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Appendix B Newsletter INewspaper Articles TELLURIDE, COLORADO ARTICLE NO.1 San Miguel County Sheriff gives advice if trapped by mud slides By Bob Beer Several days of heavy rains that triggered numerous mud and rock slides have prompted the San Miguel County Sheriff to give out safety pointers in case vehicles are trapped in the slides. Weather forecasters have predicted heavy rains, with flash floods and mud slides possible over the weekend. Although emergency teams are on call, people need to take responsibility for their own safety, too. First and foremost, said Sheriff Bill Masters, "don't be afraid to spend the night in Telluride." For those who don't have friends who can put them up for the night or can not afford hotel accommodations, shelters will be provided at either the Telluride Middle/High School or the Telluride Firehouse. Masters urged employers to let their out-of-town workers go in the early afternoon so they can drive home before the afternoon thunderstorms usually start. On Thursday, government workers were let go early to avoid possibly being trapped in slides, as happened Wednesday afternoon and evening. People are also encouraged to listen to KOTO Community Radio which has been giving up-to- the-minute reports on road and weather conditions. Also, carrying a cell phone is recommended, Masters said. Drivers should let their family or friends know when they start their commute and what time they expect to arrive. If a driver does encounter mud oozing over the roadway, "don't try to drive over it," said Masters. If a lot of mud, rocks and other debris are flowing over the highway, Masters suggested driving to a wide spot - but not a drainage area or creek - and, if further threatened, abandon the vehicle and climb to higher ground. Lessons learned from the infamous Thompson Creek flood in the 1970s, which killed many people, should be studied. "All of the people who climbed to higher ground survived," said Masters. Even a small amount of rain can trigger mud slides because the soil is saturated from recent heavy rains, Masters said. On Wednesday, besides law enforcement, fire and rescue teams, private contractors supplied equipment to help clear Highway 145 from Keystone Hill to Placerville. Those private contractors providing heavy equipment include Williams Construction, Telluride Gravel and Alpine Rentals. Masters praised those companies for helping the San Miguel County Road and Bridge Department and the Colorado Department of Transportation. Several vehicles were still embedded in mud Thursday morning along the highway. Masters said two residences near Fall Creek were heavily damaged by mud and flood waters, with many houses receiving minor damage. T: \Projects\6844888 _ CWCS _Flood _ Doc_ Rpts\Su b _ 00\6.0 _Proj_ Deliv\Report\Append ix S.doc T: \Projects\6844888 _ CWCS _Flood _ Doc_ Rpts\Su b _ 00\6.0 _Proj_ Deliv\Report\Append ix S.doc