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Strong storms hit city last Saturday
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On June 30, a strong storm hit the area. Due to the strong winds associated with the storm several trees and powerlines were knocked down, leading to approximately 600 households without power. There were no injuries reported. 

Richland Center Emergency Management, Richland County Emergency Management and Richland County Health & Human Services worked to ensure the safety of any residents who may have been negatively impacted as a result of the power outage, particularly those utilizing medical devices requiring power such as oxygen concentrators. Partnering with the Salvation Army, all those residents identified as needing assistance were able to sleep well knowing their oxygen was not going to run out overnight. Thanks to the City Utilities of Richland Center and their partners working through the night, nearly all households had power restored within 12 hours, despite the widespread damage.

Richland County Emergency Management encourages everyone to be prepared for emergencies such as this. Though the power was only out for a short amount of time with 

this incident, it could have been far worse. Knowing what to do before, during and after an emergency is a critical part of being prepared and may make all the difference when seconds count. Emergency responders do an incredible job of keeping people safe, but they cannot do it alone. We must all embrace our personal responsibility to be prepared and, in doing so, we contribute to the safety and security of our communities as well.

So, make a plan. You can find a sample plan and much more on the Richland County Emergency Management website. Create a kit with any of the emergency supplies you might need, like flashlights and batteries, non-perishable food, etc. 

Knowing what to do in an emergency can be the hardest part, but having a plan and a kit to enact it can mean the difference between feeling helpless and feeling confident. For more information, visit the Richland County website at co.richland.wi.us.