Manitou Springs residents prepare for emergency with mock evacuation

Dozens of residents in Manitou Springs and Cedar Heights got a first-hand feeling of what it’s like to get evacuated from your home in case of an emergency.

Nellie and John Webster who have lived in their home for almost 10 years say they weren’t sure what to do when their neighborhood was evacuated during the Waldo Canyon Fire in 2012. The couple was getting ready to leave for a cruise when they saw the fire coming close. “It’s like what do we do? Stay home, worry about it and can’t do a thing? Or, do we leave, worry about it, and can’t do a thing?” Mrs. Webster said.

On Saturday morning, when a police officer came by their door said, “you have to leave,” they both packed what they could and got out of the house. In the few bags of necessities were medicine, electronics, and important identification.

In the car, Mr. Webster said another big worry for his community is trying to navigate out of Manitou Springs because of the narrow roads. He said, “today we’re fortunate because most of the neighbors are gone, it’s usually bumper to bumper all the way down this street.”

At Manitou High School, the predetermined evacuation center, the couple was checked in by El Paso County emergency response teams and then sat down with a representative with American Red Cross. It gave them a real feel of what they’d need to know if they had to evacuate.

Mrs. Webster said, “Not being here for the real outcome, it makes you nervous.”

City and county leaders said they hoped people who participated in today’s exercise made a note of what they need during an emergency and worked out problems that could occur should the real thing happen.