With the recent fire that occurred off of Old San Isabel Rd. the Board of Trustees would like to provide some information relating to emergency situations.
The Town of Rye relies on the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Department for all emergency situations. The Rye Fire Department works diligently with the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Department in the case of an emergency fire. In the case of an emergency the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Department will communicate factual information on a need-to-know basis to the public to avoid misinformation. Please note that when an emergency is occurring it is crucial to avoid the area so that the emergency service providers can properly manage the situation.
In the case that the Town of Rye is directly at risk of an emergency situation and requires evacuation, the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Department will issue a reverse 911 call to inform residents of the evacuation, including where residents can evacuate to. The Pueblo County Sheriff’s Department works closely with the Rye Fire Chief in determining which specific areas or “neighborhoods” of Rye need to be evacuated in an emergency fire. It is important to keep in mind that one area of Rye that is deemed at risk does not constitute the entire area of Rye being at risk and the Town of Rye heavily depends on our emergency services providers to use their expertise to make these determinations.
The Board of Trustees would like to express the importance of making sure that all residents and business owners land line phone numbers and cell phone numbers are registered with the SWIFT Reverse 911 Portal so that you can be contacted in an emergency that directly affects you. You can register or confirm your registration by visiting http://portalv4.swiftreach.com/portal.aspx?c=202228. If you or a family member need help registering, please contact the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Department for guidance.
The Board of Trustees would also like to emphasize the importance of “Knowing Your Neighbor”. Communication is vital in an emergency and one of the easiest and most important things you can do is talk to your neighbors in advance. We would like to encourage our residents to establish some important information like who your neighbors are, their age, the number of family members, whether the family has children in the home or people battling medical conditions. This information may help you to better support your neighbor or ensure that you have the proper support from the community in case of an emergency. If you or a loved one needs help in an emergency evacuation you can contact the Town Clerk at 719-489-2011 and we will do our best to assist you.
If you would like more information on how you can protect your property or how you can prepare for an emergency fire you can visit the Firewise USA website https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Fire-causes-and-risks/Wildfire/Firewise-USA or pick up information at the Rye Town Hall.
All of the information provided in this letter is available on the Town of Rye website www.townofrye.colorado.gov under the “Emergency Service Information” tab for easy accessibility. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Town Clerk at 719-489-2011 or Mayor Rahl at 719-569-0354.
Thank you for your continued support,
Your Town of Rye Board of Trustees