Avalanche notifications result in immediate action, even if a call comes in with no information on whether an individual is buried or injured. Urgency is critical for survival from an avalanche burial, and first responders act as quickly as possible to take all measures in order to save a life.
The first step in an avalanche report response is a flyover of the slide area to assess damage and potential victims. Simultaneously, a Colorado Rapid Avalanche Deployment (C-RAD) team is placed on stand-by or in the air. These teams consist of a snow technician, a dog handler, and an avalanche search dog. Depending on the size of the slide, additional teams may be sent in the air or on the ground.
Local sheriff’s offices and the US Forest Service are also notified and ready to respond. Additionally, the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, the Colorado Department of Transportation, local ambulance services, and Colorado State Patrol may be notified.
All of these efforts require substantial risk by first responders to brave dangerous conditions to reach and traverse the avalanche terrain. There are, however, many risks that can be avoided all together with timely and efficient reporting of avalanche slides.
If you trigger or witness an avalanche, please call your local 911 dispatch to report it, and please also use the CAIC’s online avalanche observation portal or mobile app to report it (https://avalanche.state.co.us/observations/submit-a-report). You could be saving a rescue team and many other agencies a lot of time, risk, and expense
If you’ve been injured in a ski or snowboarding collision, call the experienced ski injury attorneys at Bloch Ongert right away. We can help you recover the money you deserve. Call Bloch Ongert today at (303) 331-1700 to speak directly to an attorney for a free consultation.
The information for this post was sourced from The Denver Gazette. The article can be found at https://www.denvergazette.com/outtherecolorado/2025/12/16/heres-why-its-important-to-report-an-avalanche-when-you-spot-one/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=OutThere%20Colorado%20Here%20%20Now%201426&utm_content=OutThere%20Colorado%20Here%20%20Now%201426+CID_0498d1eb5fb80eed7b765e55e698573b&utm_source=campaign_monitor_email&utm_term=CLICK%20HERE
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