Seward County commissioners get some unusual calls when the weather turns bad.
Like inquiries about who people should call if they have no power for their oxygen or other medical equipment. What to do with a vehicle that is stuck in a drift on the road? What to do when a fallen tree blocks you from getting out of your house or garage?
There are also other kinds of emergencies – medical, agriculture-related and chemical spills or leaks, Seward County Board of Commissioners Chair Misty Ahmic said.
After Seward County endured three major weather-related events in the past two years, she and some others tried to come up with ways to better inform people of the plans they need to make and the options they have for help in emergencies.
They started searching for ideas.
Ahmic learned of a 2019 event U.S. Rep. Don Bacon had in Omaha that was “very different but similar” to what they were trying to achieve, bringing people together to learn what to do and how to survive.
That is how the Seward County Emergency Preparedness Expo became a thing.
From 1 – 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 11, the county will set up presentation areas and booths in the Seward County Ag Pavilion along the lines of a home and garden show, but centered on emergency preparedness.
The event will be free and open to the public, including people from outside Seward County, Ahmic said.
“I hope everyone comes to it,” Ahmic said, noting there will be education for kids, families and seniors, as well as some giveaways. “For those in rural areas it is extremely important to attend.”
Some people think they are prepared and find out the hard way that they are not. Some people, who perhaps have not lived in rural areas that long, may be surprised how different enduring a storm can be in less populated areas.
Ahmic and others have come up with ideas for booths, vendors and presentations. Her committee includes Travis Boyll of NMC, Tyler Strong from the Staplehurst Volunteer Fire Department, David Harmann from Cuttin’ It Close Lawn Care, Bruce Vitosh of Norris Public Power, Evan Crouch of Crouch’s Farm and Hardware and Seward County Commissioner Scott Pekarek.
Presentations are planned on a variety of topics, including storm spotter training from the National Weather Service, an overview of emergency operations from the Seward County Emergency Management director and the Seward County Roads Department, high voltage demonstration and back feeding or transfer switch education from the Norris Public Power District, the information 911 needs to know if you call for help with the county’s 911 staff, residential generator education from Crouch’s Farm and Hardware, commercial generator education from NMC, and Tree 101 from the Seward County Extension Office,
The timing is good, Ahmic said, because people may be ready to be out and about in April, but should be thinking about the spring storm season.
In addition to those doing presentations, exhibitors and vendors so far include Four Corners Health, Tall Grass Energy, Red Cross, Nebraska Department of Agriculture, UNL Extension, Memorial Healthcare Systems, Farmer’s Cooperative, WITT 360 Tree Service, Envision Electrical/Generac, Phillips AED Sales, Summit Fire, Max Country 104.9, Seward Police Department, Mutual Aid, Seward Volunteer Fire Department, Seward County Sheriff, Milford Police Department, Billies Grilled Cheese, ZeeKees Pork in a Boat, and What’s the Scoop.
Other exhibitors or vendors can contact Ahmic for further information. The committee has created an event on Facebook to further share the information.
