Emergency Management 

BURN BAN LIFTED AT THIS TIME IN PAWNEE COUNTY

The Burn Ban in Pawnee County Kansas is lifted at this time of 10AM on January 9, 2023 until further notice.

The Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners in its discretion has declared that the burn ban in Pawnee County, Kansas, is lifted at this time of 10AM on January 9, 2023 until further notice. Even though the ban is lifted, this Agency strongly urges landowners that have a requirement to conduct controlled burns of a larger scale, to contact their local Fire Chief to discuss methods and weather considerations as an item of preparation prior to conducting a burn and urges property owners that lived within the city limits in the County to become familiar with ordinances dealing with burning as applicable before they light fires of any type. Please be aware of changing weather as heat and wind can create conditions favorable for destructive fires even in high moisture environments. 

The Burn Ban Status will always be listed on this page. We will also notify citizens through the Pawnee County Facebook Page and to citizens enrolled on the CivicReady Alert System.

BURN BAN LIFTED BIG LETTER


Car stuff

Prepare for Cold Weather

The way to avoid frostbite and hypothermia is to plan for extreme cold before it arrives. Don't get caught unprepared.

  • Check the Forecast at weather.gov or your favorite weather app, station, etc.: Make checking the forecast part of your regular routine so you'll know when to expect cold weather.
  • Adjust Your Schedule: If possible, adjust your schedule to avoid being outside during the coldest part of the day, typically the early morning. Try to find a warm spot for your children while waiting for the school bus outside.
  • Protect Your Pets, Livestock and other Property: If you have pets or farm animals, make sure they have plenty of food and water, and are not overly exposed to extreme cold. Take precautions to ensure your water pipes do not freeze. Know the temperature thresholds of your plants and crops.
  • Fill up the tank: Make sure your car or vehicle has at least a half a tank of gas during extreme cold situations so that you can stay warm if you become stranded.
  • Dress for the outdoors even if you don't think you'll be out much.
  • Update Your Winter Car Survival Kit: Make sure your car survival kit has the following:
    • Jumper cables: flares or reflective triangle are great extras
    • Flashlights: Replace the batteries before the winter season starts and pack some extras
    • First Aid Kit: Also check your purse of bag for essential medications
    • Baby, special needs gear: If you have a baby or family member with special needs, pack diapers and any special formula or food
    • Food: Stock non-perishable food such as canned food and a can opener, dry cereal and protein rich foods like nuts and energy bars
    • Water: Have at least 1 gallon of water per person a day for at least 3 days
    • Basic toolkit: Pliers, wrench, screwdriver
    • Pet supplies: Food and water
    • Radio: Battery or hand cranked
    • Cat litter or sand: For better tire traction
    • Shovel: To dig out snow
    • Ice scraper: Even if you usually park in a garage, have one in the car.
    • Clothes: Make sure you dress for the weather in warm clothes, gloves, hat, sturdy boots, jacket and an extra change of clothes for the cold
    • Warmers: Pack extra for body, hands, feet
    • Blankets or sleeping bags: If you get stranded in traffic on a lonely road, you'll be glad to have it.
    • Charged Cell Phone: Keep a spare charger in your car as well
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LARNED WEATHER
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LINKS FOR DISASTER PLANNING

Over the past couple of years we have grown familiar with disaster on a national and even world scale. We have all experienced the fear and anxiety associated with facing changing times and unknown forces. Preparing can and will help you survive in an emergency as well as alleviate anxiety and fear. We have set up the following links to aid you in finding the resources needed to plan, prepare, and know what to do in case of an emergency. 

WINTER WEATHER                            MAKE A PLAN

FLOODING                                          GET VACCINATED

EMERGENCY ALERTS                       PREPARENESS VIDEOS

PREPARE KIDS FOR DISASTER       BUILD A KIT

Keeping yourself updated with the latest information during a disaster can be crucial to knowing what to do and where to go for further information. Pawnee County utilizes CivicReady to send emergency alerts and other notifications. Subscribers can register to receive emergency alerts and other notifications via phone call, text message, and / or email. Click here to learn more 

  

Pawnee County Emergency Management Storm Readiness Information 

When are tornadoes most likely?

Tornado season usually refers to the time of year the U.S. sees the most tornadoes. The peak “tornado season” for the southern Plains (e.g., Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas) is from May into early June. On the Gulf coast, it is earlier in the spring. In the northern Plains and upper Midwest (North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota), tornado season is in June or July. But, remember, tornadoes can happen at any time of year. Tornadoes can also happen at any time of day or night, but most tornadoes occur between 4–9 p.m.big tornado
What is the difference between a Tornado WATCH and a Tornado WARNING?

A Tornado WATCH is issued by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center meteorologists who watch the weather 24/7 across the entire U.S. for weather conditions that are favorable for tornadoes and severe weather. A watch can cover parts of a state or several states. Watch and prepare for severe weather and stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio to know when warnings are issued.

