Ozaukee County Emergency Management

10/15/2026

🌊 ⚠️ GALE WARNING — LAKE MICHIGAN ⚠️

A Gale Warning is in effect for all of Lake Michigan from **10 AM Friday to 1 AM Saturday CDT.**

💨 **Winds:** Northwest to north at 25–35 knots, with gusts around 45 knots (52 mph).
🌊 **Waves:** 10–20 feet, with the highest waves across southern portions of the lake.

**Dangerous conditions are expected on the lake and along exposed shorelines.** Recreational boaters should stay in port. Stay off piers, breakwalls, and jetties, where large waves can sweep people into the water.

Secure boats and loose waterfront equipment before conditions worsen.

Monitor the latest National Weather Service forecasts:
https://www.weather.gov/greatlakes/

09/21/2026

🤝 WEEK 4: PREPARED COMMUNITIES ARE STRONGER COMMUNITIES

Emergency preparedness does not stop at your front door. Knowing and helping the people around you can make an important difference during a disaster.

Consider taking these steps:

❤️ Learn first aid, CPR, or how to use an AED, Take a Stop the Bleed Class.
🏘️ Get to know your neighbors and exchange contact information
📞 Create a neighborhood phone tree or group message
♿ Identify neighbors who may need transportation or additional assistance
🩸 Donate blood when eligible
🙋 Volunteer with a recognized community or disaster-response organization
📢 Share information only from trusted, official sources
🔍 Watch for fraud, scams, and misinformation following disasters

Never assume someone else has checked on an older adult, a person with a disability, or someone living alone. A simple conversation today can create an important connection during an emergency.

Preparedness is a shared responsibility. When Ozaukee County prepares together, our entire community becomes more resilient.

Learn more:
https://readywisconsin.wi.gov/
https://www.ready.gov/stand-ready

Quick Links What You Can Do Resources

09/18/2026

137 PM CDT Fri Sep 18 2026
..FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM CDT SATURDAY THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON...

* WHAT...Flooding and flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall are possible.

* WHERE...Portions of east central, south central, and southeast
Wisconsin, including the following counties, in east central
Wisconsin, Fond du Lac and Sheboygan. In south central Wisconsin,
Green Lake and Marquette. In southeast Wisconsin, Dodge, Jefferson, Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth, Washington and Waukesha.

* WHEN...From 1 AM CDT Saturday through Saturday afternoon.

* IMPACTS...Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers,
creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations.
Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas. Storm drains
and ditches may become clogged with debris.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...
- Widespread and prolonged showers and storms will bring rain
accumulations of 1-3 inches. Band of higher totals in the 3-6
inches range or more will be possible in areas where storms track
repeatedly.
- http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible Flood
Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop.

09/13/2026

🎒 WEEK 3: BUILD OR UPDATE YOUR EMERGENCY KIT

Following a disaster, electricity, water, communications, transportation, and other services may be disrupted. Emergency responders and relief organizations may not be able to reach everyone immediately.

Prepare enough essential supplies for your household for several days. Consider including:

💧 Water and nonperishable food
🔦 Flashlights and extra batteries
📻 Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
🩹 First-aid supplies
💊 Medications and medical supplies
🔌 Phone chargers and portable power banks
💵 Cash in small denominations
📄 Copies of identification, insurance information, and important contacts
👓 Glasses, hearing-aid batteries, and mobility-device supplies
👶 Supplies for infants, older adults, or household members with disabilities
🐾 Food, water, medications, carriers, and identification for pets

Store supplies in airtight bags inside one or two easy-to-carry containers. Check your kit at least every six months and replace expired food, medications, and batteries.

Build your kit:
https://readywisconsin.wi.gov/make-a-kit/

While local officials and relief workers will be on the scene after a disaster, it may not be possible for them to reach everyone right away. It could take ...

09/08/2026

📱 WEEK 2: HAVE MORE THAN ONE WAY TO RECEIVE WARNINGS

Emergencies do not always happen when you are watching television or checking social media. Make sure you can receive important information wherever you are.

✅ Enable Wireless Emergency Alerts on your cellphones
✅ Use a trusted weather application with notifications enabled
✅ Keep a NOAA Weather Radio available
✅ Follow official local government and public-safety pages
✅ Monitor local radio or television during an emergency

When you receive a warning, take action and follow instructions from public-safety officials. Do not rely only on outdoor warning sirens. Sirens are intended to warn people who are outdoors and may not be heard inside buildings.

Review Wisconsin’s emergency alert information:
https://readywisconsin.wi.gov/be-alert/

09/04/2026

Ozaukee County is under a severe thunderstorm warning until 1 am 9/4/26

09/03/2026

Far souther Ozaukee County (City of Mequon) is under a flash flood warning until 12:15pm 9/3/26

09/03/2026

Ozaukee County is under a severe thunderstorm warning until 8:45 am 9/3/26

09/01/2026

📝 WEEK 1: MAKE A PLAN

Would everyone in your household know what to do if you could not return home, became separated, or temporarily lost cellular service?

A household emergency plan should answer:

📍 Where will we meet if our home is unsafe?
📞 Who will be our out-of-area contact?
🏫 How will we reconnect if family members are at work or school?
🚗 What evacuation routes could we use?
🐾 How will we care for or evacuate our pets?
💊 Does anyone need medications, medical equipment, transportation, or additional assistance?

Write down the plan, share it with everyone in your household, and practice it. Children should know the names and phone numbers of trusted adults and when to call 911.

Creating a plan now can reduce confusion when every minute matters.

Start your plan:
https://readywisconsin.wi.gov/make-a-plan/
https://www.ready.gov/plan

Make a plan today! Your family may not be together if a disaster strikes, so it is important to know which types of disasters could affect your area. Know how you’ll contact one another and reconnect if separated. Establish a family meeting place that’s familiar and easy to find. Step 1: Meet wi...

08/31/2026

SEPTEMBER IS NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH

Disasters and emergencies can happen anywhere—including here in Ozaukee County. Severe storms, flooding, winter weather, power outages, hazardous-material incidents, fires, and other emergencies may disrupt daily life with little warning.

The 2026 National Preparedness Month theme is “Americans Stand Ready.” Preparedness is not about expecting the worst. It is about giving yourself, your family, and your community the best opportunity to safely manage an emergency.

Throughout September, Ozaukee County Emergency Management will share practical steps you can take to:

✅ Know the hazards in your community
✅ Make and practice an emergency plan
✅ Receive emergency alerts and warnings
✅ Build or update an emergency supply kit
✅ Help neighbors who may need assistance

Preparedness starts with one small step. What will yours be?

Learn more:
https://readywisconsin.wi.gov/
https://www.ready.gov/september

National Preparedness Month 2026 Theme Announced