Plague, Hanta Virus, Swine Flu, Fires: Catastrophe will occur
Edited version first published in The Independent newspaper, June 10, 2009.
By Scott Albright 06/10/2009
Tijeras - “Sooner or later, whether it’s this year, next year, five years, or fifty years from now, there will be a major catastrophic wildfire in the East Mountains.”
That’s what Sandia District Ranger Cid Morgan warned the handful of visitors that showed up to Thursday’s fire preparedness meeting at Los Vecinos Community Center.
The meeting, organized by Bernalillo County Commissioner Michael Brasher, was attended by firemen, forest service rangers and others who gave advice about how to protect East Mountain families and property during an emergency.
Bernalillo County Emergency Manager Roger Tannen reminded residents that dangers other than fires exist in the East Mountains. He said there has been one case of the Plague in Santa Fe County and he reminded residents that there is still the threat of the Hanta virus and the swine flu.
“There was a plague case in Santa Fe County and so me, as emergency manager, I don’t want to alarm you all, but it’s that time of year again,” Tannen said. “So I’d like for you to make sure that you keep your pets away from dead rodents and keep them flea free because fleas are the carrier of the plague, and we want to try to avoid any cases in Bernalillo County.”
He said to avoid getting the Hanta virus residents should clear out rats’ and mice nests after spraying them down with a one percent bleach solution while wearing a dust mask. The virus is carried through rodent droppings.
Tannen said it took too much time for people to react to the swine flu and advised that everyone wash their hands regularly and use proper sneeze and cough etiquette to protect themselves from catching it.
He said the typical cycle of influenza is that it travels from the northern hemisphere to the southern and back up as the seasons change while also morphing into another type of influenza during transition. He said it is important to be prepared before the next regular flu season comes around.
Bernalillo County Fire Marshall Chris Gober said there are many ways for residents to protect themselves from a fire including clearing vegetation from around the home and hauling green waste to the transfer station. He said he will personally do a site visit to help residents create defensible space around their homes. To ask him to visit call 468-1340.
A portion of a $300,000 grant was awarded to the East Mountain Interagency Fire Protection Association (EMIFPA) which will be used to pay for thinning and other fire prevention projects throughout the East Mountains. The money can be used for public or private property and is still available for residents.
For more information about fire prevention visit emifpa.org.
Tannen explained the procedures for emergency evacuations for humans and animals. He said there is a list of possible shelter areas throughout the East Mountains where both humans and animals can take refuge.
Bernalillo County Animal Control will provide assistance to animals during an emergency and animal shelters will be located adjacent to human shelters in some cases. He said owners should prepare to bring feed for their animals and have a plan ahead of time on how to evacuate them.
Tannen said the county does not offer a standard evacuation route or shelter location because it is impossible to know exactly where an emergency will occur.
“I can’t plan for you the way out of your home, the way out of your neighborhood,” Tannen said. “So you all as citizens need to work on your own evacuation plan. Know two ways out of your neighborhood.”
He said that some neighborhoods only have one way in and one way out so, “You have to decide what’s more important a fence and some damage to your car or you dying in the event of a fire?”
He advised residents to always have an alternate evacuation route even if it means driving through trees and ditches.
Tannen said one of the newest things residents can do to protect themselves is to register on bernco.gov to be notified via telephone if an emergency is occurring in a specific area.
Residents can also register at the website to enter information that will make it easier for emergency personnel to provide assistance. After inputting the data, gate codes and other specific instructions will be displayed for dispatch to relay to law enforcement and fire rescue crews.
In about a year and a half the county 9-1-1 system will be able to receive image data from cell phones. Currently the system allows incoming text messages.
Morgan said residents should talk to each other about emergency preparedness, even if this year's fire season is short-lived.
“It’s gonna be chaos, it’s gonna be smoky, they’re not going to be able to see, everybody’s going to be panicking,” Morgan said.
