Lincoln County Sheriff Shane Johnson and Emergency Management Public Information Officer Stephen Malik discussed current conditions, emergency alerts and evacuation preparedness on the Weekday Wake-up.

Malik reported that a red flag warning was in effect Wednesday, August 5, for the southern part of Lincoln County, while the Star Valley area remained in critical to near-critical fire conditions.

“Things can start very quickly, and they can spread rapidly,” Malik warned.

He noted that dry thunderstorms can create an added concern. Lightning strikes may smolder in trees or vegetation for several days before winds and dry conditions cause a fire to grow rapidly.

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“It may not be right after the storm when you see something,” Malik explained. “It could be anytime thereafter.”

Officials pointed to last year’s Willow Creek Fire as an example of how quickly a small fire can become a major incident. Malik recalled that the fire began as a single column of smoke before intensifying. Johnson emphasized that the county was fortunate the fire moved away from homes.

“Any other day, it very well could have come towards homes,” Johnson observed.

Johnson explained that emergency officials cannot control the weather, wind or dry fuels, but they can help residents prepare and receive timely information.

“The things we can control are the preparedness and the notifications,” Johnson stated. “Making sure people are aware of the potential for an evacuation or a fire.”

Residents are encouraged to prepare a 72-hour emergency kit or “go bag” with food, water, clothing, medications, important documents and other necessities. Malik advised that people do not necessarily need to keep every item packed in a bag, but should keep essential belongings together in a location where they can be gathered quickly.

“With the increased danger this year, it’s something you ought to have done and sitting in a place where you know where to go grab it and go,” Johnson urged.

Officials also recommended periodically checking emergency supplies. Food should be replaced before it expires, and clothing should be appropriate for current household members and weather conditions.

A key component of the county’s notification plan is the CodeRED emergency alert system. Johnson noted that the system allows county officials to send alerts to a selected geographic area by phone call, text message, and email.

“We can select an area,” Johnson explained. “Stephen can select a circle on a map and send notifications to that whole group. That’s a big deal.”

Malik stressed that residents must register to receive CodeRED notifications. Those who are unsure whether they are already enrolled are encouraged to register again; the system will update existing information if a resident is already listed.

“The Achilles heel to this system is that if you want the alerts from us, we need you to sign up into CodeRED,” Malik cautioned.

The registration link is available at LincolnCountyWY.gov, about halfway down the homepage. Information is also available through the Emergency Management section of the website and the Lincoln County Homeland Security and Emergency Management Facebook page.

If an incident escalates, Johnson explained that responders may need to conduct door-to-door notifications. Residents should treat those contacts as an immediate warning to leave and should already have their essential items ready.

“If we have to spend an inordinate amount of time at one place, we may be risking others,” Johnson noted.

Officials encouraged residents to review the county’s “Ready, Set, Go” wildfire-preparedness materials, available through the Emergency Management section of the county website.

“We know the risk is high,” Johnson concluded. “Get prepared now. If it happens, you’re ready to go, and it will save lives if you’re prepared.”