WEDNESDAY, May 20, 2026 |
Photo – Snow covered vehicles – Courtesy Sheriff Alex Bakken
County officials provided shelter and medical assistance for people affected by the recent snowstorm.
This week’s spring storm left thousands of Carbon County residents without power, with some in Rawlins losing electricity for more than a day.
Early Monday morning, Sheriff Bakken posted on social media that Memorial Hospital of Carbon County was available for individuals needing supplemental oxygen or electrical power for a medical device. During Tuesday morning’s Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, Commission Chairman Travis Moore asked if the Rawlins hospital saw a large increase in demand during the storm. Sheriff Bakken said only four people required oxygen, adding that the facility could have accommodated many more patients.
Sheriff Bakken said during the storm, officials prioritized fuel and medical access. The sheriff said both the Sinclair refinery and Wyoming State Penitentiary helped meet the county’s fuel needs.
Sheriff Bakken said that once the fuel requirements were addressed, county officials shifted their focus to medical access. He said the Haglund tracked rescue vehicle was used to transport stranded motorists off Interstate 80 to the Jeffery Memorial Community Center.
Sheriff Bakken said motorists were returned to their vehicles after the Knife River construction company finished plowing the interstate.
The sheriff thanked Carbon County Search and Rescue volunteers for their support during the snow emergency. Despite the difficulty of finding volunteers, he said the Search and Rescue members stepped in to ensure the safety of both residents and travelers.
Commission Vice Chairwoman Gwynn Bartlett asked county officials to use the snowstorm to identify which buildings need additional emergency generators. Congresswoman Harriet Hageman approved the county’s Federal Community Project Funding request for backup generators and Vice Chair Bartlett said she can pursue more funding opportunities to cover additional units.
Sheriff Bakken said he was proud of the people who worked to keep the public safe during the spring snowstorm.
