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Colorado has a wildly unpredictable winter. We can see temperature swings of forty to sixty degrees in just twenty-four hours. Winter can be either incredibly dry, or wet and snowy. Also, Colorado has over three hundred sunshine-filled days per year, meaning that during winter the sun can be shining bright and warm, but the temperature can still be freezing. All these conditions mean that Colorado tree owners need to take special steps to prepare for winter. Water in winter, wrapping the trunk, and fall fertilization can all help tackle water.
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DENVER — Attention, drivers who use Interstate 70: Colorado’s new winter traction law goes into effect on Sunday and lasts for nine months.
The law, signed by Gov. Polis in May 2019, said vehicles need to either have snow tires or carry some sort of traction device (like chains or tire socks) at all times if they’re not four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The rule applies to the stretch of I-70 between Dotsero and Morrison, and it’s in effect from Sept. 1 to May 31, regardless of the forecast.
The new law also increased the minimum tire tread requirements to three-sixteenths of an inch.
CSP Trooper Gary Cutler told 9NEWS drivers should be aware that severe weather conditions can lead to stricter regulations.
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Today marks the start of Colorado Winter Weather Preparedness Week, which runs from Sunday, October 18 through Saturday, October 24.
This is an excellent time for all individuals, families, businesses, schools, and media outlets to review their winter storm preparedness plans.
Snow in Colorado is important to the farmers, the ski areas, and for filling up reservoirs. However, winter storms often bring heavy snow, bitterly cold air, high winds, low visibilities and slick roads. This can lead to dangerous travel conditions and other life threatening situations such as avalanches and very frigid wind chill temperatures.
For more information on winter weather safety, go to: “weather.gov/safety/winter”.
Today’s topic is Winter Travel Safety.
Before winter weather arrives in earnest, it is highly recommended that you prepare your car or truck for winter travel.
Then make sure your vehicle has an adequate supply of survival gear before venturing onto the highway.
The best way to prevent treacherous winter travel is to avoid it. This can be done by staying informed about the current weather and road conditions, as well as the latest weather forecasts.
Information on road conditions in Colorado is available on the web at “ www.cotrip.org ” or by calling 511 from any location in Colorado.
For additional information on winter weather safety, go to: “ www.weather.gov/safety/winter ”.
For more information on this particular topic, go to: “ www.weather.gov/gjt/wwpw_co_day2 ”.
Following the winter weather safety recommendations could save your life and the lives of others.
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Mission Statement
To provide for the safety of the traveling public through the efficient use of manpower and equipment. To remove accumulated snow, provide traction materials where required on snow and ice covered roads, in order to maintain access to the roadway system by the traveling public. To provide this service throughout the county within acceptable parameters of budget and resource allocation.
Overview
The Road & Bridge Division is currently responsible for snow removal on 2,900 lane miles of paved roads and 700 lane miles of gravel roads in the unincorporated areas of the county. One lane mile is a 10-foot wide section of road one mile long. State highways, private roads and newly constructed roads that have not been accepted by formal resolution of the Board of County Commissioners are not included.
Forecasting and Preparations
The Road and Bridge Division is on a twenty-four hour, early-warning alert system. Supervisors utilize local, national, and customized weather forecasts and databases in order to anticipate and be prepared for the intensity of storm forecasted. Equipment is made ready for sanding and plowing during normal working hours for a forecasted storm.
Each equipment operator is assigned a specific route for snow removal and sanding. Assignment of roads to a route is determined by area supervisors based on priority of the road as defined below and for the most efficient utilization of equipment.
Snowplowing & Ice Control Procedure
Plowing and sanding operations take place in four phases during a storm. The order in which streets are plowed in each phase is based on the following definitions of priority:
Priority 1 - Main arterial streets that provide for high traffic volumes.
Priority 2 - Major subdivision collectors, school zones and school bus routes.
Priority 3 - Residential or other local roads that carry moderate to low traffic volumes.
Priority 4 - Cul-de-sacs or other dead-end roads carrying very low traffic volumes.
Phase I: Initial opening of all Priority 1 through 3 streets in that order. Severity of the storm may delay response time for Priority 3 streets due to the fact that initial opening of major arterial streets requires that multiple lanes be plowed in each direction.
Phase II: Plowing and sanding of problem roads having steep inclines, curves, bridges or overpasses. Widening of any Priority 1 through 3 streets deemed necessary. Repeat plowing of all streets initially opened as snow continues to accumulate.
Phase III: Removal of packed snow and ice on all Priority 1 through 3 streets where possible and deemed necessary as snowfall accumulation stops. Plowing and sanding operations on Priority 4 streets will take place as resource availability allows. It could be several days after the snowstorm has ended before Priority 4 streets are initially plowed. Intermittent sanding as necessary by road priority.