A Tornado WARNING is issued by your local NOAA National Weather Service Forecast Office meteorologists who watch the weather 24/7 over a designated area. This means a tornado has been reported by spotters or indicated by radar and there is a serious threat to life and property to those in the path of the tornado. A tornado warning indicates that you should ACT NOW to find safe shelter! A warning can cover parts of counties or several counties in the path of danger.

where to go

Preparing for a Tornado

  • Be Weather-Ready: Check the forecast regularly to see if you’re at risk for tornadoes. Listen to local news or a NOAA Weather Radio to stay informed about tornado watches and warnings. Check the Weather-Ready Nation for tips.
  • Sign Up for Notifications: Know how your community sends warnings. Some communities have outdoor sirens. Others depend on media and smart phones to alert residents of severe storms capable of producing tornadoes.
  • Create a Communications Plan: Have a family plan that includes an emergency meeting place and related information. If you live in a mobile home or home without a basement, identify a nearby safe building you can get too quickly, such as a church or family member.
  • Pick a safe room in your home, such as a basement, storm cellar, or an interior room on the lowest floor with no windows. Check more ideas for your family plan at: https://www.ready.gov/make-a-plan
  • Practice Your Plan: Conduct a family severe thunderstorm drill regularly so everyone knows what to do if a tornado is approaching. Make sure all members of your family know to go there when tornado warnings are issued. Don’t forget pets if time allows.
  • Prepare Your Home: Consider having your safe room reinforced. You can find plans for reinforcing an interior room to provide better protection on the Federal Emergency Management Agency website.
  • Help Your Neighbor: Encourage your loved ones to prepare for the possibility of tornadoes. Take CPR training so you can help if someone is hurt.tornado-overpass

The Enhanced Fujita Scale or EF Scale, which became operational on February 1, 2007, is used to assign a tornado's "rating" based on estimated wind speeds and related damage. When tornado related damage is surveyed, it is compared to a list of damage indicators (DIs) and degrees of damage (DoD) which help estimate better the range of wind speeds the tornado likely produced. From that, a rating of EF0 to EF5 is assigned.

Fujita Scale

 

tornado-damage

What to do after a tornado...

  • Stay Informed:Continue to listen to local news or a NOAA Weather Radio to stay updated about tornado watches and warnings. Multiple rounds of thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes are possible during severe weather outbreaks.
  • Contact Your Family and Loved Ones: Let your family and close friends know that you’re okay so they can help spread the word. Text messages or social media are more reliable forms of communication than phone calls.
  • Assess the Damage: After the threat for tornadoes has ended, check to see if your property has been damaged. When walking through storm damage, wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and sturdy shoes. Contact local authorities if you see power lines down. Stay out of damaged buildings. Be aware of insurance scammers if your property has been damaged.
  • Help Your Neighbor: If you come across people that are injured and you are properly trained, provide first aid to victims if needed until emergency response teams arrive.

Ralph Lowrey - Storm Spotting Manager

Ralph Lowrey is our Storm Spotting Manager. Ralph is a very experienced storm spotter and is always watching when storms roll into Pawnee County.

tor rozel

Resources

  1. Conditional Use Permit Application (PDF)
  2. Conditional Use Permit Instructions (PDF)
  3. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance Handbook (PDF)
  4. Floodplain Development Permit Application (PDF)
  5. General Zoning Permit Application (PDF)
  6. Neighborhood Revitalization (PDF)
  7. Open Records Request (PDF)
  8. Public Notice - Kansas Water Pollution Control Permits (PDF)
  9. Zoning Regulations (PDF)
  10. Kansas Region E Hazard Mitigation Plan 11.10.2019
  11. Sanitary Code Adopted March 1994 (PDF)

COVID-19 CRISIS

Pawnee County Emergency Management is working hard to insure all citizens of Pawnee County are informed with the latest information on the COVID Crisis. Please visit the Kansas Department of Health and Environments Resource Center for updates and important information on the COVID Crisis. Pawnee County Emergency Management in conjunction with the County Health Department, County Commissioners and other Governing Authorities will continue to communicate information through Facebook posts @pawneecountyinfo and this website to insure that you are informed with the latest information. 

More Resources....

Pawnee County Emergency Management would also like to remind you that the Small Business Administration offers COVID-19 Small Business Guidance and Loan Resources. The Small Business Administration  can help your business overcome the challenges created by this health crisis. They offer multiple funding options for those seeking relief. On June 15, SBA will begin accepting new Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and EDIL Advance applications from all eligible small businesses and U.S. agriculture businesses.

covid-19 crisis and related documents

  1. HCC COVID 19 Resource Sheet
  2. Order Granting Waiver of Fuel Standards FINAL (032320) PDF (002)
  3. HANDOUT_SBA Disaster Assistance_Resources for Businesses Statewide-508_3_17
  4. Asistencia de Desastre de la SBA en Respuesta al Coronavirus-508_3_17