JACKSON, Wyo. — With storm, flood and fire season underway, Teton County Emergency Management (TCEM) has shared ways to access needed information during emergency situations.
“It’s a good time to reflect on how you and your household stay informed before, during and after an emergency,” TCEM wrote via press release. “Make sure that you can receive potentially life-saving information in multiple ways. It is better to be ready for an emergency a year too early than a minute too late.”
Public alerts
According to TCEM, its public alert and warning system can help officials reach the public with important information in an emergency or disaster.
Residents can sign up for Teton_WY Alerts, a free emergency notification service that sends messages to registered contacts via text message, mobile app notification, voice call, email, teletypewriter and more. TCEM reported that there are now 4,875 contacts registered with Teton_WY Alerts, just shy of 21% of Teton County’s 2020 Census population.
Several local radio stations and cable television providers participate in the Emergency Alert System by re-broadcasting local emergency messages. During an incident, tune to the following sources: Jackson Hole Radio (93.5 FM, 95.3 FM, 96.3 FM, 96.9 FM, 1340 AM); KHOL (89.1 FM); KMLT (88.3 FM); and Spectrum Cable.
Residents can also access emergency alerts via text message. Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs) are typically used for the most critical alerts only. WEAs are text-based alerts designed to reach capable cell phones that are within range of a cell phone tower in the selected area, without the user having to register ahead of time.
TCEM, the State of Wyoming, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Weather Service (NWS) can all send emergency text alerts. To enable WEAs on a cell phone, check the “notifications” or “safety and emergency” settings, and verify that the phone is receiving Wireless Emergency Alerts by choosing to enable WEA test messages.
To access emergency information online, TCEM maintains an incident webpage with current alerts.
Outdoor sirens
In Teton County, there are seven outdoor warning sirens that can be activated for life-safety incidents. The sirens alert those in a 1/2 mile to 1 mile radius of the siren.
“If you hear a 3-minute-long siren wail, check other sources to determine what is happening and what you should do,” TCEM wrote.
Information about the siren system, including a map of siren locations, can be found here.
Weather broadcast
According to TCEM, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) All Hazards Weather Radio is a nationwide network of radio stations broadcasting continuous weather information directly from the nearest NWS office. The radio station network also broadcasts non-weather-related emergency alerts, which automatically play a sound followed by the emergency message read out loud.
TCEM recommends that every home, school and business have a working NOAA All Hazards Weather Radio.
“Remember, the first and most important thing you can do to be prepared is to know what is going on,” TCEM wrote. “If you don’t know, you can’t act.”
