Milliken hopes to build response team for emergencies

Milliken Police Chief Jim Burack hopes the community will pull together to prepare for emergencies, much like they did in the blizzard that hit Colorado last December.

That's why the town is organizing the Community Emergency Response Team. Burack said he hopes people will still be prepared for any catastrophe, but some resolute residents can make dealing with one much easier.

Last year's blizzard meant the first-responders -- fire crews and police, for instance -- needed help with numerous tasks. People with snowmobiles were valuable in getting to fire calls, moving people who needed medical help or delivering emergency food supplies. An emergency shelter also was set up downtown because Red Cross workers couldn't get into town. Volunteers were essential to running that, Burack said.

"At some level, we have to be self-reliant," Burack said. "We can't just count on our first-responders."

A blizzard also can shut down roads into and out of Milliken or effectively make them impassable. That's where people with four-wheel-drive vehicles can help. Some residents work in essential services out of town -- some are staff at North Colorado Medical Center, for instance. Those trucks can help get those people to and from work.

Burack also recommended that people prepare themselves for emergencies when they can. For instance, if people know a blizzard is coming, they should stock up on groceries so they don't have to risk driving on the roads.

"I think people are more understanding that they have an obligation to be prepared, especially in a post-9/11 world," Burack said.

Burack said the department is looking for people with various skills, including people with knowledge of heating systems and medical treatment. There have been volunteers in the past, and he hopes this will make those efforts more organized.

"It's very gratifying to see the level of citizen involvement when we have one of these incidents," Burack said. "We're just trying to channel that sense that they want to contribute."

Get involved

To get involved in the Milliken Community Emergency Response Team, call the Milliken Police Department at (970) 587-2772. For more information on being prepared for emergencies, go to www.readycolorado.com.