Calhoun County

Emergency Management

Notification system is RAVE Alert  Click to Sign up  | Read about it here

 Information you report during and immediately after a severe storm can provide Emergency Management the situational awareness we need to get the right resources where they are needed.  If you need immediate assistance, call 911.  Otherwise, the link below takes you to a simple online form so you can tell us about storm damages to your neighborhood or to your property. This information will be used to help the National Weather Service, first responders, and community leaders understand the impacts of these storms.  The information you provide is very valuable, please take a few minutes to let us know about your damages.

 Damage Reporting Link

To request a 911 sign -712-297-5104

Calhoun County Emergency Management consists of 4 parts; Planning, Mitigation, Response and Recovery. Our county has a comprehensive emergency operations plan consisting of a Basic Plan and 15 Emergency Support Functions (ESFs). Examples of county mitigation would be indoor and outdoor warning systems and WENS/IPAWS. Response is not only emergency response but also training, especially training on the emergency operations plans. Recovery occurs after a disaster and is one of the ESF plans.

Emergency Preparedness is the responsibility of each of us. As Midwesterners we tend to take a common sense approach as to dealing with disasters. We are more apt to roll up our sleeves and tackle whatever challenges present itself during such events. The tornado Lake City suffered in May of 2015 is a good example where over 600 local volunteers responded to assist residents with cleanup activities. Expecting the government to fix all our problems or challenges after a disaster is not something in our Midwestern nature.

In today’s environment we must think and prepare for potential disasters that include extended power outages. Not too many years ago we recommended persons having the necessary resources to survive 3 to 4 days without power. Now, with the threat of computer hacking to our power grid, the estimated time of a power outage may be much longer. Having a plan of what to do if such an event were to occur and knowing what resources you should have immediately available to you is a good start.

It is important that everyone give some thought as to what you would do in the event of a fire in your home, a blizzard, tornado, ice storm, flash flood, or any other potential disaster. This should also include preparedness not only in the homes but if one is traveling. Thinking about this before a disaster strikes and having a plan of what you should do is the most important thing you can do in surviving these types of calamities.