GOVERNMENT
ENSURING A SAFE
community
The Greenwood Village Police Department works to protect residents and businesses from crime, but to effectively sustain a crime-free
environment requires an active, engaged, and aware community. Remember — the most important single act you can do is to be aware of
your surroundings at all times and call the Police to report crimes or suspicious activities! As an observer, if the situation doesn’t look or
feel right, it probably is not. By going with your instincts, your actions could help deter a crime in progress or save the life of a neighbor.
TORNADO
PREPAREDNESS
When a tornado is coming, you have a
short amount of time to make critical
decisions. Advance planning and quick
response are the keys to surviving a
tornado. Greenwood Village does not
have a tornado siren system. Instead,
we would utilize the Citizen Alert
System to notify residents and
businesses of any impending danger
(you can read more about this system
on the next page).
KNOW HOW TO
SPOT A TORNADO
• An approaching cloud of debris can
mark the location of a tornado even
if a funnel is not visible.
• Some tornadoes are clearly visible,
while rain or nearby low-hanging
clouds obscure others. Occasionally,
tornadoes develop so rapidly that
little, if any, advance warning is
possible.
• Before a tornado hits, the wind
may stop and the air may become
very still.
• Tornadoes generally occur near the
trailing edge of a thunderstorm. It
is not uncommon to see clear,
sunlit skies behind a tornado.
• They may strike quickly, with little
or no warning.
• They may appear nearly transparent
until dust and debris are picked up
or a cloud forms in the funnel.
• The average tornado moves
Southwest to Northeast, but
tornadoes have been known to
move in any direction.
• Tornadoes are most frequently
reported east of the Rocky
Mountains during spring and
summer months.
• Tornadoes are most likely to occur
between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m., but can
occur at any time.
WHAT TO DO
BEFORE A TORNADO
Advance planning and quick response are the keys to surviving a tornado.
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• Develop a plan for your family and
your home.
• Conduct frequent drills.
• Designate an area in your home as
a shelter.
• Discuss the difference between
WATCH and WARNING.
• Listen to television and radio for
information.
• Develop an emergency
communication plan.
• In the event family members are
separated during a storm, have a
plan for getting back together. Ask
an out-of-state friend to serve as the
“family contact.” After a disaster, it is
often easier to call long distance.
Make sure everyone in the family
GOVERNMENT
knows the name, address, and phone
number of the contact person.
• Have disaster supplies on hand.
WHAT TO DO
DURING A TORNADO
If At Home
• Go to the basement, storm cellar,
or lowest level of the building.
• If there is no basement, go to an
inner hallway of a smaller inner
room without windows, such as a
bathroom or closet.
• Get away from the windows.
• Go to the center of the room. Stay
away from corners because they
tend to attract debris.
• Get under a piece of sturdy
furniture such as a workbench or
heavy table or desk and hold on to
it.
• Use arms to protect head and neck.
• If in a mobile home, get out and
find shelter elsewhere.
UNDERSTANDING THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
WATCH AND WARNING
to remind family members where the
safest places within your home are
located, listen to the radio and
television for further developments.
Tornado Watch
The National Weather Service issues a
tornado watch when tornadoes are
possible in the area. Remain alert for
approaching storms. This is the time
Tornado Warning
A tornado warning is issued when a
tornado has been sighted or indicated
by weather radar. This is the time to
be in the safest places. GV
FIRES, ROAD CLOSURES,
MISSING PERSONS, GAS LEAKS
FIND OUT ABOUT EMERGENCIES
TO SAVE YOUR LIFE AND
YOUR FAMILY
The safety of the community is a priority for Greenwood Village. The Citizen Alert
System will allow the Village Police Department to make sure you know about
emergencies and disasters before or as they happen.
HERE’S HOW IT WORKS
If At Work Or School
• Go to the basement or to an inside
hallway at the lowest level.
• Avoid places with wide-span roofs
such as auditoriums, cafeterias,
large hallways, or shopping malls.
• Get under a piece of sturdy
furniture such as a workbench or a
heavy table or desk and hold on to
it.
• Use arms to protect head and neck.
If Outdoors
• If possible, get inside a building.
• If shelter is not available or there is
no time to get indoors, lie in a
ditch or low-lying area or crouch
near a strong building.
• Be aware of the potential for
flooding.
• Use arms to protect head and neck.
If In A Vehicle
• Never try to outdrive a tornado.
Tornadoes can change direction
quickly and can lift up a car or
truck and toss it through the air.
• Get out of the vehicle immediately
and take shelter in a nearby building.
• If there is no time to get indoors,
get out of the vehicle and lie in a
ditch or low-lying area away from
vehicle.
HOW DO I SIGN UP?
The Citizen Alert System will already have your land-line telephone numbers so you do
not need to worry about providing that information. If you are interested in being
notified of emergencies through text and voice devices, simply visit the Village Web site
at www.greenwoodvillage.com, and look for the Citizen Alert Notification Sign Up
button on the home page. It only takes a few minutes to opt-in with your information.
WHAT IF I DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET?
If you do not have access to the Internet, you can call the Village Police Department at
303-773-2525 or e-mail at [email protected]. Please be prepared to
provide your name, your Greenwood Village address, and the telephone numbers of the
communication devices you would like added to the Citizen Alert Notification System.
QUESTIONS
For more information or questions, please call the Village Police Department at
303-773-2525.
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