EVANSTON — Why does that siren go off every Wednesday just before noon? The Herald received that inquiry multiple times, so we asked Josh Rasnake, manager at the Uinta County Emergency Management Office.

“We need to use the siren every Wednesday to test that it still works at all locations,” said Rasnake. “When the dispatcher at the sheriff’s dispatch office pushes the button, that turns all of the sirens on. I travel to each of them to make sure they are working. If you are near a siren and it does not go off at the scheduled time or if it goes off at another unscheduled time, please call my office at 307-783-0327 or dispatch at 307-783-1000.”

Uinta County’s eight warning sirens are designed to give reliable warning to persons outside. People outdoors may not have the same access to warning and information via the media as those remaining inside. Also, the siren gives people gathered in large numbers at parks, playgrounds and ballfields time to reach shelter and access information via the media. In case of a serious situation — for example, a wildfire — the sheriff’s office would send deputies to the outlying areas to alert residents.

In a real emergency, the blast of the siren would go on much longer than the average Wednesday lunch reminder, as some people view it. People would need to check the local radio station or CodeRED on their cellphones to get the specific alert information. The first thing to do, Rasnake said, is seek shelter and then get information. Text UINTAREADY to 99411 to enroll in CodeRED.

‘’The history of our siren goes way back to when a siren was used to alert local volunteer firefighters, and then during the wars it was used for civil defense purposes,” Rasnake said. “Then in 1984, with all the oil and gas activity, the county installed the sirens we have at eight locations throughout the town.”

Rasnake said at that time the county was concerned with any dangers associated with the oil and gas boom; but there are always potential hazards that would create a need to alert residents. The Union Pacific Railroad that runs through town, the interstate and the transportation of hazardous materials, along with extreme winter weather all might have the potential to create a serious emergency situation.

Uinta County Emergency Management has a partnership with the National Weather Service and receives alerts from them.

Families always need to be prepared for emergencies, Rasnake said, and should build kits with two weeks of supplies that include at least one gallon of water per person per day, non-perishable food, medical equipment, eye care, a first aid kit, sturdy shoes, extra batteries, warm clothes, fire extinguisher, identification and important documents, medications, toilet paper, cash, pet supplies, tools, personal hygiene items, flashlight, an NOAA alert radio and a can opener.

The American Red Cross of Wyoming, Wyoming Homeland Security and the state of Wyoming have prepared a folder titled, “2 Weeks Ready,” with the information needed and blanks to fill in with personal information in case of emergency.

Those folders and the CodeRED information can be picked up from a table display in the lobby of the Uinta County Complex. The Wyoming Ready/Homeland Security website also has information on preparing for emergencies.

“Be prepared for any emergency,” Rasnake said. “If any major emergency ever does happen, the county is prepared to take care of people.”