Bourbon County Kansas Emergency Management

08/24/2026

🔴 EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT MONTH | RESPONSE 🔴

This week, we’re focusing on the third phase of Emergency Management: RESPONSE.

When an emergency happens, plans turn into action.

Response is everything we do during and immediately after an emergency to save lives, protect property, meet urgent needs, and keep our community safe.

🚓 Law Enforcement helps secure affected areas, manage traffic, assist with evacuations, and protect the public.

🚒 Fire Departments respond to fires, rescues, hazardous conditions, and countless other emergencies.

🚑 EMS provides lifesaving medical care and gets patients where they need to go.

🚧 Public Works & Road Crews clear debris, close unsafe roads, address infrastructure damage, and help keep emergency routes accessible.

📢 Emergency Management helps coordinate resources, share critical information, support responding agencies, and connect local needs with additional resources when necessary.

No single department handles a disaster alone.

Behind every successful response are dispatchers, first responders, public works crews, healthcare providers, volunteers, government partners, utility crews, and community members working toward the same goal.

❤️ Protect lives. Protect property. Support our community.

When disaster strikes, we respond together.

08/24/2026

🟠 EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT MONTH | RECOVERY 🟠

This week, we’re focusing on the fourth phase of Emergency Management: RECOVERY.

The emergency may be over, but the work isn’t.

Recovery begins after the immediate danger has passed and focuses on helping individuals, families, businesses, and our entire community heal, rebuild, and move forward.

🏠 Restore & Rebuild — Repair homes, roads, utilities, infrastructure, and essential community services.

🤝 Provide Assistance — Connect those impacted by disaster with available resources, services, and support.

❤️ Support Our Community — Check on neighbors, help those in need, and remember that recovery looks different for everyone.

🚧 Work Together — Emergency Management, law enforcement, fire, EMS, public works, utilities, community organizations, volunteers, and many others all have a role in recovery.

📋 Learn & Improve — Every emergency teaches us something. We use those lessons to improve plans, strengthen our community, and prepare for the next event.

Recovery doesn’t always happen overnight. It can take days, weeks, months, or even years. But when a community works together, we don't just rebuild what was lost—we have an opportunity to come back stronger and more resilient.

🧡 Recover Today. Rebuild Tomorrow. Become Stronger Together.

08/21/2026

08/17/2026

🔵PREPAREDNESS | Before the Emergency 🔵

This week, we’re focusing on the second phase of Emergency Management: PREPAREDNESS.

Disasters don’t make appointments. Severe storms, tornadoes, wildfires, flooding, winter weather, and power outages can happen with little warning. Preparedness is what we do BEFORE an emergency to make sure we’re ready when it matters most.

Being prepared doesn’t have to be complicated. Start with a few simple steps:

✅ Make a Plan — Know where your family will go, how you’ll communicate, and where you’ll meet.

🎒 Build a Kit — Have enough food, water, medications, first aid supplies, and other essentials for at least 72 hours.

📱 Stay Informed — Sign up for Genasys Alerts bourboncountyks.genasys.com/portal and have more than one way to receive weather warnings.

🏠 Prepare Your Home — Know where utilities are located, secure outdoor items, and have plans for pets and livestock.

🤝 Know Your Community — Check on neighbors, family members, seniors, and others who may need extra help during an emergency.

Emergency preparedness isn’t just the responsibility of first responders. It takes all of us.

A little preparation today can make a BIG difference when seconds count.

💙 BE PREPARED. BE AWARE. BE BOURBON COUNTY READY!

08/15/2026

Thunderstorms will be possible across portions of the area Sunday afternoon and evening. A few strong to severe thunderstorms are possible with damaging wind gusts and locally heavy rainfall the main risk. There are still questions on the exact coverage and timing of the storms, and not all locations could be impacted.

08/13/2026

☀️🎒 BACK TO SCHOOL + SUMMER HEAT 🎒☀️

Schools may be getting back in session, but summer isn’t finished with us yet! As students head back to classrooms, practices, playgrounds, and bus stops, remember that hot and humid conditions can quickly lead to heat-related illness.

💧 Keep water handy and encourage kids to drink often — before they feel thirsty.
🌳 Take breaks in the shade or A/C during outdoor activities and practices.
👕 Dress for the heat with lightweight, light-colored clothing when possible.
🚌 At the bus stop: Limit time standing in direct sun and bring water when needed.
🏈 Coaches & activity leaders: Build in frequent water and cooling breaks, especially during afternoon practices.
🚗 NEVER leave a child or pet in a parked vehicle — even for a few minutes.

⚠️ Know the signs of heat illness:
Heavy sweating • dizziness • headache • nausea • weakness • confusion

Back-to-school routines can be busy. Make heat safety part of the routine, too.

Stay cool, stay hydrated, and have a safe start to the school year! 🎒☀️

08/13/2026

An Extreme Heat Warning is in effect now through Sunday.

08/12/2026