At Ease - Wisconsin National Guard Department of Military Affairs

Wisconsin Division of Emergency Management
Mission:
Wisconsin Emergency Management is the lead state
agency charged with coordinating the state’s planning,
preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery efforts
for natural and man-caused disasters. WEM operates a
24-hour emergency
hotline for requesting
state assistance in search
and rescue missions and
for reporting hazardous
materials spills, severe
weather events, public
health problems, and
other threats to public
safety.
WEM programs
include hazard
mitigation, warning
communications,
emergency planning,
emergency police
services, emergency
fire services, disaster
response and recovery,
hazardous materials
and the Emergency
Planning and Community Right to Know Act, radiological
emergency preparedness, exercise and training, and personal
preparedness. WEM also has six regional offices that
work closely with tribal and local emergency management
programs.
Following a natural or man-made disaster, local
officials work through their county emergency management
director to contact WEM’s 24-hour duty officer system.
WEM contacts appropriate state and federal agencies and
coordinates any requested state assistance, such as National
Guard or State Patrol resources. In addition, WEM regional
directors, emergency police services and emergency fire
services coordinators may respond to the scene to serve as
field liaisons for the State Emergency Operations Center in
Madison and to help coordinate response efforts.
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During the 2007-2008 winter season, southern
Wisconsin saw new snowfall records. A massive
winter storm pounded the region in February,
leaving nearly 2,000 vehicles stranded on Interstate
39/90 between Janesville and Madison, some for
almost 20 hours. Immediately afterwards, Gov.
An Overview: Wisconsin National Guard
Johnny Smith
Director - Wisconsin
Emergency Management
2008 Emergency Management Highlights:
2008 Emergency Management Highlights
Cont’d:
Jim Doyle ordered an investigation and a report
on the emergency response to the incident. The
report, prepared by Brig. Gen. Don Dunbar, the
adjutant general, recounted the storm response
and addressed issues such as coordination and
communication among multiple agencies, accurate
and timely assessment of the situation, and
communication to the public.
Record snowfalls prompted Gov. Doyle to request
March 2009 85
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a federal emergency snow declaration. Eleven
counties were named in the emergency declaration,
and more than $8.5 million in public costs were
reimbursed to eligible communities for snow
removal and protection measures. The Federal
Emergency Management Agency’s Public Assistance
program pays 75 percent of eligible costs. The
state of Wisconsin pays 12.5 percent, with the local
government responsible for the remaining 12.5
percent.
June brought torrential rainfall and extreme flooding
to southern Wisconsin, extending up toward the
Green Bay area. Many rivers remained above flood
stage into July, and 38 river gauge sites exceeded
the previous all-time crests. Cities and villages
along some rivers sustained considerable damage
to buildings and roads. Additionally, there were
widespread crop losses. Many southern Wisconsin
roads were closed, along with parts of the Interstate
system. President George W. Bush approved
a federal disaster declaration for 32 Wisconsin
counties. FEMA reported that 40,811 households
applied for federal disaster assistance, and more
than $54 million in assistance to individuals was
issued. In addition, another $47.2 million in federal
assistance was provided to communities for debris
removal, emergency response costs, and damage
to public infrastructure. Long-term recovery and
mitigation efforts continue.
In July, WEM assumed responsibility from the Office
of Justice Assistance for operations of the Regional
All Climate Training Center, a first responder training
facility and program housed at Camp Williams. The
REACT Center is a national training facility to help
first responders learn to work across jurisdictions
and disciplines in responding to terrorist acts and
other catastrophes.
In 2008, WEM offered 165 classes with a total of
5,923 students. In addition, there were 90 exercises,
ranging from tabletop to full-scale exercises, with a
total of 4,178 participants. The State of Wisconsin
participated in two FEMA-evaluated exercises
involving the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant
and the Point Beach Nuclear Power Plant.