Winter storm preparedness

All eyes are on the East Coast as it braces for a major winter storm. Watches and warnings are in effect that could potentially impact 112 million people, and Washington, D.C. could see up to two feet. Emergency crews are in full preparation mode.

Southern Colorado is no stranger to major storms. The Front Range and surrounding Plains got hit with a powerful blizzard in December of 2006 that affected everything from travel to supplies.

But will emergency responders be ready for the next big one?

Earlier this month, dozens of agencies simulated a large-scale blizzard. The drill, dubbed “Deep Freeze ‘16”, put them to the test and revealed some holes in the coverage.

Robin Adair, with El Paso County Emergency Management, sees this as an advantage. Earlier today, she shared her thoughts with us.

“The chance for more than 30 agencies to practice went very well, but our purpose was not to determine what we were capable of. It was to determine what we need to improve and we found lots of areas for improvement too, and we’re working on plans to make ourselves better prepared”, Adair said.

But is the average person prepared? We hit the streets to find out.

Rowen Monks, who lives in Limon but works in Colorado Springs, told us that as a farmer, she’s always prepared for the worst but didn’t think that most people are. She said, “I don’t believe so. My mom and dad certainly wouldn’t be prepared and they live here in the Springs”.

Doris Chin, a Colorado Springs resident, said that she is well stocked on essentials like frozen foods for her, food for her dog and water, but felt that most people wouldn’t be as prepared: “People don’t usually think ahead. They just think day by day”.

We have some tips to help you prepare for the next big one. You can see them by clicking here.