Emergency management briefs board on school-mapping project and recent tornado damage

Wabasha County Emergency Management Director Brenda Tomlinson updated county commissioners on a statewide school-mapping project and recent severe-weather responses.

"They are looking at the schools, getting a good idea of where every room is from the utilities to bathrooms," Tomlinson said, describing work by vendor CRG to produce building blueprints that are being shared with 911 centers, fire departments and ambulance services to speed and orient emergency response. Tomlinson said the maps are being gridded to align with true north so responders can find equipment, AEDs and exits more quickly.

Tomlinson recounted storms on April 17 that produced two tornadoes in the Elgin-Plainview area and damaged 12 farms. "Fortunately, they were all insured," she said, adding that because the properties carried coverage the county's ability to provide disaster funding was limited. She also described a late-night storm report in which a Plainview fire chief reported structural damage to a farm north of County Road 14.

Tomlinson told the board CRG will provide implementation webinars to train users and noted routine activities including a coordination role with the Red Cross after a July 12 boat accident and annual updates to the county's emergency operations plan, which is reviewed on a rotating schedule.

The presentation prompted a procedural question about long-term ownership and housing of the mapping data; a member noted the Emergency Communications Board has been spearheading the project and that the county will need to decide where the files are hosted. Tomlinson said trainers will be identified and the regional rollout is ongoing.