Estes Park is certainly a magical and beautiful place. But our paradise is vulnerable to natural hazards and power outages. Floods (2013, 1982, 1976), fires (2012, 2020, 2021, 2024), wind, winter storms, and other crises can cause widespread damage and interrupt our electrical systems. I was working at the hospital during the 2013 flood. I clearly remember the complete loss of connectivity shortly after noon on Sept. 13 that year. I also recall the evacuation of the whole town in 2020 in response to the East Troublesome and Cameron Peak fires. As operations chief at Estes Park Health at the time, I have many stories I could tell about the ordeal and its aftermath.