CONTACTS
Leah Bucco-White, Department of Health and Human Services, (402) 471-9356
leah.bucco-white@nebraska.gov
Emily Case, Department of Environment and Energy, (402) 471-4245
emily.case@nebraska.gov
Issued: Sept. 16-18, 2020
Affected Area: Statewide
Air Quality Index: Moderate to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
Potential Air Quality Impacts from Wildfires in the Western U.S.
Numerous large wildfires in the Western United States may affect the air quality in Nebraska. Nebraska continues to monitor smoke levels and wind directions and provides updates accordingly to the media and public. Smoke advisories are issued for impacted areas by notifying the media and local health departments, and posting information on the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy's (NDEE) webpages and social media sites. Advisories help citizens protect their health by alerting them to days where outdoor activities should be reduced or avoided to minimize exposure to smoke.
Advisories are based on data provided by NDEE and the National Weather Service (NWS), and from air quality monitors located in Lincoln, Omaha, Bellevue, Grand Island, and Scottsbluff.
Western Nebraska:
An advisory of possible Moderate (yellow category) to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (orange category) impacts may occur on Wednesday, September 16. Impacts may continue through Friday, September 18. Conditions are expected to move back to the green category, (no impacts), by Saturday, September 19.
Central and eastern Nebraska:
An advisory of Moderate (yellow category) impacts may occur on Wednesday, September 16. Conditions are expected to move back to the green category, (no impacts), by Thursday, September 17.
During yellow category/moderate conditions, unusually sensitive groups should consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion. When conditions rise to the orange category, sensitive groups are advised to reduce prolonged outdoor exertion.
The following Air Quality Index (AQI) is used. This AQI is used nationally. For an hourly update on air quality across Nebraska visit https://www.airnow.gov .
For more information on smoke awareness, visit NDEE's website at http://deq.ne.gov/NDEQProg.nsf/OnWeb/AirSA .
For more information on burn activity and a smoke outlook, visit NDEE's website at http://deq.ne.gov/Press.nsf/pages/AirSA-2.
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CONTACTS
Leah Bucco-White, Department of Health and Human Services, (402) 471-9356
leah.bucco-white@nebraska.gov
Emily Case, Department of Environment and Energy, (402) 471-4245
emily.case@nebraska.gov
DHHS/NDEE Issue Smoke Advisory
Issued:
Sept. 16-18, 2020
Affected
Area: Statewide
Air
Quality Index: Moderate
to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
Potential Air Quality Impacts from Wildfires
in the Western U.S.
Numerous large wildfires in the Western United States may
affect the air quality in Nebraska. Nebraska continues to monitor smoke levels
and wind directions and provides updates accordingly to the media and public. Smoke
advisories are issued for impacted areas by notifying the media and local
health departments, and posting information on the Nebraska Department of
Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Nebraska Department of Environment and
Energy's (NDEE) webpages and social media sites. Advisories help citizens
protect their health by alerting them to days where outdoor activities should
be reduced or avoided to minimize exposure to smoke.
Advisories are based on data provided by NDEE and the
National Weather Service (NWS), and from air quality monitors located in
Lincoln, Omaha, Bellevue, Grand Island, and Scottsbluff.
Western Nebraska:
An advisory
of possible Moderate
(yellow category) to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (orange
category) impacts may occur on Wednesday, September 16. Impacts may continue
through Friday, September 18. Conditions
are expected to move back to the green category, (no impacts), by Saturday,
September 19.
Central and eastern Nebraska:
An advisory
of Moderate (yellow
category) impacts may occur on Wednesday, September 16. Conditions are expected to move back to the
green category, (no impacts), by Thursday, September 17.
During yellow
category/moderate conditions, unusually sensitive groups should consider limiting
prolonged outdoor exertion. When conditions rise to the orange category,
sensitive groups are advised to reduce prolonged outdoor exertion.
The following Air Quality
Index (AQI) is used. This AQI is used nationally. For an hourly update
on air quality across Nebraska visit https://www.airnow.gov .
For more information on
smoke awareness, visit NDEE's website at http://deq.ne.gov/NDEQProg.nsf/OnWeb/AirSA .
For more information on
burn activity and a smoke outlook, visit NDEE’s website at http://deq.ne.gov/Press.nsf/pages/AirSA-2.
###