From Hinsdale County Emergency Operations Center – Press Release Updates

The following chronological updates are from District 2 Commissioner Kristie Borchers on behalf of Hinsdale County Emergency Operations Center (EOC), Silver World is re-printing these most recent at the top going back to March 14:

Evening Update

By order of the Sheriff’s Office, County Road 20 beyond the ATV Staging area remains closed.

By order of the Sheriff’s Office, County Road 30 beyond Wager Gulch remains closed.

By order of the Sheriff’s Office, the Lake City Ski Hill remains closed until further notice.

By order of the Sheriff’s Office, the Waterdog Trail remains closed.

The Monte Queen subdivision is released from all restrictions.

The three properties adjacent to the Monte Queen subdivision are released from all restrictions.

Trespassers of the Closure Order will be prosecuted.

Residents are encouraged to monitor environmental conditions – rain on snow events, a rapid warming trend of 2-3 nights of non-freezing temperatures, or an additional, significant snow event.

Snow sluffing or avalanche activity can be an indicator of conditions. If you witness an event or the evidence of an event not-yet-reported, please exercise abundant caution for your personal safety and send us a photograph of the event with the location and time.

Thank you to Representative Barbara McLaughlin for hosting a conversation today with local residents.

All residents are encouraged to use precautions for a typical high snow year which includes watch for falling rocks, monitor your conditions, be prepared with supplies in your home and in your vehicle, maintain half-tank or full-tank gas in vehicles, and check your communication plans with friends and family.

Morning Update

Please join our Colorado State Representative Barbara McLachlan around noon on Saturday at Coursey Annex to celebrate the resiliency of Lake City and Hinsdale County.

A reminder that the Hinsdale County Sheriff’s Office has issued a mandatory closure for County Road 20 at the ATV staging area, the Lake City Area Ski Hill and adjacent properties, and for County Road 30 at Wager Gulch. Violators will be prosecuted.

The Monte Queen subdivision remains an Area of Concern.

Check out this morning’s KVNF interview.

Please continue to monitor your surroundings for these three environmental conditions – rain on snow events, rapid warming trends, and accumulation of snow.

As at any time, be prepared with extra supplies, potable water, and a secondary source of heat in your homes. If at any time you feel uncomfortable in your surroundings, use abundant caution and make appropriate decisions.

Stay tuned for information on recovery and next steps for our community.

There will be no further updates unless conditions change.

9:30 a.m. March 20

Access Update

Mandatory evacuations remain on County Road 20 beyond the ATV Staging area.

Evening Update

Recommendations and field assessments from the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) were provided to Hinsdale County policy-makers this evening.

CenturyLink restored telephone service in upper County Road 30.

CBS4 was in Lake City for interviews.

There will be a public meeting in the Armory at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 20.

The emergency operations center transitioned into remote operations at 8:00 p.m.

Morning Update

The Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) is working with local officials for a morning assessment of conditions.

CenturyLink and Gunnison County Electric Association technicians are working to restore telephone communications beyond the McJunkin/Hammonds Meadows slide.

The Town of Lake City reported that the County Road 42 hydrants are now operational.

State representatives are in the emergency operations center for assistance with response and recovery.

The emergency operations center was activated at 7:00 a.m.

Evening update

A Comnet technician conducted testing in Lake City this evening. They believe all issues with the 911 system have been resolved.

The Hinsdale County coroner confirmed the fatality reported yesterday was not avalanche related.

More permanent barriers were installed in several areas today by Hinsdale County Road & Bridge.

Clearing work continues on the McJunkin / Hammonds Meadows slide.

The Town of Lake City has cleared all fire hydrants except those that are flagged due to non-disaster related maintenance issues.

Mineral County’s Sheriff’s department provided relief assistance in Hinsdale County today.

The emergency operations center is transitioning to remote staffing at 5:30 p.m. for the remainder of the weekend.

The BLM backcountry is closed as of 4 pm 3/15/2019, and will “remain so until Hinsdale County re-opens the roads and allows residents to return home.”

“Ice climbing at Henson Creek Ice Climbing Wall and snowmobiling on the Continental Divide Snowmobile Trail are not affected b this Closure and open for public use.”

Hinsdale County last groomed trails on March 11th.

All Mandatory evacuations remain in place.

All Areas of Concern remain in place.

Rapid Tag procedures remain in effect with all the same regulations.

Priorities for today include incidences as they occur, installation of gates and barriers, work on the McJunkin / Hammonds Meadows slide continues, assistance for evacuees, and public information releases.

The Hinsdale County coroner confirmed a fatality along Silver Coin Road.

Gunnison County Electric Association has restored power for all County Road 30 properties.

Mineral County Sheriff’s Office is providing relief assistance over the weekend.

Hinsdale County Road & Bridge Department made progress on the Gladiator slide.

The Gunnison Field Office of the BLM closed the backcountry of Hinsdale County at 4 p.m. today until Hinsdale County re-opens closed roads.

