Thursday, OCTOBER 16, 2025 |

Photo – Carbon County Emergency Management web page – Courtesy Emergency Management

Carbon County Commissioners have requested that Emergency Manager Lenny Layman look at another option for sending emergency alerts, namely a system recent deployed by the financially strapped Public Broadcasting System.

The Carbon County Office of Emergency Management uses “AlertSense” to notify residents of potentially dangerous situations. During an emergency, subscribers receive automatic text messages and phone calls describing the event.  Safety instructions are also included. Recently, “AlertSense” was used to inform residents that Stage One fire restrictions had been lifted.

During the October 7th Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, Vice Chairwoman Gwynn Bartlett announced that Wyoming PBS had created its own automated emergency notification system, simply called Wyoming PBS Alerts. Vice Chair Bartlett explained to the county’s Emergency Manager that the state’s public television network is offering a free service to rival “AlertSense.”

However, the Vice Chairwoman admitted that the Wyoming PBS system will not remain free indefinitely and seems more limited than the county’s current alert messaging system.

Vice Chairwoman Bartlett asked Layman to investigate Wyoming PBS Alerts and determine if local notifications could be added to the service. The Board Vice Chairwoman said a single state-wide alert system would be beneficial.

Emergency Manager Layman explained that the four major emergency alert services allow users to send county-specific messages. Layman said the main draw of the Wyoming PBS system appears to be its ability to broadcast emergency alerts on public television, something the county’s existing system already supports.

Vice Chairwoman Bartlett said she had already signed up for Wyoming PBS Alerts to evaluate the system. Emergency Manager Layman warned that the Vice Chairwoman’s early subscription to the untested notification service may prompt other Carbon County residents to do the same, potentially causing confusion and missed alerts.

Vice Chairwoman Bartlett explained that Wyoming PBS is seeking funding from the Department of Homeland Security for its new notification system, the same funding source that supports “AlertSense.” The Board Vice Chairwoman asked Layman to look into Wyoming PBS Alerts in case the federal government shifts all its funding to that program.

Layman said he was unaware that Wyoming PBS was creating its own emergency alert system. Layman added that the program may be an attempt to recoup lost federal funding in the wake of a Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, audit.

Board Chairman Travis Moore asked Layman to explain the difference between how local and statewide alerts are handled. The Emergency Manager said that through “AlertSense” and similar systems, he can issue county-specific warnings. Additionally, Layman said the same platform provides access to the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System, the nation’s official network for distributing emergency alerts across TV, radio, cell phones, and weather radios.

Layman said “AlertSense” already includes all the features offered by Wyoming PBS Alerts, and more. However, the Emergency Manager offered to collect more information about the Wyoming PBS notification system and present a report to the Board during a future meeting.

The post Commissioners Request Looking at New Emergency Alert System first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.