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Wyoming · Preparedness Guide

Ready for what Wyoming actually throws at you.

Blizzards that strand travelers on I-80 for days, wildfires across the high plains and mountains, the world's largest active supervolcano beneath your feet, and the least populous state in the country — where help is always far away.

About this guide

Built for Wyoming. Not everywhere.

Wyoming is the 10th largest state by area and the least populous in the country — about 584,000 people across 98,000 square miles. That ratio means emergency services are stretched thin and self-reliance is not optional. Winters are severe: I-80 between Cheyenne and Rawlins closes dozens of times per year, the Snowy Range and Bighorn Mountains generate extreme snowfall, and Arctic outbreaks push temperatures to -40°F or colder across the state. The state's energy-extraction economy — coal, oil, gas — has been in structural decline for a decade, creating economic vulnerability that compounds every natural disaster. And sitting directly above Yellowstone is the world's largest supervolcano, which last had a major eruption 640,000 years ago — but which remains seismically active every day.

Local self-reliance starts with knowing your place.

Quick facts

Top hazards: Blizzards & Winter Storms, Wildfires, Extreme Cold

WY has not expanded Medicaid — eligibility is more limited for adults without dependents

USDA hardiness zones: 3a (Yellowstone / high mountain valleys) to 5b (Cheyenne / eastern WY plains)

Unemployment: up to $508/week for 26 weeks

Free or low-cost soil testing available through the state extension service

Seven topics, one state

What this guide covers.

Each section focuses on one question. Find what you need without wading through what you don't.

Get specific

Make it personal to your county.

Enter your ZIP code to see real-time weather alerts, drought conditions, FEMA disaster declarations, and county-level resources.

Next steps

Where do you want to go next?

Know your risks

See what's actually likely where you live.

Flood zones, hazard maps, and the WY risks that apply to your county.

Local Risk Readiness

Build the basics

Start with three days of self-reliance.

The universal first step — before you personalize, get the 72-hour foundation in place.

First 72 Hours