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   What’s Your Readiness Quotient?

Americans are frequently encouraged to get ready—to prepare themselves for emergencies...BUT, how do we know if we are prepared enough?

The Council for Excellence in Government has developed The Readiness Quotient—RQ or PRI, Public Readiness Index, which is a tool that measures the effectiveness of our preparedness plans for our family, schools and community.

It’s a simple test and takes less than one minute to complete online at http://whatsyourrq.org/form.php?refcode=WICC    It also gives you a score along with tips on how to improve your plans.

The PRI for the entire nation is 3.31, on a ten point scale of 0 = not prepared / 10 = very well prepared.  This score is based on surveying 1000 people during Summer 2007. Both the PRI and the RQ are based on the responses to 10 questions that examine what people know and what they should do prior to an emergency.  Topics range from awareness of the local community’s disaster plan to preparing a disaster supply kit for home, and having taken a first aid training class in the past five years.

Test your RQ TODAY!! 

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 Top Wisconsin Weather Events of 2006
    National Weather Service
    Additional information is available at www.noaa.gov

February 15-16, 2006  Major Winter Storm/Blizzard
Widespread heavy snow occurred mainly north of a line from Janesville to Waukesha to just north  of  Milwaukee.  Just south of that line, total snowfall ranged from 6 to 14 inches across almost all of central and southern Wisconsin.  The highest total was 14 inches at both Sheboygan and Saukville (Ozaukee County). 

March 12-14, 2006 Winter Storm
A snow storm slammed northern Wisconsin on March 12 and 13.  Snow amounts of 10 to 20 inches were reported.  In addition, Lake Superior added an extra punch, resulting in a bulls eye of 25 to 32 inches along the south shore in Ashland and Iron Counties, from Mellen to Hurley.  Considerable blowing and drifting snow resulted from winds gusting to around 35 mph.  Locals say it was the worst storm in 20 years!

April 13, 2006 Hail Storm
On April 13, three super cell hailstorms and a downburst wind event resulted in the most costly storm day in Wisconsin’s history.  One of three super cell thunderstorms tracked from southern Iowa County to along the Beltline just south of Madison, across northern Jefferson County, through northern Waukesha County, and dissipated over southern Ozaukee County and northern Milwaukee County.  Hail up to 4.25 inches in diameter fell in Jefferson County within this storm.  Additionally, another storm 5 miles southwest of Hilbert in Calumet County produced a microburst with winds of 95 to 100 mph (Category 2 hurricane-force).  The combined damage estimates from the thunderstorms across the state topped 160 million dollars.

Northern Wisconsin Drought
The drought conditions continued to plague in northern Wisconsin.  Rhinelander officially recorded only 0.48 inches for the month (3.45” below normal), Eau Claire recorded 1.82 inches (2.45” below normal), and Wausau recorded 2.79 inches (1.39” below normal).  Federal disaster assistance was required for several counties due to widespread crop losses.

July 27 Flash Floods – Southern Wisconsin (One-in-a-hundred year floods)
A major flash flood occurred in the Madison metropolitan area where 3 to 5 inches of rain was measured.  Some of the worst flooding affected the UW-Madison campus area where several dozens of buildings sustained damage.  Three to five inches of rain fell in and near the city of Waukesha, resulting in flooded roads and buildings.  The Fox River in downtown Waukesha also exceeded flood stage for a couple hours after a rapid rise in river levels.

December 1, 2006 Snowstorm and Blizzard
Southeast and east-central parts of the state were hammered with a winter storm that deposited 6 inches or more of snow east of a line from Brodhead to Juneau to Two Rivers.  Snow amounts exceeded a foot over parts of Waukesha, Milwaukee, Walworth, Racine, and Kenosha counties.  A maximum of 17 inches was measured at the Kenosha U.S. Coast Guard Station.  Outright blizzard conditions existed during the morning hours within 5 miles of the Lake Michigan shoreline in the counties of Milwaukee, Racine, and Kenosha, where visibilities were zero to ¼ mile and north winds gusted to 40 mph.  Thunder and lightning was noted near Lake Michigan as well. 

Other Miscellaneous Information
2005-2006 Winter Snowfall Totals

Hurley – 147.0 inches
Eagle River – 81.7 inches
Rhinelander – 64.8 inches
Hayward – 55.7 inches
Madison – 47.6 inches
LaCrosse – 39.8 inches
Green Bay – 38.0 inches
Eau Claire – 36.2 inches

Tornadoes
After a record-setting 62 tornadoes in Wisconsin in 2005, things really quieted down in 2006.  A total of 13 tornadoes were documented, with all but one in the southern half of the state.  Two of the tornadoes were rated F1, and the others were rated F0.  On June 18, an F1 tornado hit the south side of Hartford in Washington County.  One person was injured.  The tornado cause more than $4 million in damage.  

Temperatures
Coldest Temperature -  -33 degrees near Necedah in Juneau County on Feb. 18, 2006 and at Big Falls Hydro on Feb. 20, 2006

Warmest Temperature – 105 degrees at Hayward on July 15, 2006.   

State Disaster Assistance

Although none of the weather events in 2006 led to requests for Presidential Disaster Assistance, several did qualify for the new state disaster contingency fund.  The Wisconsin Disaster Fund was signed into law in April 2006 and consists of a $3 million annual appropriation to help communities recover from disasters that do not qualify for federal disaster assistance.  It is 70% state funded and 30% funded by the local government applicant and covers costs related to debris clearance, emergency protective measures and road damage.  The legislation was made retroactive to 2005 to cover costs associated with the devastating tornadoes that occurred in Dane, Richland and Vernon counties on August 18.  As of December 2006, $756,205 has been awarded to communities that suffered damages in 2005 and 2006.

Watch Out for Severe Weather!