

4. Keep standing dead trees.

- Save most standing snags, particularly those larger than 10 inches in diameter

5. Monitor natural regeneration.

- It is important to decide early in the management of an area which openings are to
be maintained over time, as that will dictate maintenance needs. Regeneration of
other areas occurs through natural seeding, but if regeneration is lacking, planting
can be used to achieve desired density.

6. Create openings.
- Openings are areas with no to very few trees and a crown closure of 10 percent or
less. most openings were small, in the two- to five-acre range, and only a few of
the very large openings were present. Recreating such openings provides habitat
for many wildlife species, and can greatly reduce the risk of crown fires.

7. Avoid leaving too much fuel behind.

- New growth follows thinning or prescribed fire and puts a time limit on the
effectiveness of these treatments. If management goals include reducing fire
danger, then treatments that leave heavy fuels behind in the form of slash or living
trees don’t work—they waste resources. Only treatments that allow for the
possibility of future low-severity fires to manage fuels represent a long-term
solution to the problem of unnatural wildfire intensity.
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8. Conduct prescribed burning.

- On forests are thinned, fire is crucial to maintaining forest structure and more
closely emulates natural fire regimes than thinning alone. Without fire, thinned
forests quickly will become dense again. Prescribed burning should be used,
where appropriate, to reduce fuel loads, expose mineral soil, provide a nutrient
flush for vegetation, reduce competition, and stimulate production of grasses and
forbs that may have evolved under periodic fire cycles. Though initial fires after
thinning often are hot and/or smoky, due to the large quantities of needle and
woody fuel on the ground, future fires sh burn mainly herbaceous vegetation and
tree saplings, producing less heat and smoke.

9. Consider understory restoration.

- Restoration treatments emphasize restoring the diversity and productivity of these
plants. In some cases, this may require seeding with native species or removal of
invasive spe Grazing activity should be managed and monitored during one to
three years follow the initial treatment to help establish and spread grasses and
forbs in the understory. Noxious weed problems should be addressed prior to
thinning and prescribed burning to reduce their potential for spread. Learn and
apply the proper cultivation and control tool including grazing, proper timing of
fire, and mechanical and chemical control that c reduce the spread potential of
weeds.

10. Size and landscape patterns matter.

- Larger treated areas more effectively reduce fir behavior than smaller areas.
Software tools and GIS technology can help assess where treatments are most
important and where resources are needed.
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Since the San Isabel National Forest and surrounding vegetation covers ​140,000 acres, and the
average cost for forest restoration per acre is $540, the estimated cost for restoration--assuming
the entire 140,000 acres has been completely destroyed--would add up to $75.6 million in total
cost.
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ARCGIS MAPS

DISASTER VULNERABILITY (SOCIAL) MAP

FLOOD AFFECTED AREA (FLOODING FROM 2013)

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MAJOR HIGHWAYS LEADING OUT OF PUEBLO (EVACUATION)

LOCATION AND DENSITY OF FIRE & POLICE DEPARTMENTS, SCHOOLS,

AND HOSPITALS