Prepare Pueblo

The Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (CSEPP) funds the PreparePueblo educational campaign, an emergency preparedness readiness effort for the citizens of Pueblo County.  With an emphasis on the citizens working and living near the U.S. Army Pueblo Chemical Depot, our efforts are to prepare families for an emergency.  We ask the questions that get people talking about what they would do in an emergency.  

  • Fire     What is your families re-unification spot?
  • Flood   Do you have two routes to get to and from your home?
  • Chemical Event   Do you know how to Shelter-In-Place?

Because being ready for something that may never happen - makes every difference when it does.

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Pet Preparedness

Your pets are an important member of your family, so when an emergency or disaster strikes don’t forget them. Make sure to include your pets and their needs in your family emergency plan. Make sure you build a pet emergency kit and include it as part of your emergency kit. Having a prepared plan that includes your animals, both small and large, will make it a lot less stressful during an emergency.  

As part of your family emergency plan include a section for your animals that includes important records such as vaccination cards, where you would go if you had to evacuate and who might be able to get your animals should you not be allowed to get to your home during the emergency. Not all shelters or hotels will allow animals. Designate a safe place where you can take your animals if they are not able to stay with you. Develop a buddy system or someone you can designate to pick up or care for you animal should you be away from your home and unable to return to retrieve your animals.

Once you develop an evacuation plan for you and your pets, practice it so they are more comfortable when an emergency arises. In making your 72-hour emergency kit, be sure to add items for your pet. Among items you should pack for your pets are enough food and water for at least a couple of days. Make sure the food is kept in an airtight and waterproof container. Make sure to pack a bowl.

If your pet takes medication, keep an extra supply in the emergency kit along with a pet first aid kit. Include copies of your pet’s identification, vaccination tags and a photo just in case you and your pet become separated. Have a traveling bag, crate or sturdy carrier available for each of your pets. Pack trash bags and kitty litter so you can provide for your pet’s sanitation needs. Don’t forget to put a favorite toy, treats, bedding and other familiar items in the kit to help your pet during the stressful times.

If you have large animals such as horses and goats, pigs, chickens and cows, there are some things you can do to prepare for an emergency. Make sure each of your animals have some type of identification such as a brand, ear tag, leg band, halter tag or tattoo.

Prior to an emergency, map out a primary and secondary evacuation route and plan for trailers and other transportation that may be needed. Try to identify a location to board your animals, if needed. If possible, such as with a forecast weather situation, evacuate your animals early. If you have designated a place to board your animals, make sure there is plenty of food, water and shelter available for your animals.

If evacuation is not possible, be prepared to make a decision on whether to put animals in a barn or to let them run loose. When a disaster or emergency strikes, make sure all your family is prepared… including your 4-legged furry members.


Spring 2021SHELTER-IN-PLACE

Being ready for an emergency can consist of many things from building an emergency prepared kit to establishing an evacuation plan. Some emergencies may require you to get inside and stay put or shelter-in-place.” If you were required to shelter-in-place, would you know what to do?Here are some brief instructions to help you know what to do and create a plan for sheltering-in-place. Sometimes staying safe in an emergency requires you to stay inside and shelter-in-place, but where you should go inside and what you should do could be different based on the emergency. Regardless of the emergency, if you are asked to shelter-in-place, you should act immediately. Shelter where you are, unless otherwise directed by emergency officials. Go inside (make sure to take your pets with you) and stay put until you are instructed to leave by officials. Designate a safe room based on the type of emergency go to the room as soon as possible.

If it is a chemical or hazardous material emergency, make sure to tightly lock all doors and windows, and turn off fans, heating and air conditioning systems before going into the safe room. The quicker you do this, the less likely contaminates are able to get into the building. Listen to the TV or radio for further instructions on what to do.

 CREATING A SAFE ROOM - A safe room is a room that can easily and quickly be sealed to protect you from airborne chemical or hazardous material agents. You and your family should designate a safe room prior to an emergency. The safe room should be one that can be sealed tightly.

Create a shelter-in-place box to keep in your safe room for use during an emergency. In the box include plastic sheeting, scissors and tape. You can pre-cut and label the plastic to fit the windows, doors and vents in the room to make it for easier, quicker placement during the emergency. Include a battery-operated AM/FM radio, extra batteries, snacks and water in the box. Make sure to include supplies for your pet if you have one.

Once the emergency is declared over by officials, open doors and windows and turn on fans and other things that circulate air and go outside. Remain outside at least until the inside air has been exchanged with clean outdoor air.


When a disaster or emergency occurs, the first priority is life safety.

One of the ways to ensure you and your family remain safe is to be prepared by developing and practicing your family emergency plan. Critical to every emergency plan is an evacuation plan as many emergencies can require you to leave your home. In some cases, you may have a couple of days to prepare for an evacuation while other situations require you to immediately evacuate. Make sure to plan ahead so no matter when you have to evacuate you can do so safely and smoothly.

Don’t wait for a disaster or emergency to happen to make your evacuation plan --- do it today.

Plan ahead for emergencies, map your evacuation route today.

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When an emergency or disaster hits, getting life-saving information is important. One of the easiest and fastest ways to get information during an emergency is on your cell phone. Information such as alerts, notifications and directions of what you need to do, or where to go can be disseminated right to your phone. Emergency officials can identify specific areas that affected by the emergency/disaster and can prepare and send messages pertinent to the emergency. But you need to have your cell phone registered to receive the alerts.  Don’t wait for an emergency to register, do it today!! Registering your phone is simple. Click on the following link  http://portalv4.swiftreach.com/portal.aspx?c=202228 and follow the directions to register your phone.Make sure your family registers their phones as well. Remember, if we can’t reach you, we can’t alert you.

Without prior knowledge of the location of the emergency zones and what the specific instructions may be required of those residing or working the zones may come across as confusing. It’s important to pre-plan and know what instructions, such as “evacuate” or “shelter-in-place”, mean for you and your family. Families living in the designated emergency zones should discuss a plan in the event that there is an emergency and orders.

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We encourage Pueblo to learn more about the best way to protect yourself this season! When it comes to threats associated with natural disaster, we are fortunate in Pueblo County to not have the coastal risks that effect many other US communities.  Even the threats of earthquake or tornado are relatively low here in Pueblo.  Some of our biggest threats are often forecast or come with some warning.  Snow or thunder storms, and even wild land fires give residents time to leave or "hunker-down" as the threat approaches.  You have opportunity to prepare your family for those risks and educate yourself on the steps to take before, during, and after the event.

Make a disaster plan to protect your property, your facilities and your animals. Create a list of emergency telephone numbers, including those of your employees, neighbors, veterinarian, state veterinarian, poison control, local animal shelter, animal care and control. Include a contact person outside the disaster area. Make sure all the information is written down and that everyone has a copy. Make sure every animal has durable and visible identification Ensure that poultry have access to high areas in which to perch, if they are in a flood prone area as well as to food and clean water. Reinforce your barn and outbuildings. Perform regular safety checks on all utilities, buildings and facilities on your farm.

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