By Payton Tholstrup

According to a press release from Cloud County Emergency Management, Cloud County will host a three-day exercise focusing on disaster preparedness in the county from October 28th to October 30th. The exercise will involve Cloud County and City of Concordia personnel, as well as local partners, Kansas Incident Support Team Members from several counties in Kansas, and the Kansas Division of Emergency Management (KDEM).

During these three days, you may notice emergency vehicles from different counties in Kansas, as well as state vehicles, in Concordia and other parts of Cloud County. This exercise provides an opportunity for local, regional, and state partners to test their emergency capabilities.

Why This Exercise Is Important:

· Testing Emergency Plans: Allows Cloud County to practice and refine emergency operation plans.

· Improving Coordination: Provides the opportunity to strengthen communication and coordination among various agencies.

· Identifying Gaps: Allows Cloud County to identify any gaps in plans and make necessary adjustments.

· Building Community Resilience: Engaging in emergency preparedness activities fosters a culture of readiness.

· Enhancing Skills: Emergency responders will enhance their skills through realistic scenarios.

Importance of Preparing for Disasters:

· Reduces Risk and Impact: Effective preparedness reduces the likelihood of disaster-related injuries and fatalities, minimizes property damage, and accelerates recovery efforts.

· Encourages community involvement: Promotes community engagement by encouraging residents to take proactive steps in protecting themselves and their families.

· Supports quick response: Communities that are prepared can respond more swiftly to disasters.

· Promotes recovery: Being prepared helps ease the recovery process.