Our Multi Hazard Evacuation Plan was designed to assist you during a catastrophic event, where evacuations may be necessary. View the Multi Hazard Evacuation Plan.

The Town of Breckenridge recently completed its Emergency Operations Plan, which is an annex to Summit County’s Local All Hazard Emergency Operations Plan. This plan will be modified as we continue to work with the County and other municipalities on seeking improvements.

The ability to respond to a manmade or a natural disaster is a necessary function for town government. Our plan includes planning and identification of responsibilities, warning and evacuation, communication, direction and control, public information, resource management, damage assessment, emergency health and medical services and sheltering.

Being prepared starts with you. Following a disaster, community members may be on their own for a period of time because of the size of the area affected, lost communications and impassable roads. You should plan in advance what you will do in an emergency. Be prepared to assess the situation and have on hand whatever emergency supplies you need to take care of yourself and your loved ones for at least three days, maybe longer.

Consider making a kit. Think about fresh water, food and special items your family will need such as daily prescription medications, diapers, formula and pet food. It is possible that the power will be out and you will not have heat. Have warm clothing for each family member.

Develop a family communications plan. Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so plan how you will contact one another. And lastly, be informed. Research what kinds of disasters, both natural and manmade, are most likely to occur in your area.

For more detailed information on being prepared, please visit the following websites that offer detailed information, supply checklists and templates for creating a family communications plan. Don’t wait for disaster to strike, prepare now.

Related Links:

• FEMA
• U.S. Department of Homeland Security
• State of Colorado Government

Related Downloads:

• Emergency Operations Annex

The Town is working to promote increased fire mitigation and defensible space. The town has a number of initiatives in place to help combat the risk of wildfire. Learn more about these programs on our Forest Health Programs page.

Fire is unpredictable. It can find the weak link in your home’s fire protection scheme and gain the upper hand because of a small, overlooked or seemingly inconsequential factor. There are no guarantees against wildfire. However, you can take steps to mitigate the possibility of fire destroying your home and potentially your neighborhood. What gives a home the best chance to survive a wildfire are its construction materials (fire hardening) and the quality of defensible space surrounding it. Defensible space is the space between a structure and the wildland area that, under normal conditions, creates a sufficient buffer to slow or halt the spread of a wildfire to the structure. It protects the home from igniting from direct flame, radiant heat and embers. Defensible space is essential for structure survivability during wildfires. Fire hardening is the steps you can take to reduce the chance of ignition from direct flame, firebrand showers and radiant heat coming from outside of the defensible zone.

• 2017 Summit County Chipping Program Information
• 2016 Wildfire Mitigation Award Winners

Additional Resources:

Video: Wildfire: Preventing Home Ignition This video discusses how the combustion process effects forest fires, what you can do to create defensible space, why some homes are destroyed while others survive, how to identify your home's Ignition Zone -- the area that includes the home and its immediate surroundings, which, if properly conditioned, can save the home during a wildfire.