Aspen and Pitkin County unite for ‘Aspen Aware & Pitkin Prepared’ Emergency Readiness Event
Wednesday event focuses on empower residents and visitors for emergency preparedness
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
In recognition of September being National Preparedness Month, the city of Aspen is joining forces with the Sheriff’s office and the Pitkin County Office of Emergency Management to host the “Aspen Aware & Pitkin Prepared,” an Emergency Readiness Event from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday on the third floor of the City Hall at Pearl Pass.
Aspen’s Communications Director William Porter said the event is focused around prioritizing community safety and well-being, as well as empowering residents and visitors with knowledge and tools to take personal responsibility for emergency preparedness.
“It’s not just about being prepared; it’s about building a resilient community, one informed resident at a time,” Porter said. “I strongly encourage everyone to attend and become an active participant in our collective safety.”
The “Three Pillars of Preparedness” outlined for Wednesday’s event are personal emergency kits (go-bags), resource navigation, and communication plans for you and your family.
Aspen Police Sergeant Rob Fabrocini will address emergency kits by conducting a session on how to assemble go-bags for both automotive and personal use while advocating for well-being during unforeseen events.
Pitkin County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy of Operations Parker Lathrop will cover resource navigation by providing an overview of emergency resources such as IPAWS, Reverse 911, Pitkin Alert, ReachWell, HHS. Lathrop will also offer a tutorial of the emergency preparedness tabs on the Aspen Police Department website and Pitkinemergency.org.
Lastly, Aspen Police Sergeant Mike Tracey will offer insights into crafting a personal or family emergency communication plan under the third pillar, and discuss differences between shelter-in-place and evacuation notifications.
Pre- and post-event surveys will be available and participants are encouraged to provide feedback. Attendees can use the hashtag #AspenAwarePitkinPrepared to share insights and takeaways from the event. QR codes and resource sheet handouts will also be provided.
A Q&A segment will be hosted by Assistant Chief of Operations Bill Linn, Community Resource Supervisor Ginna Gordon, and Aspen Police Assistant Chief of Administration Linda Consuegra.
In a press release, Aspen Police Chief Kim Ferber emphasized the importance of educational initiatives and readiness, calling them the “cornerstones of emergency preparedness” embedded within a collaboration between the city and county.
“Our unified goal between the city and county is to foster an educated and prepared community. By equipping our residents with the necessary knowledge and tools, we’re reinforcing confidence in our collective ability to effectively manage crises,” Ferber said.
To reach Jonson Kuhn, email him at jkuhn@aspentimes.com.
