Many Dane County communities rely on one or two residents or staff that have the personal knowledge
needed to take action in preparing for any flood event. Other Dane County communities have more paid
staff to cope with regular flood threats, but will probably have to rely upon untrained help during
major flood events. If these people are not available or are overwhelmed with tasks, the loss of
their expertise can be disastrous. Likewise, staff from the County or State Emergency Management
might be needed in many different communities during a flood. Communities that have developed a clear
Local Response Plan are more self-sufficient during a disaster and therefore more likely to be able
to successfully reduce risk of loss of life and property during a flood. The document
Flood Emergency Action Procedures: Preparation Guide for
Small Communities provides step-by-step instructions detailing how to prepare a Local Response
Plan for flooding. Contact Dane County Emergency Management at (608) 266-4330 if you would like
additional assistance.
Remember, one of the most important steps that a community can take to prepare for any kind of
disaster is to establish relationships with other groups and agencies before a flood occurs. In
addition to county and state partners, it is important to develop formal or informal agreements
with neighboring communities and with suppliers who you may need to call on to provide assistance
or materials during a flood. Visit the Work With Partners page of this
website to learn more about the relationships you can develop now to help you respond to flooding
in the future.
In the event of a flood, county resources and state resources (DNR, National Guard, Division of
Emergency Government, DH&SS, etc.) must be obtained through the Dane County Department of Emergency
Management. Be sure to keep track of all emergency activities—damage caused, resources used,
personnel costs, etc. This information will be vital for reimbursement should we receive a federal
disaster declaration.
Sandbag Emergency Levees are used for temporary stopping the expansion of flood waters. They are not
complicated to build although there is a defined pattern for their construction. Improperly and/or
poorly constructed sandbag emergency levees can lead to continual repairs, ineffective use of
resources, and catastrophic failure. Doing the job correctly can ensure that property is adequately
protected and resources are used effectively during an emergency. Information on how to effectively
construct your levee are on the Dane County website.
Revised: October 18, 2007
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