Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security

The Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security is responsible for coordinating emergency planning, disaster preparedness and response training for the City of Milwaukee and our partners in the adjoining five-county region known as the Milwaukee Urban Area Security Initiative. Our mission is to create a multi-jurisdictional, multi-disciplinary network of government agencies and community stakeholders in order to prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from major disruptive events, thereby mitigating impact on southeastern Wisconsin.

QUAKE IN DC SERVES AS A REMINDER TO BE PREPARED
                                                                                                                                                                                                                         August 23 earthquake in the mid-Atlantic region is a reminder that emergencies can strike anywhere and without warning. In addition to having an emergency kit to sustain yourself and your family members for at least 72 hours, here are a few tips on what to do during and after an earthquake:

If indoors, drop to the ground; take coverby getting under a sturdy table or other piece of furniture; and hold on until the shaking stops. If there isn’t a table or desk near you, cover your face and head with your arms and crouch in an inside corner of the building.

If outdoors, move away from buildings, streetlights, and utility wires.

• Preventing Terrorism and Enhancing Security
• Strengthening the Homeland Security Enterprise
• Strengthening Resilience to Disasters
• Safeguarding and Securing Cyberspace
• International Engagement

FEMA Update

Citizens who have questions regarding possible repayment of FEMA assistance for disasters in August 2007, June 2008 or August 2010 should call 1-800-621-3362.

February 2011 Blizzard Update

President Obama has issued a public assistance disaster declaration which includes Milwaukee County for the February 2011 blizzard.  As a result, the City of Milwaukee will be eligible to apply for reimbursement for costs and damages which were directly related to this major snow event.  The Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security will coordinate the application and reimbursement process for City of Milwaukee departments.  This is a public assistance disaster declaration available to governmental units only.  It does not apply to individual homeowners.  

Flood Awareness - What You Can Do To Reduce The Risk                                                             

March 28th, 2011                                     

With spring on the way, now is the time to get you and your family prepared for flood season. As snow melts and the rainy months approach, water levels may rise in the Milwaukee area. The July 2010 flooding resulted in millions of dollars in property losses and damage to thousands of homes and businesses in Milwaukee County. Although the federal government was able to offer more than $45 million in flood recovery assistance to residents and small businesses, we cannot and should not depend on government assistance to help us if we do not do what we can, in advance, to reduce the impact of possible flooding. Simple steps like moving personal items off the basement floor, elevating washers, dryers and using waterproof storage bins can help prevent some of the dangers of flooding. For more prevention tips, and to find out if your home is at increased risk for flooding, follow the link to the Ready Wisconsin website at http://readywisconsin.wi.gov/flooding/default.asp

 

Are you and your family ready for Tornadoes and Severe Weather? Preparing now could save your life and the lives of loved ones.

 April 11-15, 2011 Tornado and Severe Weather Awareness Week in Wisconsin.

- Wisconsin averages 21 tornadoes annually.                                                                                                                                                                                                                   - In 2010, 46 tornadoes in Wisconsin were confirmed by the National Weather Services, the second greatest yearly number on record. Fortunately, no one was killed but 22 were injured and the tornadoes caused nearly $30 million in property damage.                                                                                                                                                                - The peak tornado season in Wisconsin is April to August, but tornadoes can occur any time of year, like the January 7, 2008 storms near Kenosha.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            - Tornados can occur anytime during the day or night, but are most frequent between 4pm and 9pm.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     - Know what we know! Everyone should have an emergency weather radio in their home, office, and school. That way you’ll get the severe weather warnings as soon as we have it here at Wisconsin Emergency Management and the National Weather Service. For more information click on: http://ready.wi.gov/tornado/default.asp

Snow Event Update

Updated from the City of Milwaukee-Department of Public Works

February 3rd, 2011

   

  Two hundred ninety five (295) pieces of equipment continue to finish up curb to curb plowing and clearing sidewalks for city property and hardships.  As of 9AM, 99% of main streets and 78% of residential streets have been fully plowed.

 

The plan moving forward today and tomorrow:

 

·        Bus stop clearing will begin at 6PM this evening

·        Garbage and recycling pickup will resume on Friday ( A separate correspondence is forthcoming on alley collections)

·        Residents must shovel their carts out and provide a clear path from their carts to the alley or curb line

·        Carts not shoveled out will be will be tagged with a citation

·        Residents have 24 hours after the snow stops to clear their public sidewalks or risk a fine

·        Sanitation crews are scheduled to work Saturday to begin catching up on garbage and recycling collection

·        Residents are urged not to blow or shovel snow back out into plowed streets.  This creates a driving hazard and violators may be ticketed by MPD.

 

·        To facilitate overnight snow clean up, residents are reminded to continue to follow winter parking regulations.

 

WISCONSIN’S WINTER AWARENESS WEEK

NOVEMBER 8-12, 2010

(MADISON) Governor Jim Doyle has declared November 8-12, 2010 as

Wisconsin’s Winter Awareness Week. The annual campaign, sponsored by Wisconsin

Emergency Management (WEM) and NOAA’s National Weather Service (NWS), is to

remind people to be prepared for winter conditions that could threaten their safety.

This year, NASCAR driver Matt Kenseth is teaming up with WEM to promote winter

awareness. Matt is appearing in a number of public service announcements that will air on

Wisconsin TV stations and some radio stations statewide during the month of November.

Winter storms are considered deceptive killers because most deaths are indirectly

related to the storm. Examples of such deaths include traffic accidents on icy or snowcovered

roads, prolonged exposure to the cold and indoor carbon monoxide poisoning. It is

important to start taking preventive measures for winter weather. Now is the time to

winterize your car and home, gather items for a disaster kit, and make sure you have a

NOAA Weather Radio or a commercial radio with fresh batteries.

Additional winter weather tips and notes on how to put together a disaster kit are

available at the ReadyWisconsin website. In addition, there are numerous winter storm

maps and historical details of Wisconsin's winter weather produced by the National

Weather Service. For more information, visit ReadyWisconsin at

http://ReadyWisconsin.wi.gov.

For more information on the winter weather awareness campaign, contact your

county emergency management director or your local NWS office.

 

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