Baca County Division of Emergency Management
Riley Frazee, Director
741 Main Street
Springfield, CO 81073
719-523-6532

FOR RELEASE:
Thursday, December 29, 2006


(SPRINGFIELD, COLORADO) The Baca County Division of Emergency Management has been working since early in the morning Friday coordinating resources from the current storm. There are currently a number of stranded motorists and multiple search and rescue operations working in Baca County now. The Colorado National Guard has been called to assist local responders. The Baca County Commissioners have declared a disaster for the County.

   Most area roads are either officially or effectively closed due to the blizzard conditions that are expected to continue to Sunday morning. The National Weather Service in Pueblo is predicting 19 to 35 inches of snow with winds gusting to 35 miles per hour. Winds tonight are expected to gust to 55 mph.


The Baca County Emergency Operations Center is open and has opened several shelters:
1. Assembly of God Church at 4th & Church Street Springfield is Full
2. United Methodist Church at 9th & Colorado Street Springfield is Full
3. Baca County Resource Center at 12th and US 287 is Open and Accepting People
4. 1st Baptist Church at 8th and Church in Springfield is Open and Accepting People
5. Walsh Methodist Church 455 N Nevada Street in Walsh is Open and Accepting people 

Further details and instructions will be announced as they become available.

General information about emergency services is available from the Baca County Division of Emergency Management, 719-523-6532, or the Baca County
Sheriff's Office, 719-523-4511. For immediate emergencies, dial 911.

For more information, contact Riley Frazee, Director of the Baca County Division of Emergency Management at 719-529-0300. 

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Released 2006-12-29, 1324 -Initial Release-Also available electronically.