Mason County Emergency Management

10/09/2026

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month.

This year’s theme, “Securing the Next 250,” calls on individuals, businesses, and local governments to strengthen the digital systems that support everyday community life.

Residents and local organizations in Mason County can follow CISA's core steps: avoid and report phishing scams, use strong passwords (ideally with a password manager), turn on multifactor authentication, and keep software updated.

Organizations should also back up data, encrypt sensitive information, maintain an incident response plan, and report cyber incidents.

09/02/2026

Mason County families — September is National Preparedness Month, and this year’s reminder is a good one: Americans Stand Ready.

The best time to make a plan is before you need it. Your family might not be together when severe weather, flooding, a winter storm, or a power outage hits.

A simple plan tells everyone how you’ll get alerts, where you’ll meet if you’re separated, how you’ll stay in touch, and what to grab if you have to leave.

Take four easy steps this month:
1. Talk it through as a household.
2. Think about the unique needs in your home (kids, pets,
medications, mobility, work or school locations).
3. Write it down.
4. Practice it once so it feels familiar. It doesn’t have to be perfect or expensive. It just has to exist.

Make your plan today — then you’ll know you’re ready for whatever Michigan weather throws our way.

Full FEMA guidance, fillable forms, and extra resources are here: https://www.ready.gov/plan

Stay safe, Mason County. We’ve got this.

08/10/2026

Be a Hero – Make Your Family Communication Plan! Emergencies can happen anytime. Does your family know how to find each other if you’re not together?

This free, kid-friendly FEMA Ready worksheet helps children (and parents!) write down important phone numbers, pick safe meeting spots, draw a quick map, and practice two ways out of every room. Download it, fill it out together, cut it out, and stick it in a backpack or wallet. Text, don’t talk — and stay connected when it matters most. Get yours now and practice being prepared heroes!

http://www.ready.gov/kids

https://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/2019-06/family_communications_plan_kids.pdf

08/10/2026

Don’t dump it—drop it! Got old paint, pesticides, batteries, or mystery cleaners cluttering your garage? Bring them to Mason County’s Clean Sweep Household Hazardous Waste Collection and keep our water, soil, and community safe.

06/01/2026

Let's take a look at water safety this summer for both residents and visitors of Mason County. Lake Michigan is rich with recreational opportunities, but its beauty is also deceptively dangerous. This video provides actionable steps to survive the currents of Lake Michigan.

As someone who was once a certified rescue scuba diver and a lifeguard, I found this video quite informative.

The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Projects wants you to know about Great Lakes dangerous currents. This Motion Graphics Video demonstrates how winds create Dangero...

05/04/2026

**Tick Season is here in Mason County**

With warmer weather bringing us outdoors, it’s important to protect yourself and your family from ticks. Michigan woods, trails, and tall grass are prime tick habitats, and they can transmit Lyme disease and other illnesses.

When hiking, gardening, or playing outside: wear long sleeves and pants, use EPA-approved insect repellent, tuck pants into socks, and perform thorough tick checks after being outdoors (don’t forget hair, armpits, and groin).

Shower soon after coming inside and tumble dry clothes on high heat. If you find a tick, remove it promptly with fine-tipped tweezers. Know the symptoms of tick-borne diseases and contact your doctor if you develop a rash, fever, or fatigue. Stay vigilant and enjoy the outdoors safely!

05/04/2026

Flooding is the most common disaster in the United States and can occur at any time. Prepare now by knowing your flood risk at FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center, making a family emergency plan with evacuation routes and pet considerations, and building a kit with non-perishable food, water, medications, cleaning supplies, and important documents in a waterproof container.

If a flood warning is issued, find safe shelter, move to higher ground, and never walk, swim, or drive through flood waters — Turn Around, Don’t Drown! Just six inches of moving water can knock you down. Visit Ready.gov/floods for full guidance.

FEMA Flood Map Service Center: Enter your address, hit search, then click the dynamic map (magnifying glass) to find your risk.

https://msc.fema.gov/portal/search?