Phase IV: Storm event is over. Continuation of widening operations to improve safe travel and prepare for additional accumulation during subsequent storms.
Application of Traction Materials: Sanding of most roads is limited during heavy snowfall because the sand is quickly covered and then removed as additional plowing occurs. When applying sand, special attention is given to sections of the road network posing specific safety concerns. These include, but are not limited to, areas such as: school and hospital zones, police and fire stations, bridges and overpasses, turn lanes, acceleration or deceleration lanes, approaches to intersections that are stop sign or signal controlled, curves, steep grades, heavy traffic areas, areas of ice accumulation, speed bumps, and areas with other known problems.
Snowed-in Jefferson County residents who experience a life-or-death emergency should call 911. The Sheriff’s Office will work with Road and Bridge crews to get emergency vehicles through.
All other requests for emergency snowplowing should be directed to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Valid requests will be forwarded to the Road and Bridge Division, which will respond as soon as possible.
For information about the plowing of streets in unincorporated Jefferson County, please see the Snow Removal FAQs page or call 303-271-5200.
Read more at www.jeffco.us/2838/Snow-Ice-Control
Maintenance Activities
Winter maintenance includes snow removal from roadways, ice and water control, sanding icy conditions, and some avalanche control. Summer maintenance involves the grading of roadways; the replacement or addition of road surface materials such as road base, gravel, or asphalt; and some water control.
To report a Road Concern please call 303-679-2334 option 2
When calling in a Road Concern please leave your name, contact phone number, address, and a brief description of your concern.
ROAD MAINTENANCE HOURS OF OPERATION:
Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM
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How To Care For a Bearded Dragon During a Power Outage?The basics are simple and you likely already know these rules:
- Keep your pets indoors
- Make sure any outdoor animals (livestock, wild birds and feral cats) have access to extra calories
- Understand you may need to move quickly, so be sure you get your livestock (horses, cattle, chickens, pigs, etc.) accustomed to emergency evacuation.
- Provide warm blankets and fresh straw in outdoor enclosures and stables.
- Make sure all livestock and neighborhood or feral cats have access to a covered, insulated shelter.
- Cold-blooded reptiles and aquatic pets are going to require extra care until power is restored (see below).
But, once you get past the basics, there are a few other things to consider, particularly when it comes to birds, aquariums, reptiles and stray animals or livestock.
Tips for keeping your exotic pet safe during a power outageHow to prepare yourself and your bearded dragon for a power outage or other emergency?
How to care for your bearded dragon during a power outage?
- Food and water planning – a very important aspect of emergency planning.
- Keeping your bearded dragon warm – with no electricity, you won’t be able to use heating devices to heat the tank, or sometimes even a house.
- Lights for your dragon – your bearded dragon basking/heat lights, and they need electricity to work.
- Carrier/plastic container or an extra tank for evacuation planning – in case you will need to leave the house or move your bearded dragon to another location.
- To keep your bearded dragon warm, you can put your it in a blanket/pillowcase and have it close to your body. Body heat will keep your dragon warm. Make sure to watch it, so it doesn’t suffocate.
- Use heat packs that will emit heat for up to 8 hours. Heat packs that you can use are hand warmers (2 might be enough for a day or two) or medicinal heat pads. You can put small hand warmers in a sock, to avoid burning your dragon. Be careful with heat packs, as they can get hot – don’t place them directly on bearded dragon’s skin. You can also place the heating packs under the tank to mimic an under tank heating pad.
- Another great choice is a self-heating pad, such as these for cats, that hold and reflects body’s own heat. Wrap your bearded dragon in a blanket or self-heating pad, and then use a heat pack for extra warmth.
- You can also get a rechargeable heat bag/bottle like this, that you can charge somewhere and bring home to heat your dragon’s tank. This heat bag should stay warm for around 5-8 hours or so indoors.
- Place it in a small box with Styrofoam around it.
From Jennipher Cunningham, Certified Professional Dog Trainer at Friends for Life; Holistic Pet Training and Artist at Jupiter Jenny Arts:Power outages are never fun, but here are a few tips to help keep your bird or other exotic pet safe:
- Provide heat!
- Offer water!
- Prevent trauma!
- Avoid Fumes
- Feed! Feed! Feed!
With this huge storm coming in I want to remind people with dogs on a invisible fence systems that when there is FEET of snow this might enable your dog to walk out of your yard without a correction. The snow piles let them avoid the signal to the collar from your wire. Wireless systems too can have issues as the snow changes the topography of your yard and there can be spots your dog can get out through.
Also a good time to check all dogs tags and make sure the info on your dogs tags are READABLE and CURRENT. As even physical fences can fail as snow drifts up and trees fall.
Load up on dog food. Have water stored for your home incase of power outages.
Just a thought of things to prepare for a lot of peeps might not of thought of.
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