Meet the County’s new Emergency Management Coordinator — a Holmen native working to keep our community ready for the unexpected.
How long have you been in your role?
I was recently appointed as the Emergency Management Coordinator here at the Sheriff's Office, but before that I was the Emergency Management Specialist for about a year-and-a-half.
Tell us a bit about yourself?
I’m originally from Holmen—graduated from Holmen High School. After that, I went to North Dakota State University, where I studied Disaster Resilience and Emergency Management… and played football. After college, I came back home, and the Emergency Management Specialist role had just opened up.
What does emergency management involve?
It’s all about preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters—anything from flooding and severe weather to public health emergencies or hazardous material releases. I work on emergency plans, coordinate with other agencies, and help ensure we’re all on the same page when something goes wrong.
What keeps you up at night?
Two things:
Making sure our Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is fully ready to go. If we needed to open it quickly, we’d make it work—but I’d like to strengthen those plans and logistics.
The possibility of a mass power outage that impacts multiple states. It’s rare, but if it happened, it would be extremely difficult to respond to.
What’s the biggest local threat?
Flooding. A 1-in-1,000-year flood could overwhelm our infrastructure and cause widespread damage.
What’s something the public might not know?
Every household should be ready to go 72 hours without outside help. In an emergency—like a tornado or flash flood—first responders might not be able to reach everyone right away. Have a kit ready with food, water, flashlights, batteries, and yes… even a waste bag if you’re stuck in a basement.