GRIT Newsletter: July 2018

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A wildfire in the High Desert area on May 15, 2018, came dangerously close to Sandia Heights, burning acres of open space and causing damage to homes. The incident served as a wake-up call, emphasizing the need for residents to be aware of weather conditions, watch for smoke and flames, and understand the impact of residential construction and landscaping during such emergencies. Lessons learned included the importance of having evacuation plans, communication strategies, and a contingency toolkit for emergencies like wildfires, amidst challenges with notifications, utilities, and rapid fire spread.

Bernalillo County Commissioners implemented a ban on fireworks, citing extreme drought conditions and the risks posed to life, property, and the environment. Violators face fines and potential jail time, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation. Additionally, the Sandia Heights Security Patrol shared statistics on calls received in May 2018, highlighting various incidents they responded to. The newsletters also featured valuable information on wildfire preparedness, including creating defensive spaces, family evacuation plans, go-bags, and guidelines for evacuations, reinforcing the need for proactive measures in the face of natural disasters. Keywords: wildfire, High Desert, evacuation, communication, utilities, Bernalillo County Commissioners, ban, fireworks, Sandia Heights Security, statistics, preparedness, defensive space, evacuation plans.

The Sandia Heights Homeowners Association (SHHA) newsletter contains information about keeping drains in the right-of-ways and public utility easements unclogged and the responsibility of property owners to maintain drains. The newsletter also includes an ACC Activity Log listing various approved projects like reroofing, landscaping, and restuccoing, among others, since the last publication.

Keywords: drainage maintenance, landscaping, musical opportunities, chimney cleaning, volunteer fire department, roof repairs, ACC projects, community events