Polis declares disaster emergency, activates National Guard in Colorado

According to a release from the governor’s office, Polis verbally declared a disaster emergency due to the severe weather conditions expected in parts of Colorado and authorized unarmed Colorado National Guard members to provide winter storm response support. 

The declaration activates the Colorado State Emergency Operations Center and the State Emergency Operations Plan and directs the Office of Emergency Management “to take all necessary and appropriate State actions to assist the affected jurisdictions with their response, recovery and mitigation efforts,” the release said. It also allows the OEM to mobilize state resources and to make contracts and awards using Emergency Procurement Procedures.

The governor’s office said the declaration is necessary to have resources in place to support rescue efforts around the state as the storm worsens into the evening.

The 9NEWS Weather Impact Team has called a Weather Impact Day for Friday and Saturday for a major winter storm in Colorado that will likely bring 6-14 inches of snow to the Denver area on Friday and Saturday.