Officials urge Colorado communities to prepare for upcoming snowstorm

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Officials with AAA and the El Paso County Office of Emergency Management are urging people to prepare not only their cars, but their homes, for this weekend's upcoming storm.

Though the magnitude of the storm is still unknown, if it's anything like the 2019 Bomb Cyclone, interstates may get shut down and cars may get stuck.

"Slow down, speed is going to be what gets you into a crash, and slowing down will get you out of it," said Skyler McKinley, Regional Director of Public Affair for AAA. "Go ahead and replace those windshield wipers if you haven't in the last 6 months, that's about how long they last in Colorado."

AAA said they plan on having 300 of their drivers out on the Front Range this weekend.

"You're going to want to have an emergency kit in your car with everything you need to hang out safely until help arrives," said McKinley. "Certainly that's going to mean jackets, blankets, and I recommend a portable cell phone charger."

McKinley cautioned that if you do get stranded on a roadway that gets closed by Colorado Department of Transportation or local government officials, they have no way to rescue you.

Unless you have to be on the road for work or an emergency, officials with the El Paso County Office of Emergency Management are urging people to stay home, which isn't without its risks either.

"If you've lost power, any medical devices you might have that require power, make sure you have some sort of backup for that," said Jim Reid, the Director of the El Paso County Office of Emergency Management.

Reid said depending on the severity of the storm, a weekend at home can quickly turn into an entire week.

"You want to make sure you have your medication, water, food, a first aid kit in invaluable," said Reid. "Make sure you keep your family safe inside where it's warm. If they do have to go outside, again watch out for hypothermia"