Emergency management: county fixes outdoor sirens, tests damage-assessment software and holds joint drills

Codington County's emergency management director reported June 24 that outdoor warning sirens are now operational, joint training and tabletop exercises were held with local fire, police and school officials, and staff are testing a new damage-assessment program the state plans to use.

"We now have all the Watertown outdoor warning sirens working correctly," Emergency Management Director Andrew Delgado said, crediting the search-and-rescue team for servicing units and replacing failing components. Delgado and his deputy also described a tabletop exercise to plan a family assistance center and a scenario-based recovery exercise for search-and-rescue divers.

Delgado told the board he and Deputy Director Sherry Howell participated in exercises with school administrators, fire chiefs and other local partners to review roles and resources for potential incidents. The county is also entering notional damage into the new "crisis track" program to practice mapping, photographing and describing damage for future damage assessments; Delgado said the state intends to use that program for its damage assessments going forward.

Commissioners were told to report any sirens that appear inoperable to the fire department or the emergency management office so repairs can be scheduled; one commissioner noted the work was welcome after recent severe storms in neighboring states.

There was no board action related to the emergency management report; the presentation was informational and designed to update commissioners on preparedness activities and interagency coordination.