 FACT: While preparing for the evacuation, the military speaks of  clearing 360 square miles, which would involve from 35,000 to 50,000  people. Later, a news report states that 200 square miles are being  evacuated. Devils Tower is centrally located in Crook County, with  an area of 2858 sq. miles and a population of 5887, and is over 15  miles from the nearest city. 200 sq. miles would be a circle of 8  miles radius. 360 sq. miles would be a radius of 11.5 miles. The  actual population of the evacuated area would likely be less than a  few hundred people, not 35 to 50 thousand.