“We may dodge the bullet for the next ten years, but sooner or later were going to get slammed upside the head with a howitzer. It’s coming. I don’t want to play the boy who cried wolf, but sooner or later it will happen.”
That’s what Sandia District Ranger Cid Morgan warned the handful of visitors that showed up to Thursday’s fire preparedness meeting at Los Vecinos Community Center.
The meeting, organized by Bernalillo County Commissioner Michael Brasher, was attended by firemen, forest service rangers and others who gave advice about how to protect East Mountain families and property during an emergency.
Bernalillo County Emergency Manager Roger Tannen reminded residents that dangers other than fires exist in the East Mountains. He said there has been one case of the Plague in Santa Fe County and he reminded residents that there is still the threat of the Hanta virus and the swine flu.
“There was a plague case in Santa Fe County and so me, as emergency manager, I don’t want to alarm you all, but it’s that time of year again,” Tannen said. “So I’d like for you to make sure that you keep your pets away from dead rodents and keep them flea free because fleas are the carrier of the plague, and we want to try to avoid any cases in Bernalillo County.”
He said to avoid getting the Hanta virus residents should clear out rats’ and mice nests after spraying them down with a one percent bleach solution while wearing a dust mask. The virus is carried through rodent droppings.
Tannen said it took too much time for people to react to the swine flu and advised that everyone wash their hands regularly and use proper sneeze and cough etiquette to protect themselves from catching it.
He said the typical cycle of influenza is that it travels from the northern hemisphere to the southern and back up as the seasons change while also morphing into another type of influenza during transition. He said it is important to be prepared before the next regular flu season comes around.
Bernalillo County Fire Marshall Chris Gober said there are many ways for residents to protect themselves from a fire including clearing vegetation from around the home and hauling green waste to the transfer station. He said he will personally do a site visit to help residents create defensible space around their homes. To ask him to visit call 468-1340.
A portion of a $300,000 grant was awarded to the East Mountain Interagency Fire Protection Association (EMIFPA) which will be used to pay for thinning and other fire prevention projects throughout the East Mountains. The money can be used for public or private property and is still available for residents.
For more information about fire prevention visit emifpa.org.
Tannen explained the procedures for emergency evacuations for humans and animals. He said there is a list of possible shelter areas throughout the East Mountains where both humans and animals can take refuge.
Bernalillo County Animal Control will provide assistance to animals during an emergency and animal shelters will be located adjacent to human shelters in some cases. He said owners should prepare to bring feed for their animals and have a plan ahead of time on how to evacuate them.
Tannen said the county does not offer a standard evacuation route or shelter location because it is impossible to know exactly where an emergency will occur.
“I can’t plan for you the way out of your home, the way out of your neighborhood,” Tannen said. “So you all as citizens need to work on your own evacuation plan. Know two ways out of your neighborhood.”
He said that some neighborhoods only have one way in and one way out so, “You have to decide what’s more important a fence and some damage to your car or you dying in the event of a fire?”
He advised residents to always have an alternate evacuation route even if it means driving through trees and ditches.
Tannen said one of the newest things residents can do to protect themselves is to register on bernco.gov to be notified via telephone if an emergency is occurring in a specific area.
Residents can also register at the website to enter information that will make it easier for emergency personnel to provide assistance. After inputting the data, gate codes and other specific instructions will be displayed for dispatch to relay to law enforcement and fire rescue crews.
In about a year and a half the county 9-1-1 system will be able to receive image data from cell phones. Currently the system allows incoming text messages.
Morgan said residents should talk to each other about emergency preparedness, even if this year's fire season is short-lived.
“It’s gonna be chaos, it’s gonna be smoky, they’re not going to be able to see, everybody’s going to be panicking,” Morgan said.
“We may dodge the bullet for the next ten years, but sooner or later were going to get slammed upside the head with a howitzer. It’s coming. I don’t want to play the boy who cried wolf, but sooner or later it will happen.”