The past year, Routt County overflowed with challenging weather and changing climate conditions including above-normal temperatures, extended drought, low snowpack and wildfire smoke.
Those tough conditions, plus the associated economic hardships, created a dulling and depressive effect for numerous Routt County residents, adding to emotional and mental health concerns.
“A lot of people have stress in their lives already; the stress from the wildfires and drought due to higher temperatures and lower snow add more to stresses that already existed such as financial, family and health issues,” explained Julie Elliott, regional behavioral health specialist for the Colorado State University Extension’s Colorado AgrAbility Project.
In July, officials from multiple county and state agencies representing environmental and public health, agriculture and wildfire management emphasized that residents should pay careful attention to their physical and mental health during challenging weather and climate turmoil out of their control.
“We have a natural resource-based economy, and whether it’s agriculture, tourism or recreation, we are all feeling the stress,” said Todd Hagenbuch, Routt County CSU Extension director.
Stress from the natural environment peaked for many residents in mid-July when two wildfires started in Routt County on July 12, and the temperature in Steamboat Springs peaked at a scorching 98 degrees on July 13. By July 22, three wildfires were actively burning in Moffat County.
High temperatures in Steamboat this July often reached the mid-90s, or about 10 degrees warmer than the 30-year normal high of 85 degrees, said Meteorologist Kris Sanders with the National Weather Service in Grand Junction.
Hagenbuch said some ranchers experienced heightened pressures this summer and needed to sell off about one-third of their cattle herds or experienced 20-80% hay yield losses, even on irrigated land.
Some agricultural producers contacted Hagenbuch with fears about possibly starting another wildfire. Haying equipment that hit a rock during dry conditions sparked the Green Ridge Fire south of Stagecoach Reservoir, according to Routt County officials. The National Weather Service on July 12, when wildfires sparked, recorded very dry humidity as low as 7% in Steamboat.
Stress ramped up for residents during the early days of the Fishhook Fire west of Rabbit Ears Pass that reached within approximately 1.5 miles of the Storm Mountain Ranch neighborhood, 2.5 miles from Steamboat Resort ski runs and approximately 1 mile north of U.S. Highway 40, according to official fire maps.
Routt County Emergency Management Specialist Alyssa Wilhelme said she answered some 30 calls per day July 13-14 from people worried about possible evacuations or closures of Highway 40.
During a community information meeting on the Fishhook Fire on July 21, members of the Southwest Area Incident Management Team stressed the importance of residents knowing how to access current wildfire information and help out fellow residents.
A licensed professional counselor for more than 20 years who grew up on a cattle ranch in Moffat County, Elliott emphasized that people should take the time to check in on neighbors, which can help the mental health of both parties. She noted the importance of “helping each other out, making sure that they are physically and mentally doing OK.”
The counselor said people experiencing weather-related woes and dealing with natural conditions out of their control need to make sure stress does not push them into emotional or physical isolation. She advised residents to talk with a trusted friend, advisor or pastor.
Elliott outlined how drought can affect wellness, such as causing chronic stress or grief from financial uncertainty, crop and livestock losses, and unpredictable water availability; anxiety and worry about the family’s future livelihood; and depression, withdrawal and feelings of hopelessness or helplessness. Other impacts can include sleep disturbances, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability and conflict in family and business relationships.
Professional counseling services endorsed by CSU Extension have expanded from six to 10 free sessions for farming and ranching families and workers due to the “increased need and usage,” Elliott said. The confidential telehealth services are offered for Colorado agricultural workers and provided by counselors who understand rural life. Visit the Colorado Agricultural Addiction and Mental Health Program at CampforHealth.org.
Phone hot lines also offer assistance options via the AgriStress Helpline available 24/7 by calling or texting 833-897-2474. The Farm Aid hotline in English or Spanish at 800-FARM-AID (800-327-6243) is staffed 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Symptoms that point to the need for counseling include feeling burned out or overwhelmed, trouble sleeping or shutting off the mind, drinking alcohol more, carrying more stress not shared with others, and feeling short-tempered or stuck.
Many resources are available to help combat physical and mental stress that increases with natural environment woes, including when high heat and wildfire smoke occur at the same time. Self-care tips are offered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at EPA.gov/Wildfires/Wildfire-Smoke-and-Health-Factsheets and the wildfire smoke preparedness program at Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment at CDPHE.Colorado.gov/Wildfire-Smoke-Preparedness-Program.
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