A state of emergency has been declared in Park County as snow drifts as high as 24 feet have cut off ranchers and individual homeowners and new winter storms move into the area, officials said late this afternoon.
“We do have people stranded in their homes,” said Mike Roll, chief of the North-West Fire Protection District, which covers 278 square miles of the county.
“We are trying to find out how many people are stranded, where they are and what needs they have,” said Roll.
He said that a combination of hurricane-force winds and snow in the past two weeks have blocked roads to ranches and homes. Residents are running low on food, propane, medicine and other necessities, said Roll.
He said that at least five counties have pledged aid to Park County in the form of Sno-Cats, snow plows, graders and their crews. Among the counties assisting are El Paso, Chaffee, Jefferson, Summit and Teller.
He said that a shelter has been opened at the fairgrounds in Fairplay to house the rescued ranch owners and homeowners.
“The shelter is for the folks with no heat and no food,” he said.
State officials have closed Highway 285 between Fairplay and Grant because of blowing snow.
Roll said that drifts in Fairplay are 8- to 12-feet high while drifts in Como are up to 24 feet.
Roll said snow is currently falling in South Park, with 3 to 12 inches predicted tonight. He said another major storm, predicted to hit Thursday and Friday, may dump up to 2 feet.
One of the primary efforts of Park County officials now is to warn residents of just how serious the situation is and how it is expected to worsen, Roll said.
Lori Hodges, director of emergency management for Park County, said winds were clocked at 109 mph in Park County in late January.
Carl Burroughs, of the National Weather Service, said winds are expected to be about 30 mph Tuesday and Wednesday. He said Tuesday should be sunny, with the new storm moving in Wednesday night and Thursday.
Among those assisting the county will be Maj. Rick Albers of the Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office. Albers said today that he will be taking the county’s Sno-Cat to Fairplay on Tuesday to help in the rescue efforts.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
