For the second year members of the private sector (business & industry) in Adair & Guthrie Counties are joining with the public sector (city and county governments) to support the budget needs of the Adair & Guthrie County Emergency Management Programs.

Adair & Guthrie County Emergency Management Coordinator, Robert Kempf states, “Emergency Preparedness is not just the responsibility of our local governments. Emergency Management and Preparedness are a team sport; everyone has a part to play. The participation by the private sector is critical to accomplishing our planning and response goals and objectives.”

“We have large areas in our counties that are not covered by storm sirens, our emergency notification system provide timely and address specific weather warning information to residents that have signed up” said Kempf. Officials can also send out emergency information based on geographical location about evacuations & shelter in place incidents, drinking water issues and resource needs during a major disaster. Individuals and Businesses can sign up landline phones, cell phones, text messaging and email addresses as ways to receive emergency information.

The agencies maintain a Hazardous Materials Response Contract to help provide response information and assistance to emergency responders and industry in the case of a chemical spill or leak. “Our emergency services cannot afford the equipment and training required to maintain a local hazardous materials team. Our contract with the Council Bluffs Fire Department allows our first responders 24/7 access to the information and expertise that might be needed for this type of incident’ said Kempf

These four contracts account for just part, about twenty percent, of the preparedness and response costs of the two agencies. These contract programs not only benefit our citizens but also our governments and the private sector. Monies from the sponsor program and taxation monies from the towns in and counties of Adair & Guthrie are used to fund the budgets of the two agencies.

The Sponsorship Program includes four support levels: Bronze up to $100.00, Silver $101.00 to $250.00, Gold $251.00 to $500.00 and Platinum $501.00 and over.

As of January 20th the 2014 Sponsors included Adair Feed & Grain of Adair, 21st Century Coop of Fontanelle & Greenfield, Guthrie County State Bank of Guthrie Center & Panora and Union State Bank of Bridgewater & Greenfield as Bronze Sponsors; West Central Coop of Adair, Casey & Guthrie Center as a Silver Sponsor; First National Bank of Fontanelle & Greenfield as a Gold Sponsor and Lake Panorama Association of Panora as a Platinum Sponsor.

Any businesses, industry or groups in Adair & Guthrie Counties that would like to learn more about the program or become a sponsor can contact Kempf at 641-332-3030 or gcema@hotmail.com.