A Message from the Mayor on the Marshall and Middle Fork Fires

Our hearts go out to all of those affected by the Marshall and Middle Fork fires. The tragic events that transpired last week leave our community with myriad emotions. I am writing on behalf of the Town of Erie to extend our heartfelt sympathies and share actions the Town of Erie has taken, actions we will take, and resources available to you in demonstration of support to our local community during this difficult time.

We recognize the intense trauma and stress this tragedy places on our community and to each person in a different way. All of the feelings, fears and anxiety experienced are real and valid. As we process this loss and navigate the challenging path ahead, we hope you will reach out to the Town of Erie where we can be of assistance, even if it's just an ear to listen.

I want to extend an enormous "Thank You" to the first responders throughout this region who put themselves in harm's way to get people evacuated and help extinguish the fires. It could have been so much worse without their selfless actions.

I am so proud of the contributions of the Erie Town Staff as the tragedy progressed last week and want to share a few highlights. The Police Chief remains the main point of contact with the Boulder Office of Emergency Management attending daily briefings as well as sending Officers during operational periods to assist with evacuations, security, command and perimeter controls. Town employees from the Communications team served at the Emergency Operations Center, and the Town of Erie Public Works, Parks & Recreation, Economic Development, Finance, Information Technology, and Planning & Development departments connected with their counterparts to provide resources and assist. We estimate that the Town of Erie has been able to extend more than 400 hours of help so far.

Our Boulder County community is inextricably linked in so many ways. The Town of Erie will continue to show steadfast support to our neighboring communities and ensure we build back in a sustainable way.

For those affected or seeking support, we encourage you to access the Disaster Assistance Center (DAC). The center, located at 1755 South Public Road, Lafayette, CO, offers an array of relevant services and is staffed with professionals with decades of experience in helping people navigate traumatic events.

For those looking to donate resources or their time, I urge you to use the Boulder OEM donation and volunteer links to best match your contributions with the community's needs. So many great local organizations are helping, with many others yet to fill roles we haven't yet discovered we need. Boulder OEM is the central funnel for these entities.

The Town of Erie is committed to you, our local community, and will continue to serve with excellence.

With gratitude,
Mayor Jennifer Carroll

Emergency Preparedness

Unfortunately, the time most people consider preparing for an emergency or disaster is after a recent emergency has taken place. But now is your chance to be ready in case anything should happen even closer to our community. Do you have a bag ready? Supplies purchased? A communication plan or meeting place with your family? Check out our resources on the Erie website to get started or view the full Preparedness Guide from the Boulder Office of Emergency Management or the guide from the Weld Office of Emergency Management.

Sign Up for Emergency Alerts

It is incredibly important to keep yourself "in the know" when it comes to safety. The best way to do that is to opt-in to emergency alerts with your cell phone and other contact information. Consider signing up in the community you live and in the community you work in. Sign up for alerts in Boulder County or in Weld County today. Living in the Town of Erie, we would recommend signing up for alerts in both counties.

Take Care of Your Mental Health

Amidst the stress of an emergency, especially during the a pandemic, please know that there are community resources available to support you. Colorado Crisis Services provides support 24/7 by calling 1-844-493-8255, texting 'TALK' to 38255, or walking into the nearest crisis center. In addition, individuals 60 years or better can connect with The Friendship line 24/7 by calling 1-800-971-0016 for support services. Anyone impacted by the fires can also visit the DAC for services on-site. This can mean people who were evacuated, lost their homes, lost their place of work, or otherwise have been directly affected by the events of the past week.