A public meeting was held in the Armory. The video/audio will be posted. Written information will follow.

The emergency operations center initiated remote operations at 6:30 p.m. and will reactive at 7:00 a.m.

Yesterday, the Hinsdale County Sheriff’s Office and Search and Rescue initiated a backcountry welfare check. Efforts today continue as a search, as conditions allow.

Hinsdale County is receiving assistance this morning from the Wolf Creek Ski Patrol.

Mandatory evacuations remain in place for:

All of County Road 30 beyond the Highway 149 intersection
All of County Road 20 beyond the Ice Climb staging wall
the Monte Queen subdivision
the 400 block of Bluff Street on the west side
the damaged home impacted by the Station 11 slide

Limited access to mandatory evacuees is allowed only through the Rapid Tag process. Go to Coursey Annex to find out these procedures.

Anyone violating the Mandatory evacuation orders will be prosecuted.

Areas of concern are locations where residents should stay inside and minimize outdoor activity. Avoid areas between buildings and slopes. Be prepared to evacuate and continue to monitor conditions.

Areas of concern include:
All areas of Bluff Street
Primrose Lane
the Waterdog drainage
Water tower hill (Vine Street)
The following 3 environmental conditions may impact avalanche risk:

1) Rain on snow events
2) Rapid warming of 2-3 days of overnight non-freezing temperatures
3) Another large snow event
Residents NOT LOCATED IN AREAS OF CONCERN should clear a roof with proper tools and using two people for safety and accountability. Falling snow can cause serious injury or death. Stay off the roof or consider hiring professionals.

Residents should clear snow and ice away from all outdoor vents, chimneys, and flues, thereby reducing the potential for Carbon Monoxide poisoning. Whenever possible, use a broom instead of a shovel in order to not damage your propane system components.

Clear snow and ice from around your propane tank. If the pipes freeze and crack, gas can pool in the snow, causing it to become an ignition source, creating a potentially dangerous situation.

Priorities for today include:

Incidents as they occur
Search efforts in the Silver Coin slide region
Continued debris removal with the Gladiator slide
Access to the Tristate substation
Initial assessment of damaged house in Lake City Heights
Continue clearing access to fire hydrants

Hinsdale County is hosting a public meeting at the Armory at 4:00 p.m. today.

Based on multiple, significant avalanche slides and current conditions, Hinsdale County declared a local emergency at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, March 12th (verbally by Administrator Jami Scroggins). This was approved in written form by the Board of County Commissioners at 2 p.m. on March 13, 2019.

Please follow current information for the March 2019 winter emergency event in Hinsdale County on our official County facebook page and website (link below). You do not need to have a facebook account to follow public information postings.

The emergency operations center is located in Coursey Annex and residents are encouraged to stop by for more information.

A public information meeting has been scheduled at the Armory for March 15th at 4:00 pm. We are working on having this event streamed for remote attendance.

Please send an email to my County email address (district2@hinsdalecountycolorado.us) to be added to an update list (on this and other County e-blasts). Or please feel free to send me a text at 970-596-9071.

Please exercise abundant caution and stay safe.

Voluntary evacuations remain in place for Bluff Street and other steep, high-risk areas.

Mandatory evacuations remain in place for County Road 30, County Road 20, the Monte Queen Subdivision, and the Lake City Heights area adjacent to the Station 11 slide.

Representatives from the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) have arrived in Lake City for assessment work.

The Armory remains open to anyone wishing to voluntarily evacuate.

The emergency operations center identified the following priorities for today:

address incidents as needed
evaluate secondary access route into County Road 30 area
slope assessments
possible power outage and animal rescue missions based on conditions
The emergency operations center is fully activated at Coursey Annex.

Residents should clear a roof with proper tools and using two people for safety and accountability. Falling snow can cause serious injury or death. Stay off the roof or consider hiring professionals.

Residents should clear snow and ice away from all outdoor vents, chimneys, and flues, thereby reducing the potential for Carbon Monoxide poisoning. Whenever possible, use a broom instead of a shovel in order to not damage your propane system components.

Clear snow and ice from around your propane tank. If the pipes freeze and crack, gas can pool in the snow, causing it to become an ignition source, creating a potentially dangerous situation.

Evening Update

The Hinsdale County coroner confirmed a fatality along Silver Coin Road.

Gunnison County Electric Association has restored power for all County Road 30 properties.

Mineral County Sheriff’s Office is providing relief assistance over the weekend.

Hinsdale County Road & Bridge Department made progress on the Gladiator slide.

The Gunnison Field Office of the BLM closed the backcountry of Hinsdale County at 4 p.m. today until Hinsdale County re-opens closure roads.

A public meeting was held in the Armory. The video/audio will be posted. Written information will follow.

The emergency operations center initiated remote operations at 6:30 p.m. and will reactive at 7:00 a.m.