Wood County Emergency Management

Watch Now:
FIRST ALERT WEATHER DAY ISSUED FOR SATURDAY:
The First Alert Weather Team has declared a First Alert Weather Day for Saturday, due to the potential of strong to severe thunderstorms arriving in two rounds that day.
In addition, the potential for flooding will increase over the next 60 hours as rounds of heavy rain move through Wisconsin Friday and again for Saturday.
Latest-> https://www.wsaw.com/2024/06/20/first-alert-weather-day-issued-saturday-due-potential-severe-thunderstorms-heavy-rainfall/
Please download our Weather App for the very latest updates and ability to get any/all severe weather alerts sent to you mobile device.
Chad Franzen WSAW

MADISON, Wis. – Thunderstorms can develop quickly, and knowing what to do and where to go can help you avoid dangerous lighting strikes. June 18 is Wisconsin Lightning Safety Awareness Day, and ReadyWisconsin encourages everyone to learn how to protect themselves while spending time outdoors
“Even if the sky directly overhead may be clear, lightning can travel several miles from the center of a storm,” warned Wisconsin Emergency Management Administrator Greg Engle. “If thunder can be heard, lightning is close enough to strike nearby and the safest thing to do is it to head indoors.”
According to the National Lightning Safety Council, 14 people were killed by lightning in the United States and its territories in 2023. At least one person was killed by a lightning strike in the U.S. so far this year. Since 2003, there have been 10 lightning-related deaths in Wisconsin. There were none reported in the state last year.
During a thunderstorm, the safest place to seek shelter is inside a sturdy, enclosed structure, such as a house. Get out of open areas and stay away from bodies of water, such as lakes or rivers. Never take cover under a tree. If you are inside a vehicle, avoid touching metal surfaces.
When planning outdoor activities during the summer months, pay attention to the forecast for your area. If there are thunderstorms, plan for what you will do if lightning is spotted in the area. Know where you can seek shelter nearby or if you will have to leave because no shelter is available.
Even while indoors, you should take steps to protect yourself during a thunderstorm. Avoid contact with anything connected to an electrical outlet, along with water or plumbing. Stay away from windows and doors. Wait at least 30 minutes after you hear the last thunder before heading back outdoors.
If a person is struck by lightning, immediately dial 911. Start CPR if you are trained and certified. Do not be afraid to touch the victim – the human body does not hold an electrical charge.

Send a message to learn more

With the projected temperatures headed our way this weekend and through next week we wanted to take a moment to remind everyone of the cooling locations in Wood County. Please stay hydrated, safe, watch your pets and check on your neighbors.

WOOD COUNTY
COOLING STATION LOCATIONS AND HOURS

McMillan Library - 490 E Grand Ave Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54494 Mon – Thu 9:00am - 8:00pm Fri 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM Sat 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Lowell Center 220 Third Ave So. Wisconsin Rapids WI 54495 Mon-Fri 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Walmart 4331 8th St S Wisconsin Rapids WI 54494 Mon – Sun. 6:00 am to 11:00 pm
Marshfield Mall – 503 E Ives St Marshfield, WI 54449 Mon – Fri 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM Sat 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM Sun 11:-- AM to 5:00 PM
Marshfield Public Library – 105 S Maple Ave. Marshfield, WI 54449 M-THU 9:00am – 8:00pm Fri 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM Sat 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Oak Avenue Community Center – 205 S Oak Ave Marshfield, WI 54449 Mon through Fri. 7:30 am to 4:30 pm
Charles and JoAnn Lester Public Library – 100 Park St Nekoosa, WI 54457 M-TH 9:00am – 6:00pm Friday 9:00am-5:00pm Sat 9:00am – 12:00pm
Pittsville Community Library – 5291 3rd Ave Pittsville WI 54466 Mon 2:00 -7:00 PM Tues.-Thurs. 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM Fri-Sat 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Lester Library of Vesper – 6550 Virginia St. Vesper WI 54489 Mon/Tues 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Wed/Thurs 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM Fri/Sat 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.

** Conditions will be evaluated on an ongoing basis and additional cooling stations may be opened as needed**

Wood County Communications Center Wood County Health Department

Send a message to learn more

Notice:

Due to damage from the May 21st storm, the city will be picking up brush the week of June 3 – June 7. Please have brush placed at the curb Sunday, June 2nd.

