Albany County OEM Urges Residents to Document March 12 Wind Damage

Winds that raked Albany County on March 12 with gusts topping 85 mph along the Interstate 80 corridor left a damage trail that officials are now racing to quantify before a March 31 reporting deadline that could determine whether the county qualifies for state and federal disaster assistance.

Two days after the storm, Albany County's Office of Emergency Management opened an online survey and asked property owners to document what they lost before touching a single piece of debris. The directive covered residential, commercial, and agricultural properties alike, with OEM instructing residents to photograph damage and record locations in detail prior to any cleanup or rebuilding work.

The stakes behind that instruction are significant. Albany County has been explicit that it is not in the business of repairing private property. Its own guidance states: "By reporting your damages, please be aware that the County is not responsible for repairing or mitigating damages. The purpose of this reporting system is to enable the County to collect data in order to possibly become eligible for state and federal disaster assistance. The County will only be eligible if the disaster declaration threshold is met." In other words, the survey responses collectively build the case for a potential declaration, and thin reporting could leave the county short of that threshold.

The March 12 event was no ordinary windstorm. A National Weather Service high wind warning in effect through that Sunday described west winds of 30 to 50 mph with gusts reaching 70 mph countywide and localized gusts up to 85 mph in the wind-prone corridors along Interstates 25 and 80. The warning covered the South Laramie Range and Foothills including the I-80 Summit between Cheyenne and Laramie, the Bordeaux area along I-25 between Chugwater and Wheatland, Converse County lower elevations, East Platte County, and Central Laramie County. Cross winds of that magnitude posed serious hazards to lightweight and high-profile vehicles including campers and tractor trailers, and blowing dust compounded the danger on those corridors.

Beyond documenting structural damage, OEM is urging every affected property owner to contact their homeowners insurance carrier without delay. The county's guidance is direct: "If your property has sustained damage or loss, please remember it is your responsibility to contact your home owners insurance to file a claim." Timely insurance reporting runs parallel to, not instead of, the county survey submission.

Property owners who need to reach Albany County Emergency Management directly can email ema@co.albany.wy.us or call (307) 721-1815. The online survey link was distributed through the county and local media; residents who cannot locate it should contact OEM through either of those channels. All submissions must be in before March 31.