Winona County Emergency Management

10/03/2026

10/01/2026

MISSING PERSON / ATTEMPT TO LOCATE

Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office — Seeking Public Assistance

We are requesting the public's help in locating the owner of a boat found unattended earlier today.

The vessel was found tied off along the shoreline near Merrick State Park. Preliminary evidence indicates the boat ran out of gas, and we are currently trying to account for the owner's whereabouts and well-being.

How You Can Help:

Did you pick up or give a ride to a stranded boater near Merrick State Park?

Have you seen anyone walking in the area of the park or along nearby roads or shoreline?

If you have any information—no matter how small—please contact the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office immediately:

📞 Phone: 608-685-4433 (Select Option 2)

Please share this post to help spread the word throughout the community.

09/25/2026

👀 SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING® DAY – SEPTEMBER 25

Today is “If You See Something, Say Something®” Awareness Day, a reminder that we all play a role in keeping our communities safe.

🎥 Think you're observant? Take the Challenge!

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has interactive “Take the Challenge” videos that test your situational awareness. Watch the scenarios and see what you notice:

🔗 https://www.dhs.gov/see-something-say-something/take-challenge

🤷‍♂️ Why does it matter?

Being aware of your surroundings and knowing how to report suspicious activity can help prevent incidents before they happen.

📝 Remember the 5 Ws when reporting suspicious activity:
• Who did you see?
• What did you observe?
• When did you see it?
• Where did it occur?
• Why did it seem suspicious?

⚠️ Focus on behavior—not appearance. Race, religion, ethnicity, gender, or other personal characteristics are not indicators of suspicious activity.

📞 If there is an immediate threat or emergency, call 911. Don't put yourself in danger or attempt to intervene.

Situational awareness isn't about being fearful—it's about paying attention, recognizing when something doesn't seem right, and knowing when to speak up.

See Something. Say Something. Help keep Winona County safe.

Do you pay attention to your surroundings? Take the Challenge and find out!

09/21/2026

🚴 Community Events + Training = Better Preparedness

Last Saturday, Winona County Emergency Management and the Winona County Sheriff's Office SOAR Team were proud to support the Ride the Ridges bicycle event.

Emergency Management provided our mobile command trailer, which was staffed by volunteers from the Winona Amateur Radio Club - W0NE. Club members provided communication support throughout the event, helping keep organizers and public safety partners connected.

The Amateur Radio Club plays an important role in Winona County’s emergency preparedness efforts well beyond community events. During severe weather, amateur radio operators support our SKYWARN network, with trained spotters deploying throughout the county and reporting real-time conditions to Emergency Management and the National Weather Service. Those reports help provide situational awareness and support early warning efforts.

Amateur radio also provides an important backup communications capability when traditional technology or communication systems are unavailable.

Events like Ride the Ridges give us an opportunity to support our community while also exercising the people, equipment, communications, and partnerships we rely on during emergencies.

A big THANK YOU to the Winona Amateur Radio Club, the Sheriff’s Office SOAR Team, and all of the volunteers who gave their time to support the event and help keep our community prepared!

09/17/2026

Heavy Rain & Flooding Potential Friday into Saturday

Winona County could see a period of heavy rain Friday into Saturday, with the greatest concern currently Friday night into early Saturday.

The National Weather Service expects widespread rainfall of 1–3 inches, with locally higher amounts possible where storms repeatedly move over the same areas. Current projections show about a 59% chance of 3 inches or more near Winona, and isolated totals could approach or exceed 5 inches. The exact location of the heaviest rainfall remains uncertain.

Potential impacts include:

Urban and street flooding
Flash flooding in low-lying areas
Rises on area rivers and streams

Now is the time to prepare. Clear storm drains and drainage areas if you can do so safely, and make sure you have multiple ways to receive weather warnings—especially overnight.

If you encounter a flooded roadway, do not attempt to drive through it. Turn Around, Don’t Drown. Water may be deeper than it appears, and roads beneath the water may be damaged or washed out.

Those camping, recreating near waterways, or living in flood-prone areas should pay especially close attention to changing conditions.

We will continue to monitor the forecast and share updates as additional information becomes available.

Stay weather aware, Winona County!

Graphics: US National Weather Service La Crosse Wisconsin

09/11/2026

September 11, 2001 — We Remember. We Honor. We Prepare.

Twenty-five years later, the memories of September 11, 2001, remain vivid.

Nearly 3,000 people lost their lives that day — innocent civilians, firefighters, law enforcement officers, EMTs, and countless others who ran toward danger while others were running away.

We remember the 343 firefighters, 71 law enforcement officers, and members of the emergency medical community who made the ultimate sacrifice at the World Trade Center. We remember the victims at the Pentagon and the passengers and crew of Flight 93 who fought back against terror.

September 11 also changed Emergency Management.

It changed how we plan, communicate, train, coordinate, and respond. It reinforced the importance of interoperable communications, unified command, mutual aid, resource coordination, situational awareness, and preparing for incidents that may exceed the capabilities of any single agency.

The lessons of that day helped shape the modern emergency management system — including the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, the evolution of FEMA, and national incident management practices designed to bring agencies and communities together during a crisis.

Here in Winona County, we carry those lessons forward.

Emergency Management is about more than responding when disaster strikes. It is about preparing before it happens — building relationships, developing plans, training with our partners, coordinating resources, and strengthening the resilience of our communities.

We cannot know what tomorrow's emergency will look like.

But we can be prepared to meet it together.

Today, Winona County Emergency Management remembers those we lost, honors those who responded, recognizes the sacrifices that continue to this day, and recommits ourselves to the responsibility of being prepared to protect our community.

We will never forget.

🇺🇸 September 11, 2001 — Remember. Honor. Prepare.

07/26/2026

Today is expected to be very hot. If you don't have access to air conditioning or just need a break from the heat, you're welcome to stop by our Emergency Department waiting room to cool down.

07/26/2026

07/24/2026

Strong partnerships are built long before an emergency happens.

Winona County Emergency Management was happy to participate in this training alongside the Winona County Sheriff's Office Water Patrol and Dive Rescue Team and our other public safety partners.

Training together and getting to know one another before a major incident occurs helps us build trust, improve communication, and coordinate safer, more effective responses when lives are on the line. These opportunities strengthen our ability to serve the residents and visitors of Winona County when they need us most.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this training possible and for your continued commitment to preparedness.