Emergency Management

OS 101 Bridge (Brown’s Bridge) over Silver Creek that is located on 155th Rd, approximately 2.75 miles North of Highway 166, is being closed due to a collapsing pier cap on the Southwest corner. Road and Bridge, District #2 is placing road closed barricades on that bridge. This is a wooden fracture critical bridge that has wood pier caps. The South pier cap has been under observation and upon inspection appears to be failing. A special inspection for the bridge is scheduled on November the 28^th, this will determine bridge reopening, or if necessary, repairs That must be completed first. Cowley County Public Works, KDOT, Arkansas City Fire/EMS, Cowley County Emergency Management and Cowley County Emergency Communications, are monitoring the situation. Cowley County Public Works is in contact with the landowners and establishing alternate routes for the area.

Natural gas companies and operators share a primary goal of providing safe and reliable service while maintaining an uninterrupted supply of natural gas for residential and commercial customers.   Sometimes, for a variety of reasons, service can be interrupted, but there’s a unique solution in the form of temporary Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) service. Utilities and municipalities, can benefit from this type of temporary service while pipeline infrastructure is being repaired, replaced or newly constructed.  Utilities can benefit from these options during emergency supply situations when service interruptions occur due to repairs and line purging. 

Mobile Energy Solutions (MES) will be in place on November the 13th at the community gate for Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline that is located in between the Orscheln and Walmart parking lot in Arkansas City. Southern Star in collaboration with MES will utilize LNG service via transport trucks to secure gas supply for Ark City, during the line purging and scheduled pipeline maintenance that will occur from Monday the 14th through Wednesday the 16th. The community can expect to see visual condensation around the trucks, bright lights, and hear a loud report (noise) when the line is being purged. The sight will have safety personal onsite from both energy companies and safe zone areas marked off for duration of operations.   We ask that the public avoid the safe zone area and spread awareness on what is occurring and help limit non-emergent calls to 911.  Arkansas City Fire, Cowley County Emergency Management, and Cowley County Emergency Communications will monitor the ongoing situation and remain in communication with Southern Star and MES.

COWLEY COUNTY, Kan. (February 28, 2022) – Cowley County Emergency Management is proud to join the National Weather Service to promote Severe Weather Preparedness Week March 7-11, 2022 by spreading the word and encouraging all residents of the community to learn the facts and taking steps now to prepare. 

Severe weather can occur at anytime during the year, but Kansans are especially prone during the spring and early summer months. “Being prepared is something we need to do year around. But, as we approach the primary severe weather season, we emphasize the need for preparedness and planning so that everyone can make the best decisions possible,” stated Brian Stone, Director of Cowley County Emergency Management. 

Chance Hayes, Warning Coordination Meteorologist with the National Weather Service sums up severe weather preparedness by stating, “Just because the weather has been pretty quiet the past couple of years doesn't mean it is time to get complacent.  Make sure you have plenty of ways to get vital weather information.  That could include NOAA weather radio, TV, radio, or weather apps.  I encourage every person to get a radar app that has geolocation capabilities.  Each one of the local TV weather apps has this service and be sure to allow the app to use your location.  That way you can keep safe by ensuring your dot is out of the hot spot!”

During Severe Weather Preparedness Week, specific hazards or topics will be highlighted each day. The statewide tornado drill is scheduled at 10am on Tuesday, March 8. All outdoor warning sirens across the county will be activated along with NOAA weather radios. This is the perfect time to discuss your severe weather plans and practice what actions you would take if it were a real event. 

Cowley County Emergency Management will be raising awareness and promoting steps citizens can take to stay safe this severe weather season through social media posts. We are committed to helping the whole community prepare for a safe storm season.  

More information on severe weather hazards can be found on the National Weather Service safety page and on the Ready.gov page. 

COWLEY COUNTY, Kan. (December 9, 2021) – Cowley County was awarded grant funds in the amount of $20,000.00 from Phillips 66 pipeline. The funds will be used specifically to upgrade communications capabilities of the EM staff and the Cowley County Emergency Auxiliary (CCEA) volunteers.

Phillips 66 is committed to supporting organizations that build strong and vibrant communities.  “As a member of the Cowley County LEPC, Phillips 66 pipeline is happy to provide this support to the Cowley County Emergency Management office to help upgrade their emergency communication equipment,” states Nolan Dealy, Pipeliner/Area Representative for Phillips 66 pipeline. 

