Gov. Jared Polis activating National Guard to assist with extreme cold weather coming
Gov. Jared Polis authorized the activation of over 100 Colorado National Guard members Tuesday to assist with the extreme cold weather that will hit the state over the coming days.
"Colorado's National Guard is up to the challenge whether it's helping distribute the life-saving vaccine or respond to wildfires across our state," Polis said in a statement Tuesday. "Colorado is about to face extreme weather and cold temperatures and the Guard is ready to assist local communities to help keep people safe during this extreme-cold weather snap."
His declaration also activates the Colorado State Emergency Operations Center and the State Emergency Operations Plan and directs the Office of Emergency Management to assist affected areas. This also allows the OEM to mobilize state resources and make contracts and awards using Emergency Procurement Procedures, the governor's office said.
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"We really want to lean forward and get resources where they need to be before temperature drops before snow gets in place and before people need our help," Micki Trost, a spokesperson for the state OEM said.
Trost says while they often activate for cold weather events, temperatures this low are uncommon.
"The extreme drop in temperature isn't something we see all the time," she said.
The National Guard members will lead their effort, and while years past have largely focused on roadside rescues, she says many on this assignment will be aiding those indoors at warming centers.
"At this point we already have two resource requests from Denver asking for assistance with staffing the warming centers they announced this morning," Trost said.
They can provide resources to communities across the state.
With much of the state expected to feel the chill, she says they are ready to help wherever they're needed but are asking for help from the public as well.
"Unfortunately, everyone in the state of Colorado is going to feel the cold temperatures and we really need people to help us by staying at home and not traveling if they can help it on Thursday and Friday, just to stay safe and so we can use those resources wisely," she said.
After reaching nearly 50 degrees before 3 p.m. Wednesday, the temperatures in the city will be about 40 degrees by 9 p.m. and will drop at least another 15 degrees by daybreak on Thursday. Then temperatures will be in the teens below zero around Denver, Boulder, and Fort Collins Thursday morning.
The last time the Colorado National Guard was activated to assist with cold weather was in March of this year when Guard members helped rescue stranded motorists and a baby that used an oxygen machine.
