Preparing for an emergency is essential

Planning for an emergency certainly beats being caught unprepared, so learning city of Santa Fe workers are actively preparing for wildfires and other calamities is encouraging. Brian Williams, director of the Santa Fe Office of Emergency Management, has been working with modeling company Simtable to create a dynamic model demonstrating how city residents should evacuate in case of wildfire — a scenario chosen because that’s the natural disaster most likely in Santa Fe.

Last weekend, the office gave a demonstration of how the model could work. The model accounts not just for fire behavior based on topography and vegetation, but also for expected traffic congestion. Currently, the model is focusing on neighborhoods on the eastern edge of Santa Fe, places where homes begin blending into the wilderness. These wildland-urban interface areas have been identified as being at highest risk for fire — although that designation comes from a 2008 Santa Fe County preparedness plan. Considering the dry condition of the forest and increase in homes in the area, the risk is likely only exacerbated today. At any rate, the preparedness plan should be updated to give the most up-todate information. Williams told people attending the preview he hopes to have the model — which maps potential evacuation zones — on the city of Santa Fe website around mid-May.

Getting it out there before the people is key to actually having folks ready to evacuate. Especially in parts of Santa Fe where roads are narrow and congestion likely to be heavy, part of the planning process will have to include directing residents on just how to leave their homes. Which roads are safest and can accommodate more traffic? Seeing the highlighted zones will help residents of those areas consider their exit strategy.

Exact routes will depend on which direction the fire is coming from, so those will be created closer to the actual disaster. When emergency alerts are issued, though, residents will be able to ask, “Where do I go?” based on their location. Instructions also will take into account roads or intersections where heavy traffic could cause bottlenecks — always a danger when everyone is trying to leave — and also will identify areas of safety where residents can gather in case exit is not possible.

All the planning in the world, however, could fail if the Office of Emergency Management is short-staffed.

Williams said the office has two full-time employees and likely needs more considering the workload. His job since taking over the office about three years ago has been attempting to get the city up to speed with planning. Williams told people at the presentation emergency planning was given priority status by Mayor Alan Webber in last year’s budget, leading to the contract with Simtable. His office also wants to place an infrared camera at Nichols Dam and, perhaps, a few other locations. The idea is to detect fires in their earliest stages — and perhaps avoid evacuations altogether.

Hearing of the planning taking place — especially considering the overgrown, dry nature of wildlands near the city — is a relief.

Now, to get the details out not just to a handful of people attending a weekend presentation, but to spread the news about wildfire danger and advance preparations far and wide. Residents should create defensible spaces on their property. Institutions near wild lands — St. John’s College, the Santa Fe Institute, Atalaya school and others — also must prepare for emergency. All residents in the wildland-urban interface should know the quickest way out — perhaps several, depending on where fire could come from — and have a go bag packed and ready. That bag contains such things as prescriptions, important papers, snacks, water and other necessities.

Santa Fe, to date, has been fortunate, spared the pain of wildfire that has visited our neighbors in Los Alamos, San Miguel and Mora counties and other parts of the state. Now, it’s up to us to be prepared for the moment our good fortune runs out.