Wisconsin Emergency Management (WEM)WEM efforts are coordinated with local, state, tribal and federal agencies, as well as volunteer and private sector partners. We support 72 Wisconsin counties and bring emergency management services to the state's 5.6 million citizens. Our central office is located in Madison and we have six regional offices that provide local support. |
Emergency Management News
Hurricane Sandy - Response & Recovery Efforts
Daylight Savings Time - Sunday, Nov. 4
10/29/2012 Daylight Saving Time ends this Sunday as we “fall back” and set clocks back one hour. This is also a great time to check the things that keep us safe and ready for emergencies. ReadyWisconsin urges you to check these items: Smoke Detectors- Check and replace batteries if needed and make sure the devices around your house are working properly. The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission estimates that about 16 million homes in the country have smoke alarms that do not work. In most cases, the batteries are dead or missing. Nearly 2,700 people die and more than 15,000 are injured each year because of fires that started in their homes. | |
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Hazard Mitigation Success Stories - Oliver Wisconsin
10/22/2012 The Schlais family enjoyed life on the banks of the St. Louis River August 2002 when a crack appeared in the middle of their garage floor. They moved the garage before half of its foundation dropped 12 feet towards the river a month later. By mid the 18 foot slump was approximately one foot from the rear entrance of the Schlais home. The Schlais along with several other nearby homeowners watched their yards, decks, and stairways slide towards the river. According to Jack Zaengle, Geology Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Superior, this type of earth mass-movement, called a “slump,” is common in the area. However, what made this event unusual was the sheer size of the slump, approximately 100 yards wide extending 100 to 150 feet down slope to the river, and the rate at which it was slipping, an average of 1.5 inches per day. | |
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AT&T Announces $15,000 Innovation Award to STEP Program
10/8/2012 Program Teaches 5th Graders How to Prepare for Disasters, Emergencies Lt. Governor Encourages Schools to Begin Signing Up Now for 2012-2013 School Year MILWAUKEE, Oct. 8, 2012 — During a visit to Woodlands Schools today, Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch announced the return of the STEP program to Wisconsin classrooms, thanks to a $15,000 grant from AT&T and the donation of 6,000 first aid kits from Walgreens. The Lt. Governor also encouraged schools to begin signing up now for this year’s program, which teaches students how to prepare for disasters and react to emergencies. “When disaster strikes, it’s important that Wisconsin communities know how to respond and act quickly,” Lt. Governor Kleefisch said. “The STEP program not only teaches students how to prepare for emergencies, but it also encourages them to share that information with their families. I encourage interested schools throughout the state to sign up for this program and help prepare their students for emergencies.” STEP (Student Tools for Emergency Planning) is a turn-key classroom curriculum for teachers to prepare 5th grade students for various emergencies and disasters, including tornadoes, flooding and storms. The program also shows students how to put together an emergency kit and develop an emergency plan with their families. The program is being funded this year through a $15,000 Innovation & Investment Award from AT&T Wisconsin. AT&T has a long-standing commitment to disaster preparedness and business continuity, and is the first company in the nation to earn U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) certification for disaster preparedness. | During a visit to Woodlands Schools, Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch announced the return of the STEP program to Wisconsin classrooms, thanks to a $15,000 grant from AT&T and the donation of 6,000 first aid kits from Walgreens. |
Link to full .pdf news release |
Emergency Alerts straight to your Cell Phone
7/3/2012 Questions and Answers about the new service Local and State Emergency officials and the National Weather Service have another tool for alerting the public to dangerous conditions - called Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA). These emergency alerts will be sent to newer cell phones in affected areas. Alerts will continue to be issued or available on other sources including radio/TV stations, on NOAA Weather Radios and local sirens. Because this system is so new, people have many questions about how it works. Here are some commonly asked questions and answers. For more information, go to the ReadyWisconsin website at http://ready.wi.gov/ and click on our “Cell Phone Alert” tab. | Local and State Emergency officials and the National Weather Service will have another tool for alerting the public to dangerous conditions - called Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA). |
Link to full .pdf news release |