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Sheridan County accepts FEMA grant to buy mobile precipitation gauges after Elk fire
Summary
The board authorized acceptance of a FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant of $47,802.50 (approximately 75% federal, 25% county match) to purchase mobile precipitation gauges intended to provide near‑real‑time rainfall data after the Elk fire and improve warning times for flooding and debris flows.
Sheridan County commissioners voted Aug. 19 to authorize acceptance of a FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant that will purchase mobile precipitation gauges intended to improve early warning after the Elk fire.
Jesse Lukhouse, the county’s emergency management coordinator, said the federal award totals $47,802.50 with roughly 75% federal funding and a 25% county match. He described the devices as tripod systems with a weather box, a radar sensor to measure precipitation (rain, sleet, or snow), a solar panel and satellite uplink; Lukhouse said they require assembly and disassembly, have a roughly 15‑foot footprint and can be redeployed as monitoring needs change.
Lukhouse said the gauges will feed real‑time data to the National Weather Service so alerts and warnings can be better targeted to protect communities from flooding or debris‑flow risks. He said the county had been borrowing three precipitation gauges from Carbon County and that the grant will allow Sheridan County to buy its own units. Several commissioners supported the purchase and asked that the devices be available to neighboring counties when needed; one asked that the gauges be used to protect park amenities and community infrastructure.
A commissioner moved to approve and authorize the chairman to sign documents required for the FEMA award agreement; the board approved the motion by voice vote.