We still have a larger outage in the area of Second Ave, south of Gaynor Ave. If you do not live in this area and are without power, please call our service department at 715-423-6310. Thank you

With severe storms expected Tuesday, make sure you know the difference between a watch and a warning. The best way to explain the difference is to use the example of baking a cake:

A WATCH is when you have the ingredients to make a cake.

A WARNING is when the cake is ready to eat.

Take both watches and warnings seriously because when a watch is issued--the cake could already be in the oven, and as soon as the oven says ding, the cake is completed, and a warning is issued. Sometimes, there's no time for frosting.

Wood County utilizes the Everbridge platform of mass notification systems to deliver information to a variety of audiences.
Users can add optional community and weather alerts. Weather alerts are generated when the National Weather Service issues a product in the selected category, such as Severe Thunderstorm or Tornado Watches or Warnings. You choose how many alerts you receive, and even have the option of setting a Weather Alert Quiet Time, where you will not be notified except in the event of Severe Thunderstorm or Tornado Warnings.
If you are a Wood County resident, and would like to be added to the Resident Connect system, follow the link below to access the member portal and create an account:

member portal

The statewide severe weather drill for 6:45 pm has been cancelled due to the threat of severe weather in Southern Wisconsin. However, Wood County will still proceed with the 6:45 test with sirens sounding and, if you are subscribed to our Everbridge Mass Notification System, a test message sent through there. At this time there is no threat for severe weather in our area, so the test will go on as planned. Thank you!

📢 Attention!

A Statewide Tornado Drill - Thursday, April 11

MADISON, Wis. – When tornadoes are in the forecast, ReadyWisconsin wants to ensure everyone knows how to stay safe. To help prepare, all of Wisconsin is invited to participate in statewide tornado drills today at 1:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. The drills are a great opportunity for schools, families, and businesses to take time to review their tornado safety plans and where they should take shelter during severe weather.
While some isolated thunderstorms are possible this afternoon and evening, they are not expected to be at severe levels.
During a tornado, the best shelter is a basement, away from exterior walls and windows, or a designated tornado safe room. A ground floor interior room with no windows and no shared exterior walls, such as a bathroom or closet, can also provide protection if a basement is not available.
For the drill, the National Weather Service will conduct NOAA Weather Radio tests, which can be heard at 1:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. if your device is set to sound test alerts or if you are actively listening to a weather radio at the time. Some communities may also choose to test their outdoor warning sirens during the drill times, which is a decision made on the local level.
Information will also be shared across social media or on-air by ReadyWisconsin, Wisconsin’s National Weather Service offices, and participating television and radio stations across the state. ReadyWisconsin also encourages everyone to set a calendar alert or alarm on their phones to remind them to practice their plan today.
For more tips on severe weather preparedness and advice on creating your own emergency plan, visit https://readywisconsin.wi.gov.
You can also follow ReadyWisconsin on Facebook, X, Threads, and Instagram for tips on emergency preparedness throughout the year!

Home | ReadyWisconsin BE INFORMED MAKE A KIT MAKE A PLAN RESOURCES WHAT EMERGENCIES CAN HAPPEN IN WISCONSIN? Wisconsin faces a wide range of threats, both natural and man-made. I ...

: Wisconsin has it's share of severe storms each year. Here is the breakdown by county since 1844 of severe storms in northern and central Wisconsin.

Welcome to Tornado and Severe Weather Awareness Week in Wisconsin! Here are some tornado myths and truths.

Myth: Areas near lakes, rivers, and hills are safe from tornadoes.
Truth: No place is safe from tornadoes. The tornado that struck Door County in August 1998 formed on the waters of Green Bay and moved onshore, causing over $5 million in damage.

Myth: The low pressure with a tornado causes buildings to explode as the tornado passes overhead.
Truth: Violent winds and debris slamming into buildings cause most structural damage.

Myth: Windows should be opened before a tornado approaches to equalize pressure and minimize damage.
Truth: Leave windows alone. The most important action is to immediately go to a safe shelter.

Myth: People caught in the open should seek shelter under highway overpasses.
Truth: Take shelter in a sturdy, reinforced building if at all possible. The winds of a tornado may actually increase in the tight space of an overpass, increasing the chance for injury.

Tornado and Severe Weather Awareness week in Wisconsin will take place April 8-12th this year. This annual campaign encourages everyone to prepare for the tornadoes and severe storms the state frequently experiences during the spring and summer months. There will be a statewide tornado drill at 1:45 pm and 6:45 pm on April 11th. Stay tuned for more information next week on preparedness and safety.