WORLAND – Washakie County residents are being encouraged to sign up for the Rapid Notify system, a free mass notification system offered through the Washakie County Law Enforcement Center, in the event of a major disaster or weather event.

Emergency alert notifications are sent through Rapid Notify to individual email, phone and text message accounts, to alert emergency personnel of an event, or to instruct residents of specific areas to avoid during potentially life-threatening situations.

The system can alert subscribers through a variety of services, from Washakie County Dispatch, to the Federal Aviation Administration, National Weather Service and Department of Homeland Security.

“The system won’t be used for incidental things around the county,” said Washakie County Sheriff Steve Rakness. “It’s more for major impact events.”

Subscribers can go to the website, http://www.washakiecounty.net/rapid-notify, to sign up for the service, and be alerted of major events such as tornadoes, earthquakes, major fires and emergency situations requiring state and national response.

While Washakie County Emergency Management is part of the Rapid Notify network, Homeland Security Director Jeff Schweighart is reviewing options to join other networks, including Code Red.

“We are looking at other variables right now to include the county in all major emergency alert systems, to cover anything that might come up that affects Wyoming,” Schweighart said.

Schweighart noted that the state will be running a statewide tornado drill on Wednesday, and testing notifications to area cell phones and on television and radio for a total of 15 minutes to prepare for a large event notification.

Schweighart also relayed that Washakie County Emergency Management will host a weather spotter training session on April 13 at the Homeland Security office at 501 15 Mile Road, at 6 p.m.