UW Volunteers to Assist with Flood Relief Efforts in Saratoga

Nearly 70 University of Wyoming employees and student-athletes are volunteering Friday for flood relief efforts in Saratoga. The North Platte River in Carbon County is expected to rise to record levels this week, caused by warmer temperatures and increased rainfall.

The UW contingent will fill sandbags and perform other duties, says Mark Collins, UW associate vice president for operations.

UW’s volunteers will board two buses and leave for Saratoga at 6 a.m. from the Indoor Practice Facility north parking lot.

“It appears that we have between 60-70 volunteers, including Physical Plant employees, UW Police Department staff members, UW student-athletes -- primarily football players -- and other UW employees,” Collins says.

Guy Cameron with Wyoming Homeland Security will be in charge at the flood relief site in Saratoga. UW Dining Services will provide drinks and breakfast snacks for the university’s volunteers on the ride over the Snowy Range, and Homeland Security will provide lunch.

“UW Athletics is supplying us with UW T-shirts so we can fly the UW flag in Saratoga,” Collins says.

The UW group will join 150 Wyoming National Guardsmen and other volunteers in Saratoga. Just this week, Gov. Matt Mead ordered three more National Guard teams to assist in Carbon County.

“This is a comprehensive state response,” Cameron said earlier this week in a media release. “Gov. Mead has told us to protect Wyoming communities from flooding, and we are doing everything possible to make that happen.”

The last time UW volunteers assisted with flood relief efforts was in 2010 on the Laramie River on Laramie’s west side.

For more information, contact Collins at (307) 766-4196.