Emergency Management Offers Disaster Preparedness Advice, tips for cities

The South Dakota Department of Public Safety’s Office of Emergency Management has released a short video to help South Dakota’s mayors and municipal leadership be prepared in the event of a disaster.

The seven-minute video features Lennox Mayor Stacy Duchene, Lincoln County Emergency Manager Harold Timmerman, and South Dakota Office of Emergency Management Director Tina Titze. The discussion highlights a few key points mayors should know before an emergency occurs in their city and what mayors can expect in the first 12-24 hours of an emergency response.

“We have heard from mayors, especially those newly elected, that they aren’t sure how or what to do to prepare for and handle an emergency. Mayors should always establish a solid working relationship with their county emergency manager and our office is here to assist during these incidents,” says Titze. “We are happy to facilitate these types of discussions before an emergency happens.”

Each of the 66 counties in South Dakota have a county emergency manager who leads preparedness activities among response organizations in the county, coordinates an emergency response with assisting entities, and facilitates recovery and mitigation activities after an emergency.

“Disasters can strike in the blink of an eye and throughout the year,” said David Reiss, Executive Director of the South Dakota Municipal League. “For city leadership, having an established a relationship with your county emergency manager is crucial for an organized, effective response. They add another important asset to your team when responding to a significant emergency or disaster.”

The video is available on the Department of Public Safety’s YouTube page at www.youtube.com/@ southdakotadepartmentofpub2686.

Additional information about emergency services, including the contact information for each county’s emergency manager, can be found online at https://dps.sd.gov/emergency-services.

The information is also available through the South Dakota Municipal League's online library, found under the "Disaster Preparedness and Response" section on www.sdmunicpalleague.org/library.

For more information, contact the South Dakota Office of Emergency Management at 605-773-3231. ■ sdsurplusproperty.com

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