En español: pproem.com/frioextremo

Prepare for extreme cold weather

Preparedness experts with the Pikes Peak Regional Office of Emergency Management (PPROEM) recommend residents take the following actions in advance of this cold weather: 

  • Have warm clothing, blankets, hand warmers, and other cold-weather gear and supplies in your vehicle’s emergency kit. 
  • Don’t travel in icy conditions.  
  • Bring animals inside. Provide protection for livestock from wind and snow.  
  • Dress people in loose layers and protect exposed skin from possible frostbite. 
  • Know the symptoms and treatment for frostbite and hypothermia. 
  • Small children and older adults are at greater risk in extreme cold.  
  • Check on friends and neighbors who may be vulnerable.  

For more information about resources for winter storms, visit the PPROEM Winter Storm Resources page.

Preparing your home for extreme cold

Colorado Springs Utilities officials offer the following tips to prepare your home for this extreme cold weather. 

Lower the thermostat   

  • Drop the thermostat a few degrees to help heating systems maintain a comfortable indoor temperature.  
  • Set thermostats no higher than 68 degrees when at home, and 60 degrees when away from home. 
  • Consider investing in a smart thermostat – Springs Utilities’ offers a $50 rebate on qualifying models.   

Check the furnace filter   

  • Dirty furnace filters add stress to heating systems and make them less efficient.  
  • If you haven’t changed the furnace filter in a while, switch it out now before temperatures drop.    

Avoid frozen pipes  

  • Open cabinet doors with access to plumbing, especially those facing exterior walls.
  • Purchase pipe insulation from a local hardware store. It will fit around water lines for added protection.   
  • Allow an indoor faucet to run a very thin, but steady stream of water to protect pipes from freezing. To avoid wasting water, catch it in a bucket and use it for another purpose, such as watering indoor plants. 

Stay warm with safety in mind  

  • Only use proper heating systems or small appliances made to heat a home.   
  • Do not use ovens, stoves, barbeque grills, or any propane-powered devices to heat your home. Those devices can be fire and carbon monoxide hazards.   

Power outage and additional safety tips 

Contact your specific utility provider or visit its website for more information on power outages. 

  • Colorado Springs Utilities: csu.org/Pages/StormCenter.aspx or 719-448-4800. 
    • To reduce call volume and expedite emergency-related calls during this cold-weather event, Colorado Springs Utilities asks customers to use its online outage map at csu.org for electric outage information and status updates, and to not call 448-4800 unless a customer is reporting a downed electric line, a tree into an electric line, or some other utilities-related emergency that poses a safety risk. 
    • Springs Utilities also provides programs and resources to customers who need help with paying utilities bills, to include LEAP, Project COPE and payment plans. 
  • Mountain View Electric: mvea.coop/outage-center/outage-reporting/ or 800-388-9881 
  • City of Fountain Utilities: 719-322-2010 
  • Black Hills Energy: blackhillsenergy.com/outages or 888-890-5554
  • CORE Electric Cooperative: core.coop/outage-center or 833-267-3349  
  • Southeast Colorado Power Association: secpa.com or 719-384-2551

Homelessness response and cold weather emergency shelter  

The Colorado Springs Fire Department’s Homeless Outreach Program leads the City’s support of individuals and families experiencing homelessness during periods of extreme cold. It, along with Colorado Springs Police Department’s Homeless Outreach Team and the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, coordinates the dissemination of available resources to those experiencing homelessness. 

The Springs Rescue Mission and The Sanctuary Church serve as the region’s two main warming shelters. These locations also offer meals and other resources for those experiencing homelessness. If you see an unhoused person that may need support, please refer them to the Springs Rescue Mission or The Sanctuary Church. 

  • Call 719-401-3111 for people who need transportation to warming shelters. 
  • Call 911 if you see any resident experiencing what you think is an emergency medical situation.  
  • Call 911 if you see smoke or signs of a fire. 

Residents with food or emergency shelter needs  

Any residents who need referrals for food, utilities assistance, clothing or other services should contact Pikes Peak United Way 2-1-1. 

  • Phone: Dial 2-1-1 or 719-955-0742 or toll free at 1-866-488-9742. 
  • Text: Send your zip code to 898211. Standard message and data rates may apply. 
  • Online: Search the database of services at ppunitedway.org.

Pikes Peak United Way 2-1-1 is multi-lingual, free and confidential. Trained information specialists staff the hotline from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday. The 2-1-1 staff will monitor messages over the weekend and during non-business hours and respond within a few hours. Residents needing support, especially transportation, can assist the 2-1-1 staff by leaving a precise location if they need transportation to a warming shelter, or call the transportation assistance number directly at 719-401-3111 for more immediate response. 

Stay informed

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