The big storm: Are we ready?

Snow in Colorado Springs has caused plenty of problems, just as emergency management prepares for a catastrophic storm.

The Office of Emergency Management in El Paso County is holding it’s “deep freeze” training exercise on Saturday, designed to prepare volunteers and emergency responders for the fastest response possible during catastrophic storms.

The closest comparison storm is the blizzard of 1997.

“What happened was the local fire districts and Colorado Springs Fire Department developed their own emergency operations center to provide capacity and capability and to provide care,” Lonnie Inzer with El Paso County Emergency Management said.

Hundreds of volunteers will be on hand to act as stranded motorists, including Nancy Bracken.

“My husband and I live in Black Forest,” she said. “Our house wasn’t burned, but we need to help other folks.”

With frequent accidents on Colorado Springs roads after just a few inches of snow on roads, KRDO NewsChannel 13 asked the county if it was prepared for an actual blizzard.

“We would be ready,” Inzer said. “As far as conditions (Friday) night, whenever we have ice, that’s the worst case for our roadways.”

Agencies involved in the drill on Saturday include the Colorado National Guard, Black Forest Fire Rescue, St. Francis Medical Center and the Salvation Army.