2024 Annual Report

Dear Douglas County Residents, Partners, and Stakeholders,

As we reflect on 2024, I am pleased to present the Annual Report for Douglas County Emergency Management. This year was one of steady progress, organizational growth, and preparation for the challenges that lie ahead. While we were fortunate to experience fewer significant emergencies, this quiet period allowed us to focus on building a stronger foundation for the future. At the heart of our mission is a commitment to protect lives, property, and the environment. In 2024, our focus was on enhancing internal capabilities, improving partnerships, and strengthening community preparedness.

Key Developments in 2024:

• Organizational Growth: One of the most significant changes this year was the addition of John Stipetich as our new Deputy Director. John is a Certified Emergency Manager from both Kansas and the International Association. His insights and leadership have already had a positive impact on our team. In addition, our Emergency Management Program Specialist, Erin Huneke, earned her certification as a Kansas Certified Emergency Manager. Erin’s professionalism continues to positively influence our program.
• Training, Planning and Preparedness: In July of this year, we accomplished a complete review and revision of the Douglas County Emergency Operations Plan in accordance with the standards required by the Kansas Division of Emergency Management. A special thank you to our Emergency Management Planner, Joshua Taylor, for his many hours of dedication to getting the plan promulgated by the deadline. In addition, we conducted a Hazardous Materials Transportation Tabletop Exercise. The exercise included two workshops on the completion of Incident Action Plans.
• Community Outreach: Although it was a quieter year, we remained committed to engaging with residents through Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) trainings, mini-CERT classes, preparedness workshops and presentations, business preparedness evaluations, and neighborhood meetings. These efforts aimed to keep emergency preparedness a priority for our community.
• Improved Systems: Behind the scenes, we made technology updates to both our primary and alternate Emergency Operations Centers. We also acquired equipment and software to improve accountability operations and inventory management. Additional updates included improvements in emergency communications equipment for the Auxiliary Communications Team (ACT).

Looking to the Future. With the groundwork laid in 2024, we are excited to move forward into 2025 with renewed focus. Our priorities include:

• Continuing to strengthen our internal operations, response and recovery plans.
• Expanding opportunities for community members to get involved in preparedness initiatives.
• Planning for FIFA 2026 soccer activity through a collaborative approach with a Unified Command system.
• Building resilience through mitigation projects aimed at addressing long-term risks.

We are also committed to fostering collaboration with county departments and local partners, including municipalities, schools, and community organizations, to ensure a united approach to emergency management.

Gratitude for Our Community:

I want to express my gratitude to the residents of Douglas County for their continued trust and support, as well as to our dedicated team and partners who work tirelessly to keep our community safe. It is through your collective efforts that we can serve and prepare for whatever challenges may come.

And finally, I want to sincerely thank our former Deputy Director, Jillian Rodrigue for serving Douglas County for the past seventeen years. Jillian was instrumental in creating the successful Emergency Management program we have today. Best of luck to Jillian and her future endeavors.

Thank you for taking the time to review this report and for joining us in building a stronger, safer Douglas County.

Sincerely, Robert Bieniecki, CPM, KCEM Director of Emergency Management Douglas County, Kansas

Douglas County Emergency Management is funded through the county budget and enhanced by grant funds.

The Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) is offered through the Kansas Division of Emergency Management to give assistance to counties in developing disaster and assistance plans, programs, capabilities, and organizations. The purpose of the program is to ensure that a comprehensive emergency management system exists for disasters or emergencies resulting from natural disasters, technological, or human-caused events. In Douglas County, EMPG funding supports 1 full-time employee and 1 half-time employee. For more information, visit the  State of Kansas website's EMPG page. 

The Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness (HMEP) grant program distributes fees collected from shippers and carriers of hazardous materials for local hazardous materials planning and training and is awarded through the Kansas Division of Emergency Management. HMEP grant money can be used to fund a wide variety of projects, including commodity flow studies, program analysis, or exercises and training.

In 2024, DCEM worked with the contractor Ascenttra on the design and execution of a hazardous materials tabletop exercise focused on Emergency Operations Center response. Please see the Activations and Trainings section of this report to learn more.

In 2022, DCEM was awarded funds for 7 project areas as part of Douglas County's American Rescue Plan Act funding distribution. All funds were required to be spent or encumbered by the end of 2024. DCEM finalized all projects, including an additional outdoor warning siren project awarded in the fall of 2024.

