Winter Travel Preparedness for Las Animas County Residents and Visitors

Winter in Las Animas County can change quickly, with conditions on Raton Pass and I-25 often shifting from clear to hazardous in hours. Before traveling, especially over Raton Pass, check the National Weather Service Pueblo forecasts and county emergency announcements, and consult Colorado Department of Transportation and local road incident pages for closures or holds. Those steps reduce the chance of encountering enforced stops or multi-hour delays that disrupt commuting, freight movement and deliveries to local businesses.

Prepare your vehicle with a basic emergency kit that includes a blanket, water, food, flashlight, shovel, traction aides and a phone charger, and keep at least half a tank of fuel. Such measures are practical safeguards against being stranded during a sudden storm or during extended traffic holds on mountain roads. In addition to supplies, plan routes that avoid exposed stretches of highway if forecasts show heavy snow or blowing wind.

For emergency assistance contact Las Animas County Emergency Management and your local sheriff or municipal police. Call 911 for medical emergencies; for non-emergency police matters use the sheriff’s non-emergency number listed on the county site. If you rely on SNAP or other benefits, keep the Las Animas County Department of Human Services contact information handy and enroll in the county notification systems to receive timely updates on benefits or service changes during severe weather.

Local organizations provide critical support when storms cause power outages or force sheltering. County Human Services, Trinidad-area hospitals and clinics, and community groups such as food banks and churches coordinate warming centers and emergency shelters. The county website and local social media channels list current shelter and warming center openings during major events, and those channels will be the fastest way to learn which facilities are available when conditions deteriorate.

Beyond immediate safety, winter interruptions carry economic implications for Las Animas County. Road closures and slower freight on I-25 raise costs for local retailers and increase delivery times for farms and ranches that depend on timely shipments. Repeated winter disruptions also influence long-term planning for infrastructure and emergency response budgets, making personal preparedness a cost-effective way for households and small businesses to limit losses and maintain continuity.

Keeping weather briefings, road pages and county alerts part of your routine during the winter months will reduce risk to life and property and help maintain essential services for the community.