<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1HQVMf_1H1zFlbe00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1HQVMf_1H1zFlbe00" width="1200" height="630" >SUTHERLAND—O’Brien County Emergency Management director Jared Johnson sought feedback from the Sutherland City Council during Monday evening’s meeting to improve the hazard mitigation plan.O’Brien County, Sioux County and Osceola County have a joint plan, and Johnson is going to O’Brien County communities to get their input on how to improve and update the plan.“In the last decade, we’ve had multiple flash flood incidents. Some of those incidents have inundated wastewater systems and affected people’s homes from hydrostatic pressure issues, water getting into basements, et cetera,” Johnson said of one hazard he has seen affecting N’West Iowa.Other hazards include severe weather threats for thunderstorms, tornadoes and strong windstorms, temperature extremes from freezing to sweltering and biohazards.“If you’re included in the plan and there are grant funds that open up in the future for hazard mitigation projects, it allows you to be eligible to apply for a project,” Johnson said.However, he noted that applying for a grant does not guarantee automatic assistance.“In the past, the state’s helped out with storm shelters for schools, like building a gym as a tornado shelter. They’ve helped out with outdoor warning sirens in the past as well,” he said. “I’ve had some communities ask about generators for fixed facilities that they would like to have a backup generator at.”Johnson asked the council what they believe the top three hazards are for the community.Sutherland mayor Tyler Draper said the warning siren would be the top priority for the community, but the city has already applied for grants and got the siren to work.“That was a good update that you guys did here in town making so we could do the radio frequency because dispatch in the past, it was kind of hit or miss,” Johnson said.Warning sirens are activated if the community is included in a tornado warning or has a tornado indicated by storm spotters, if there is baseball-sized hail or if winds exceed 80 miles per hour.The National Weather Service radar out of Sioux Falls, SD, covers Sutherland. However, with Sutherland’s distance from Sioux Falls, the radar can see into storm systems, but it cannot see close to the ground.“We’ve had it here where we’ve had no watch for a tornado and we’ve had a tornado on the ground,” Johnson said, emphasizing the importance of storm spotters.Sutherland City Council member Jami Webster called flooding one of the community’s major hazards.“In 2024, we didn’t get what Spencer got, but it came pretty hard in the area here,” she said. “There was a lot of flooded basements in the community.”She named blizzards as another hazard.“Unfortunately, in our community, all of our power is up above ground,” Webster said. “When we get a hard ice storm or blizzard, our power’s out and it’s out for a good time.”Johnson is also seeking a representative from the Sutherland City Council or the mayor to be on the O’Brien County Emergency Management Agency and 911 service board.The board has two meetings per year in Primghar, which go through the EMA budget, the 911 budget and planning updates. Johnson attempts to keep those meetings to an hour or a few minutes over.<h2>Bids approved</h2>The City of Sutherland received 10 bids on the 1985 Chevrolet Blazer, with the highest bid of $7,500 awarded to Josh Kirschbaum of Ducky’s Marine and Power Sports in Spirit Lake.Proceeds will go to the police department.Only one bid was submitted for the 2004 Ford F350 Super Duty, and the city council approved the $750 bid.</div></body>

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SUTHERLAND—O’Brien County Emergency Management director Jared Johnson sought feedback from the Sutherland City Council during Monday evening’s meeting to improve the hazard mitigation plan. O’Brien County, Sioux County and Osceola County have a joint plan, and Johnson is going to O’Brien County communities to get their input...

Johnson seeks input from Sutherland about hazards

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SUTHERLAND—O’Brien County Emergency Management director Jared Johnson sought feedback from the Sutherland City Council during Monday evening’s meeting to i

Johnson seeks input from Sutherland about hazards

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