Dane County Stands Ready During National Preparedness Month

September 03, 2026
Andrew Beckett
Emergency Management

DANE COUNTY, Wis. – Disasters can strike without warning and being ready to act can help protect you and those around you. September is National Preparedness Month and Dane County Emergency Management encourages everyone to be ready for the unexpected.

 “While being prepared on a personal level is important, it’s also a community effort,” said Dane County Executive Melissa Agard. “We encourage everyone to take action this month to make sure their family, neighbors and community have what they need to deal with any situation that puts public safety at risk.”

National Preparedness Month is observed every September as part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Ready campaign. This year’s theme is “America Stands Ready,” building on the idea that for 250 years Americans have often worked together to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies and disasters.

“Being prepared is about more than just having a plan or building an emergency kit,” said Dane County Emergency Management Director Charles Tubbs. “It’s also about recognizing the many different ways people work together every day to help others remain safe.”

Dane County works with communities every day to maintain and improve the systems that help protect people and property. That includes efforts to ensure people receive emergency notifications as quickly as possible, helping first responders access the critical training and resources they need to grow their skills, and working to develop plans for how communities will respond when a disaster occurs.

“Maintaining these resources and building up partnerships are important steps in the preparedness process,” said Executive Agard. “Emergency Management and many other county departments work with a wide range of partners at the local, state and federal levels to ensure Dane County has the right tools available to help support people during a disaster.”

There are also many ways individuals can work to be better prepared for an emergency. Dane County Emergency Management offers the following suggestions:

  • Create an emergency plan for your family. Include details like how you can communicate with each other and where you should meet if you are unable to get back home or need to leave quickly. Be sure to include plans for family members with special needs and your pets.
  • Create an emergency kit. Include non-perishable foods, water, first aid supplies, copies of important documents, and a flashlight with extra batteries. If you already have a kit at home, check the supplies to see if anything has expired or needs to be replaced.
  • Have multiple ways to receive emergency alerts. If you have a smart phone, ensure that Wireless Emergency Alerts are enabled on the device. Get a NOAA Weather Radio for your home. You can also sign-up to receive emergency notifications from Dane County or check to see if your municipality has an emergency notification service.
  • Learn hands-only CPR and other first aid skills. Knowing how and when to use these can help you save a life. Check with community organizations and local fire departments for when they may offer classes in your area.
  • Get to know your neighbors and find out who may need assistance if a disaster were to delay help getting into your area. It can sometimes take a few days for relief efforts to get organized. Also, check for local organizations that may already be doing work to build up a stronger community response in your area.
  • Help the county and local governments better prepare for natural disasters by taking Dane County’s Natural Hazard Survey. This survey will help Dane County and its partners as they work to update the county's Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan for the next five years. The survey is open through Sept. 14.

 “We are stronger and more resilient working together as a community,” Tubbs said. “By building relationships and sharing plans with each other, we can ensure that Dane County remains ready to respond whenever a disaster occurs. We encourage everyone to take time this September to see how they can improve their own level of personal preparedness.”