Ready & Resilient

The Aspen Police Department will put residents in the middle of a simulated winter emergency during its fourth annual Ready & Resilient event on Monday, Sept. 28, offering a behind-the-scenes look at how a major storm could unfold across the Roaring Fork Valley.

This year’s event will take a different approach to emergency preparedness. Rather than a traditional preparedness presentation or open house, participants will experience a live tabletop emergency scenario that demonstrates how a crisis can evolve hour by hour — and how households and emergency responders may need to adapt as conditions change.

The scenario begins at 6:30 p.m. on a winter weekday, when heavy snow, high winds and freezing temperatures begin creating widespread power outages. As the storm intensifies, roads close, emergency calls increase, communications become unreliable and emergency responders become increasingly stretched.

Aspen Police and local emergency response partners will guide participants through the unfolding scenario, providing a behind-the-scenes look at what emergency personnel may be managing while highlighting the decisions residents may face at home.

The discussion will focus on practical questions, including:

What does your household need to be prepared to manage for 72 hours?
How will your family communicate if cell service or other communications systems are disrupted?
When should you call 911 — and when should you use other resources?
How can you get reliable information during an emergency?
How can neighbors safely support one another?
What happens after the immediate emergency, and what does recovery look like?
“Preparedness isn’t about predicting exactly what will happen — it’s about knowing what you’ll do when something changes,” said Aspen Police Chief Kim Ferber. “This year’s Ready & Resilient event gives residents a chance to see how an emergency can unfold and think through what they, their families and their neighbors might need before help arrives.”

Participants will not be asked to perform tasks or complete preparedness activities. Instead, they are encouraged to listen, ask questions and follow the scenario as it develops.

The goal is to help residents leave with a better understanding of how to prepare their households, make a plan and contribute to a more resilient community.