MARENGO, Wis. — The Town of Marengo has completed a collaborative initiative designed to help communities prepare before disasters strike—not simply recover after they occur.

The project produced two practical resources that are now available to be shared with communities throughout Ashland County and across Wisconsin:

– The Town of Marengo Emergency Preparedness and AcƟon Plan (EPAP) – a comprehensive
planning template that communities can adapt to improve emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and continuity of operations.

– The Community Preparedness and Resilience Workshop Series – a five-part educaƟonal program that provides residents with pracƟcal knowledge and hands-on skills to prepare their families, homes, and neighborhoods for emergencies and natural hazards.

Why Preparedness Matters

Communities across northern Wisconsin have experienced increasingly frequent and costly emergencies over the past two decades, including catastrophic flooding, severe storms, prolonged power outages, drought, wildfire concerns, extreme heat, and dangerous winter weather. These events have disrupted daily life, damaged public infrastructure, threatened homes and businesses, and strained local resources.

Experience has shown that investments made before disasters occur can significantly reduce impacts, save lives, lessen property damage, shorten recovery homes, and strengthen communities. Preparedness is not solely the responsibility of emergency responders—it begins with informed residents, coordinated local leadership, and resilient neighborhoods.

The project also supports recommendations contained in the Ashland County Hazard Mitigation Plan, including expanding public education, strengthening emergency communications, and improving municipal preparedness.

Building Local Capacity Through Collaboration

The initiative grew from the Town of Marengo’s participation in the Enduring Lake Superior Communities (formerly Lake Superior Climate Champions) program, supported by Wisconsin Sea Grant, the Lake Superior NaƟonal Estuarine Research Reserve, and the University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension.

Through tremendous leadership and facilitation from ELSC Program along with Ashland County Extension and Ashland County Emergency Management, the project combined university research, emergency management expertise, and local knowledge to create practical tools that can be readily adapted by other municipalities.

The Emergency Preparedness and Action Plan establishes clear procedures for responding to emergencies, identifies local hazards and vulnerabilities, outlines communication strategies, and provides guidance for protecting residents, maintaining essential services, and accelerating recovery following disasters.

Complementing the plan is the Community Preparedness and Resilience Workshop Series, which covers essential preparedness topics including:
– Building emergency “Go Bags”
– CPR and AED training
– Preparing for extended power outages
– Home safety, security, and fire prevention
– Wildfire preparedness and protecting homes and property

The workshops encourage residents to become active participants in community resilience while fostering the important principle of neighbors helping neighbors during emergencies.

A Model Other Communties Can Use

One of the primary goals of the project is to make these resources available as adaptable templates for other communities.

Rather than asking each municipality to begin from scratch, the Town of Marengo is sharing their experience, planning process, and educational materials so other local governments can build upon proven work, customize it to local needs, and strengthen preparedness throughout Wisconsin.

As communities face increasingly complex environmental and emergency challenges, this project provides a practical roadmap for preparedness while reinforcing the Wisconsin Idea’s commitment to extending knowledge beyond campus boundaries and into every Wisconsin community.