Emergency Management
2023 Skywarn Spotter Training
We’re back to limited in-person training! The Washtenaw County Sheriff Emergency Services Division in conjunction with the National Weather Service Detroit/Pontiac is offering Skywarn Spotter training free of charge to anyone 13 years of age or older interested in being trained in severe weather identification, protection, and reporting procedures. The course is 1-1/2 hours long, and identification codes are issued to all who complete the program.
March 11, 2023 – Saturday
10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Pioneer High School
601 West Stadium Blvd.
Ann Arbor, MI
Check-in begins 30 minutes before the posted start time.
This course is directed towards Skywarn Spotters whose certification expires this year, or for individuals who are interested and have not attended training previously. You must pre-register electronically by clicking here and submitting the requested information. If you have trouble completing the online registration form, you may call our office at (734) 222-3911 or email [email protected] for assistance.
If you have previously completed training and your identification expires in 2024, we kindly ask that you defer training until next year or attend a virtual session as a refresher.
Virtual training will again be available this year for those who cannot or are not scheduled to attend in person. For a current schedule and additional instructions, please visit www.weather.gov/dtx/spotter2
Upcoming Meetings
Unless otherwise indicated, these meetings will be held in person with the option to attend virtually. Any member of the public wishing to attend these meetings please contact Emergency Services at (734) 222-3911.
Homeland Security Task Force
•Tuesday, January 24, 2023 at 2:00 p.m.
Emergency Medical Service Commission
•Friday, January 27, 2023 at 8:30 a.m.
Local Emergency Planning Committee
•Thursday, March 9, 2023 at 3:00 p.m.
Hazardous Material Response Team Authority Board
•Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at 2:00 p.m.
Everbridge
Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office is now using the Everbridge notification system to communicate with citizens. Stay up-to-date on happenings in your neighborhood through email and text messages sent by the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office. Everbridge is a secure and identity-certified communication service that allows local, county, and state law enforcement agencies to connect with local residents over cell phone, email, and internet. Visit www.washtenaw.org/alerts to sign up!
Wireless Emergency Alerts
Mobile devices are an important communications tool that can be used to alert people as soon as possible that their lives or property are seriously at risk. CTIA and the wireless industry, along with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), developed the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) to send concise, text-like messages to users’ mobile devices. This ensures as many Americans as possible are alerted to dangerous situations.
Community Emergency Preparedness Workbook & Guidelines
Your Emergency Services Division is working closely with all levels of government and with several non-profit agencies to be ready in the event of any serious impact on the health, safety and welfare of the community. Still, it is extremely important to take responsibility for the safety of your family and to prepare for all emergencies.
Washtenaw County’s Outdoor Warning Siren System
The Emergency Services Division is responsible for the activation of 88 designated outdoor warning sirens throughout Washtenaw County. Except for scheduled testing, these sirens will be activated when significant severe weather has been detected (a tornado or a severe thunderstorm with damaging winds confirmed to be 75 miles per hour or greater); when a hazardous materials accident occurs that requires immediate protective action by the public, or for other critical events such as homeland security emergencies.
Services
• Large-scale emergency preparedness, planning, training, response and recovery services
• Emergency Operations Center activation readiness and survivability
• Pre-disaster public awareness campaigns for severe weather and technological accidents
• Coordination of public information during crisis events
• Supervision of severe weather training, tracking, reporting, and warning systems
• Hazardous environmental incident planning, investigation, and enforcement
• Management of the county’s Enhanced 911 telephone system including Washtenaw Metro Dispatch operations
• Implementation and management of Homeland Security projects
• Financial management of Washtenaw County’s HazMat Team
• Emergency Medical Services Commission and Medical Control Board support