Anderson County Kansas Fire and Emergency Management

10/19/2026

Beginning 10-19-2026 10:46 AM, from approximately the corner of 2000 & Neosho going north to approximately 2200 & Ohio will be closed due to bridge repair.

The closure is expected to remain in effect until 03-18-2027 08:00 AM. However, a notification will be sent once the roadway has reopened.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation during this time. If you have any questions, please contact Anderson County Road & Bridge at 785-448-6745.

10/17/2026

After a frosty start to today, temperatures should rebound to near 60 degrees this afternoon. A gradual warm-up is in store through next week. Dry weather is expected until perhaps Friday in north central KS.

10/16/2026

🚨 EVERBRIDGE WEATHER ALERTS – LET'S TALK ABOUT NOTIFICATIONS! 🌦️

We've received some questions about weather notifications being delivered during overnight hours, sometimes well before the weather event is actually expected to occur. We understand that receiving a phone call in the middle of the night can be frustrating, especially when the anticipated weather is still several hours or even days away.

We wanted to take this opportunity to explain how the system works and remind everyone that YOU have control over many of the weather notifications you receive!

🌪️ HOW DO EVERBRIDGE WEATHER ALERTS WORK?

All weather alerts originate from the National Weather Service (NWS) and are automatically distributed through Everbridge based on TWO things:

✅ The weather alert types you have selected.

✅ The locations you have registered in your account.

Anderson County Emergency Management does not determine when the NWS issues these alerts or manually schedule when they are delivered.

⏰ WHY AM I GETTING WEATHER ALERTS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT?

The National Weather Service issues advisories, watches, and warnings as soon as the established criteria are met. This is done intentionally to provide as much advance notice as possible so individuals can plan and prepare.

Depending on the type of weather event, an alert may be issued several hours or even days before the anticipated conditions.

Because Everbridge automatically distributes these notifications when they are issued, they can arrive at ANY time, including overnight hours.

Delaying notifications until a more convenient time would prevent those who want early notification from receiving that information as soon as it becomes available.

📱 DID YOU KNOW? ONLY 7 OF THE 72 WEATHER ALERT TYPES ARE REQUIRED!

Everbridge currently offers 72 different weather alert types. However, only the following 7 are required:

🌊 Flash Flood Warnings

🌊 Flood Warnings

❄️ Blizzard Warnings

🧊 Ice Storm Warnings

❄️ Winter Storm Warnings

⛈️ Severe Thunderstorm Warnings

🌪️ Tornado Warnings

The remaining 65 weather alert types are OPTIONAL!

These include additional watches, advisories, and weather statements that you can choose to receive based on your individual needs and preferences.

🔔 RECEIVING TOO MANY NOTIFICATIONS?

We encourage everyone to take a few minutes to review their Everbridge account and make sure their weather alert selections and registered locations reflect the information they actually want to receive.

Some residents prefer to receive every possible weather update, while others only want the most critical warnings. Neither preference is wrong, and that's exactly why the system offers customizable options.

📍 YOUR LOCATIONS MATTER, TOO!

Weather notifications are also based on the locations you have registered in your account. Keeping those locations accurate helps ensure you receive alerts relevant to the areas that matter to you.

🤝 NEED HELP WITH YOUR SETTINGS?

If you're unsure which alerts you have selected, would like to make changes, or need assistance reviewing your registered locations, please reach out to Anderson County Emergency Management. We are more than happy to help!

Our goal is not to overwhelm you with notifications. Our goal is to make sure you have access to timely, potentially lifesaving information while giving you the flexibility to decide which additional weather updates are important to you.

We appreciate your questions, concerns, and feedback. We live here too, and we are always looking for ways to improve communication and help our community stay informed and prepared.

Anderson County Emergency Management

10/14/2026

🎉🎂 Happy Birthday, JD Mersman! 🎂🎉

We don't typically do birthday shout-outs on this page, but every once in a while, someone comes along who deserves an exception. And if you know JD, you know he's definitely one of those people!

JD previously served as the Anderson County Emergency Management Director, and while his role has since taken him to the regional level, he has never truly left us behind. He continues to be just a phone call away, always willing to answer a question, offer advice, share his knowledge, or jump in and help whenever we need him.

What makes JD special isn't just what he knows or what he does. It's the kind of person he is. He genuinely cares about the people he works with, the communities he serves, and the people behind the scenes trying to make a difference. No matter how busy he is or how much he has on his own plate, he still makes time for us.

JD, you may have moved on to bigger things, but you'll always be part of our Emergency Management family! ❤️

We hope you know how much your continued support, friendship, encouragement, and willingness to help mean to this office and our county. You have made a lasting impact here, and we are incredibly fortunate to still have you in our corner.

So today, we're breaking our usual rule to celebrate someone who has done so much for us and continues to do so without ever expecting recognition.

Happy Birthday, JD! 🥳🎉 Thank you for being someone we can always count on, but even more importantly, thank you for being YOU!

We hope your day is as awesome as you are! 🎂❤️

10/13/2026

Remain weather aware today as severe storms are possible this afternoon and evening. Large hail, damaging winds, and heavy rainfall are possible with storms. The severe risk diminishes and the flooding risk increases later this evening and overnight.

10/12/2026

We are happy to report that Mrs. Ramsey was found safe and is back with her family!

Thank you to everyone who helped with the search. Community members brought side-by-sides and horses to assist, a drone provided support from the air, and another drone was on its way from Coffey County. Fire personnel from Garnett and Colony also assisted, with EMS on standby.

We are grateful for the opportunity to support the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office in this search and thankful for everyone who gave their time, equipment, and care to help bring Mrs. Ramsey home.

Thank you, Anderson County and our neighbors in Coffey County, for showing up when it mattered.

Send a message to learn more

10/12/2026

The following is an important message from the Anderson County Sheriff's Office:

Patricia Ramsey has been located safe.

For emergencies contact 911. For non-emergency questions contact Anderson County Communications at 785-448-5428 Option 3.

10/12/2026

UPDATE: SHE HAS BEEN LOCATED SAFE

Anderson County Sheriff's Department is seeking assistance in locating Patricia Ramsey, a 80-year-old female last seen on 10-11-2026 at approximately 10:00 PM Ms Ramsey was last known to be in the area of Highway 59 and 600 Rd..

Patricia Ramsey is approximately 5 foot, and 165 pounds with gray hair and green eyes. They were last seen wearing There is no known clothing description. Ms Ramsey suffers from Alzheimer's and may be disoriented and confused.

If you have seen this individual or have any information regarding their whereabouts, please contact Anderson County Communications at 785-448-5428 Option 3 or call 911 immediately.

10/12/2026

A county-wide county burn ban is now in effect for all of Anderson County. All outdoor burning is prohibited until further notice due to dry conditions and increased fire danger.

This includes brush piles, yard waste, ag burns, campfires, and all open burning.

For questions, contact Fire Coordinator Cruz Gillespie at 913‑594‑2292 or Garnett Fire Chief Wesley Skillman 785-448-3042.

Thank you for your cooperation in helping keep our community safe.

10/12/2026

The City of Garnett will begin flushing hydrants today. This could cause a temporary decrease in water pressure. Thank you for your patience while this hydrant maintenance is being done.