The sun rises amid wildfire haze as a Union Pacific locomotive passes by, (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
HASTINGS — An alert for possible Moderate (Air Quality Index yellow category) to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (Air Quality Index orange
category) due to smoke has been issued for the following Nebraska counties: Arthur, Banner, Blaine, Box Butte, Brown, Buffalo, Chase, Cherry, Cheyenne, Custer, Dawes, Dawson, Deuel, Dundy, Frontier, Furnas, Garden, Gosper, Grant, Harlan, Hayes, Hitchcock, Hooker, Keith, Keya Paha, Kimball, Lincoln, Logan, Loup, McPherson, Morrill, Perkins, Phelps, Red Willow, Rock, Scotts Bluff, Sheridan, Sioux, Thomas from July 25, 2024 1 p.m. through July 26, 2024 9 a.m.
During Moderate AQI (yellow category) conditions, those who are unusually sensitive to particle pollution may experience health
effects. When conditions rise to the yellow category, those who are unusually sensitive are advised to consider shortening outdoor
activities and reducing the intensity of these activities.
Symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath are signs to take it easier.
During Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups AQI (orange category) conditions, members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. Sensitive groups include people with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children. When conditions rise to the orange category, sensitive groups are advised to reduce prolonged or heavy exertion and avoid intense outdoor activities.
Smoke from wildfires in the Pacific Northwest and Canada may affect the air quality in Nebraska. Smoke levels and wind directions are monitored by Nebraska and other states to predict when impacts to the air quality may occur.
Information regarding wildfires and Impacts in Nebraska is available from the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) at http://dee.ne.gov/NDEQProg.nsf/OnWeb/AirSA-3
Alerts are based on data available from weather forecasts, smoke plume modeling, satellite imagery, and from air quality monitors located in Omaha, Bellevue, Blair, Lincoln, Beatrice, Grand Island, and Scottsbluff.
Advisories for smoke and air quality are issued for affected areas by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and
Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) and posted on agency webpages and social media sites. By notifying the media and local
health departments, alerts help citizens protect their health by informing them of days where outdoor activities should be reduced
or avoided to minimize exposure to smoke.
