The mission statement of Racine County Emergency Management is to assist the community in mitigating known hazards and in preparing for, responding to, surviving and recovering from both natural and man-made disasters.

While RCOEM likes to tell people that "we worry so you don't have to," we all have a responsibility to be prepared. RCOEM works hard to ensure that we are prepared as a community through planning, training, drills and other activities. RCOEM needs the public to also be prepared.

In 2006, http://www.SustainLane.com, a San Francisco-based online company, measured the natural disaster risk to the 50 largest cities and concluded that the greater Milwaukee area was the safest place to live in the United States. Although we are fortunate that we do not live in a "tornado alley" or reside upon an earthquake fault line, we do have our share of storms, and 2007 was no exception.

On June 18, 70 to 75 mph wind gusts cut a swath through Racine County. The storm began east of Union Grove and followed a line along Highway C and 58th Street. There were semitrailers flipped over on the Interstate and roof damage to a building on the Frontage Road. Racine County's Ives Grove Office Complex took a direct hit during this storm, and the Sheriff's Department's pole barn was destroyed.

According to the National Weather Service, the storm was comprised of "wet microbursts." Wet microbursts are small, intense downbursts that are less than 2.5 miles in diameter. The Weather Service estimated that wind speeds probably hit about 75 mph, which is hurricane-force strength. Those wind speeds are enough to split/break off trees at their midpoints or twist them.

Sustained rains in mid-August caused flooding throughout Racine County, resulting in losses totaling several million dollars. Because of the extent of the damage, on Sept. 6, the Federal Emergency Management Agency added Racine County to the Aug. 26, 2007, major disaster declaration issued for southwestern Wisconsin. This action will help homeowners, renters and business owners recover from the effects of severe storms and flooding. It was the fifth presidential disaster declaration that we have received since 1993.

An F0 (weak) tornado struck Racine County on Sept. 27 between 3:45 and 3:50 p.m. The tornado path was one-tenth of a mile long and about 20 yards wide. The tornado struck near the community of North Cape and was on the ground for about one minute. The tornado damaged shingles on one roof, fascia and soffit on another home and three trees.

READY training

Through a partnership with the Center for School, Youth and Citizen Preparedness, several READY (Responding to Emergencies and Disasters with Youth) classes have been held in Racine County this past year. In the spring, READY training was provided to participants of the Youth Leadership Academy at the YMCA. In August, 30 teens from Racine County spent three days learning about preparedness at the Union Grove Middle School. Larry Jozwik and a group of students from Hey! Productions put together a short video about the READY training. The video is online at http://www.cityofracine.org/depts/health/emergency_preparedness.aspx

In October, 58 Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts and adult leaders participated in the READY training over the Teachers Convention break. While there is no charge to take the training, the scouts are asked to donate at least one nonperishable can of food. Not only did the scouts do something good by donating 97 pounds of food to the Racine County Food Bank, but they also learned valuable skills and completed requirements toward various badges.

Exercise/drills

One way we prepare to respond and recover from emergencies and disasters is to practice what we would do. Often we will participate in tabletop, functional or full-scale exercises and drills. These are simulations, of varying degrees, meant to replicate scenarios that could happen. Several exercises were held, including a large functional exercise and a pandemic flu tabletop exercise.

More than 100 first responders, business and agency representatives and observers participated in READY Racine, a hybrid tabletop/functional exercise, held on Sept. 26 at Gateway Technical College. Facilitators guided participants in developing an Emergency Operations Center response and support strategy for a train derailment in uptown Racine which required mass evacuation; sheltering; and the displacement of city, county and private agency services for the duration of incident. Participants were put into one of four groups - EOC, Operations, Impacted or Non-Governmental Organization. A follow-up exercise is being planned for next year.

Pandemic flu exercise

Racine County and city officials, including the mayor and county executive, gathered on Oct. 11 to test their respective pandemic flu human resource plans. Because the plans are similar, city and county officials worked together to develop the exercise.

The exercise was funded through a public health grant obtained by the Racine Health Department.

Award

Sometimes others recognize the things that you do. This past year, the Emergency Management offices in southeast Wisconsin were honored to receive a "Salute to Local Government - Regional Cooperation" award from the Public Policy Forum for its work on a regional evacuation plan template which will serve as a statewide model. The award was presented at the Public Policy Forum's 15th annual "Salute to Local Government" breakfast June 20.

Information

For more information on emergency preparedness, go to

http://www.racineco.com/emergencymanagement or call (262) 636-3515.