• Outdoor Warning Sirens Upgrade 1: Upgraded the existing repeater system to include digipeaters and improve the reliability of the siren system.
• Outdoor Warning Sirens Upgrade 2: Provided a cellular backup communications system to all sirens.
• Outdoor Warning Sirens Upgrade 3: Replaced aging siren heads.
• DCEM Vehicle: This project replaced the aging DCEM vehicle with a new Ford Expedition.
• Primary Emergency Operations Center Upgrade: Provided major technological upgrades to the EOC, including improved audio/visual capabilities and network connections for local law enforcement agencies.
• Alternate Emergency Operations Center Upgrade: Converted the Alternate EOC Facility located at Douglas County Consolidated Fire District #1 Station 111 into a fully operational EOC space, able to match capabilities with the primary EOC.
• DCEM Trailer: Provided support to convert the aging DCEM trailer into a training trailer and purchase an upgraded operations trailer with improved field capabilities.
• Personal Protective Equipment Project: Provided a wide range of PPE and supplies for staff and volunteers, including emergency supplies and day-to-day equipment. Additionally, part of this project supported the purchase of critical safety gear for Consolidated Fire District #1.

This year's Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness grant funded a tabletop exercise. The exercise was designed and facilitated by Ascenttra, a contracted company. On August 14, 57 participants and observers took part in an exercise and discussion focusing on Emergency Operations Center activation and mass notification. The exercise brought together partners from across the county. An After Action Report and Improvement Plan were created to help transform lessons learned into concrete improvements in plans and processes. The following agencies participated in the exercise:

• Douglas County Administration
• Douglas County Consolidated Fire District #1
• Douglas County Emergency Communications
• Douglas County Emergency Management
• Douglas County GIS
• Douglas County Public Information Officers Group
• Douglas County Sustainability
• Eudora Fire
• Kansas Division of Emergency Management
• KU Emergency Management
• KU Environment, Health, & Safety
• Lawrence Municipal Services & Operations
• Lawrence Police Department
• Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical
• Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health
• Union Pacific Railroad

In addition to the exercise, HMEP grant fund was used to provide 2 sessions of an Incident Action Planning training course. Held on August 13th and taught by an instructor from Ascenttra, this training offered area leaders essential information and guidance for planning during emergencies, planned events, or other incidents. Over the two sessions, more than 40 people participated in the training.

Part of the responsibility of DCEM and the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is to provide resource support to potential and ongoing emergencies or events. As a result, the EOC is periodically activated at a partial level for resource support for county grass and structure fires. These activations include representatives from communications, emergency management, firefighting, law enforcement, and public information and take place at the Alternate EOC at Consolidated Fire District #1 Station 111. In 2024, the EOC activated for ESF 4 resource support on April 22 and October 29.

When severe weather approaching Douglas County, DCEM activates the Emergency Management Operations Center (EMOC). These EMOC activations can consist of one Duty Officer, multiple staff, or, in the event of Skywarn and ACT activation, staff and volunteers. From the EMOC, staff monitor severe weather, communicate with the National Weather Service, update social media, and are able to operate the outdoor warning siren systems. Skywarn and ACT volunteers communicate with storm spotters and others in the field. In 2024, Skywarn and ACT volunteers were activated twice for severe weather on April 30 and October 30 (pictured). The outdoor warning system was activated on April 16 and April 30 as a result of two tornado warnings for portions of Douglas County.

On Monday August 19, DCEM responded to an incident at the Brandon Woods senior living facility in Lawrence. There had been a fire in a section of the building and 85 residents were evacuated. Staff assisted with incident management, coordinating resources, and finding alternative living arrangements for the evacuated residents.

Community outreach and education are a critical component of DCEM's mission. Much of this work is done with the support of volunteers. In 2024, notable events included:

• CERT Weekend Classes: DCEM hosted two weekend classes, one in April and one in September. Taught by DCEM volunteers, staff, and agency partners, these courses provide participants with training in preparedness, basic first aid, light search and rescue, fire extinguisher operations, and more.  Learn more about the CERT class here.  
• Lawrence Police Camp: DCEM presented at two sessions of Police camp in June and July about Emergency Management, severe weather, and preparedness. The participants, aged 9-13, also played a game about preparedness kit items.
• Lawrence Teen Police Academy: DCEM presented at two sessions of Teen Police Academy. The Academy is a summer program for high school students; DCEM talked to participants about what Emergency Management does, and Kirsten Rhoads from Consolidated Fire District #1 presented a basic stop-the-bleed training.
• County Government Day: In April, DCEM staff tabled at the first annual County Government Day, a family event where county departments shared information about their services. DCEM also brought the operations trailer to the event (pictured).
• Lawrence Community Safety Fair: In August, DCEM volunteers provided logistical support to the Community Safety Fair. Volunteers also provided outreach and education at the DCEM table and assisted with helmet fittings.
• Mini-CERT Class: DCEM staff taught a mini-CERT class over several sessions to residents at Vermont Towers in summer 2024.
• Severe Weather Night (formerly Weather 101): In March, DCEM and the National Weather Service presented on severe weather and provided tabling resources related to severe weather preparedness.

DCEM encourages residents to sign up for the Northeast Kansas Regional Notification System, a free call notification system that provides health and safety information, including weather alerts, sent by the National Weather Service via phone call, text, and email.  Learn more and sign up here.