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Stearns County adopts 2026 all-hazards emergency operations plan, effective Jan. 1
Summary
The county board approved a revised all-hazards Emergency Operations Plan that includes 23 functional annexes and approximately 20 continuity-of-operations plans; the plan meets federal and state requirements and takes effect Jan. 1, 2026. City partners reimburse roughly half the cost for their participation.
The Stearns County Board unanimously approved the county’s updated all-hazards Emergency Operations Plan on Wednesday; the plan takes effect Jan. 1, 2026.
Erin Hughes, Stearns County emergency manager, and Alex Briggsius, emergency management specialist, told the board the base plan provides a framework for responses to a wide range of incidents and is supported by 23 functional annexes — covering issues from animals to emergency communications — and about 20 agency-specific continuity-of-operations plans. The plan sets roles and primary/support responsibilities for county departments, cities and partner agencies.
Hughes said the county follows federal guidance in FEMA’s Comprehensive Preparedness Guide (CPG-101), the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) at the federal level, and Minnesota Statutes Chapter 12 at the state level for emergency management. She described the review schedule: a full in-person review every third year and annual “read-through” reviews on off years. The county also participates in regional, peer and state reviews as required.
Hughes and Briggsius noted the city of Saint Cloud and the city of Waite Park reimburse Stearns County for their portions of the plan, covering roughly half of the overall plan cost for those partnerships. The board and staff credited prior coordination with dozens of partner agencies and noted that the 2012 Sartell industrial fire response demonstrated the need for coordinated planning.
Commissioner Notch moved approval of the 2026 Emergency Operations Plan; Commissioner Clark seconded the motion. The board voted in favor and the plan was adopted.