Dealy, along with Winfield resident and Phillips 66 Pipeliner Braden Clark, presented the award to Emergency Management at the regular Cowley County Commission meeting on Tuesday, December 7, 2021. 

“We are pleased to receive this award from Phillips 66.  This shows the community commitment they have to enhancing safety for our citizens,” states Cowley County Emergency Management Director Brian Stone. 

The Cowley County Emergency Auxiliary is a group of trained, dependable volunteers who assist is protecting and preserving the life, limb and property of Cowley County citizens during times of natural and man-made disasters. More information about the CCEA can be found at: https://www.cowleycountyks.gov/em. 

L-R: John Stradal, Emergency Management; Braden Clark, Phillips 66; Brian Stone, Emergency Management; Nolan Dealy, Phillips 66; Wayne Wilt and Bob Voegele, County Commissioners. 

Cowley County, Kan. (September 7, 2021) – Cowley County Emergency Management is proud to be recognized for receiving our 7^th StormReady^® renewal. Cowley County has been a StormReady^® County since 1999 marking the 22^nd consecutive year with that achievement. 

Nation-wide, approximately 98% of all Presidential Disaster declarations are weather related leading to 500 deaths per year and $15 billion in damage. No community is storm proof; however, StormReady^® jurisdictions are prepared with communication and safety skills necessary to save lives and protect property before, during and after the event. 

To be StormReady^®, jurisdictions must meet the following criteria: 

• Establish a 24-hour warning point and emergency operations center
• Have more than one way to receive severe weather warnings and forecasts and to alert the public
• Create a system that monitors weather conditions locally
• Promote the importance of public readiness through community seminars
• Develop a formal hazardous weather plan, which includes training severe weather spotters and holding emergency exercises

“We at the NWS appreciate all of your efforts to ensure the wellbeing of the citizens in Cowley County during times of inclement weather.  Secondly, we recognize and appreciate the extra effort the Cowley County team makes in providing crucial information that helps us in our warning decision process,” states Chance Hayes, Warning Coordination Meteorologist for the National Weather Service office in Wichita. 

WINFIELD, Kan. (July 6, 2021) – Cowley County Emergency Management is proud to join the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to promote summer safety by spreading the word and encouraging all residents of the community to learn the facts and taking steps now to prepare.

This July, FEMA and the Ready Campaign will be educating the public on heat and drought preparedness to ensure everyone is prepared for summer. There were 63 heat-related fatalities in 2019, yet, heat has the highest 10-year average of deaths per year at 103 fatalities, and the highest 30-year average of any hazard at 138 fatalities.

During times of extreme heat, many areas may also experience periods of reduced rainfall or drought. As the summer continues and temperatures rise, there may be an increased risk of drought in our region. If a drought should occur, it’s important to know what measures to take to reduce the impact to yourself and property.

Cowley County Emergency Management will be raising awareness of how citizens can take steps to stay safe this summer through social media posts. We are committed to helping the whole community prepare for a safe and fun summer

More information on summer hazards can be found on the Ready.gov website at https://www.ready.gov/ under the Extreme Heat and Drought tabs and on The National Weather Service heat website at https://www.weather.gov/safety/heat.

WINFIELD, Kan. (June 22, 2021) – Cowley County was awarded two sets of Turn Around Don’t Drown^® (TADD) Signs by the National Weather Service (NWS) to be placed along roads especially prone to flooding. 

Turn Around Don’t Drown^® is a campaign used by the NWS meant to warn drivers of roads that are covered in water and too dangerous to drive through. More deaths occur each year due to flooding than any other thunderstorm related hazard and over half of those are caused by vehicles being driven into the water. 

Janet Salazar, Service Hydrologist for the National Weather Service Office in Wichita, KS facilitated this project to support the vision of the NWS which is a Weather-Ready Nation: Society is prepared for and responds to weather, water and climate-dependent events. 

“Cowley County is honored to receive these signs from the NWS.   The signs are a simple yet visible way to mitigate against the tragic loss that could occur from driving into a flooded roadway,” states Cowley County Emergency Management Director Brian Stone. 

The signs will be placed on 26^th Road for the area approximately .7 miles west of Rock and on 132^nd Road for the area 1.6 miles west of US 77. Both areas are commonly closed after heavy rains due to flooding from the Walnut River.

Janet Salazar, NWS; Brian Stone, Emergency Management;
Jon Jordan, Public Works

 

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