Mayor preps for flood

Saratoga Mayor John Zeiger prepares for rising water as predicted conditions call for action

On Monday morning, Saratoga Mayor John Zeiger sat in on a conference call with representatives from the office of Governor Mark Gordon, the Carbon County Commissioners, the Wyoming Department of Transportation, the National Weather Service and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to discuss the North Platte River and Saratoga.

As of Friday, Zeiger had already signed a declaration requesting additional services in case of increased flooding risks. Much of that aid came in the form of the Smokebusters from the Wyoming Honor Conservation Camp in Newcastle. Over the weekend, the Smokebusters bagged approximately 9,520 sandbags in addition to 2,000 sandbags that had already been filled by Carbon County.

Over the weekend, the mayor of Saratoga served in his other capacity as Carbon County Emergency Management Coordinator as he held periodic phone conferences with the concerned agencies. Much of their discussion, according to Zeiger, centered around how long to keep the Smokebusters in the area. By noon on Sunday, however, the decision was made to demobilize the team.

During the Monday morning conference call, the National Weather Service predicted an increase of thunderstorms for Monday and Tuesday with a possibility of unsettled weather in the extended forecast that could turn into snow above 10,000 feet. It was stated, however, that the mountain ranges were running out "snow that mattered" or snow that could contribute to an increase in run-off and causing flooding.

It was predicted that the North Platte River would peak at around nine feet on Wednesday and would decrease following that. In the chance that the river does peak above what is predicted, the sandbags filled by the Smokebusters over the weekend have been placed in three locations around Saratoga; the hot pool, Pic Pike Road and Texas Trail leading behind the Saratoga Hot Springs Resort.

 

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