The Shakopee Fire and Police Departments are committed to relaying important emergency information to the public.

The city maintains an Emergency Operations Plan that uses an all-hazard approach to emergency planning. The plan lays out specific staff responsibilities, resources and operating procedures for responding to certain types of emergencies – from response to natural disasters to hazardous materials spills. The Police Chief also acts as the city’s Director of Emergency Management.

CodeRED

Shakopee and Scott County use the CodeRED emergency alert notification system to notify residents and businesses of potentially dangerous situations. The high-speed telephone notification system allows public safety agencies to deliver a pre-recorded message to a targeted area of the county or city. When signing up, residents and businesses can select how they would like to receive those messages – by landline phone, cell phone, text message or email. Register for three types of CodeRED messages:

• Emergency Notifications (e.g., Amber Alerts, evacuations, active shooters, wildfire, etc.) - Note: Most Scott County landlines have already been programmed into the system. You can register your cell phone.
• General Notifications (e.g., road closures, utility outages, water main breaks, etc.)
• Weather Notifications (e.g., tornado, flash flood, severe thunderstorm)

The city has 20 outdoor warning sirens to alert residents in the event of an emergency. The sirens, however, are not meant to be heard inside a home, so residents are urged to follow media reports during severe weather situations.

Warning sirens are tested at 1 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month.

The National Weather Service provides warnings and forecasts for Scott County and Shakopee.

In Scott County, sirens are typically activated in cities for which a tornado warning has been issued. Sirens in other cities may be activated if officials determine the public's safety may be affected by the same storm, if the police or fire chief requests that the sirens be sounded, or if severe weather has been observed. Residents are advised to take cover and turn on a radio or television to obtain more information.

In addition to warning residents of severe weather, the sirens may also be used to alert the community of a hazardous materials leak or another dangerous event in the community. In this case, residents should turn into their television or radio to determine the nature of the siren.

Cleaning up after a storm

• Responsibilities of city versus property owner
• Garbage disposal options
• Yard waste disposal options

For more information about severe weather in Scott County, visit Scott County Emergency Management.

Flooding

Floods are one of the country's most common disasters, and whether they occur quickly (flash flooding) or over time, they can wreak havoc for homes, businesses and motorists. Here are some resources to help you prepare for a potential flood:

• City of Shakopee Storm Water Drainage System
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
• National Flood Insurance Program - FEMA FloodSmart

The city joins the FEMA in urging all citizens to be ready for any type of emergency situations by:

• Putting together an emergency supply kit: This kit should include the basics such as water, non-perishable food, battery-powered lights and radios with extra batteries and a first aid kit. Be sure to also consider items to accommodate family members’ special needs such as prescription medications, infant formula, pet food, important family documents, etc.

• Making sure your family has a plan in case of an emergency: Sit down together and decide how you will get in contact with each other, where you will go and what you will do in an emergency. Determine a neighborhood meeting place, identify an out-of-town emergency contact, inquire about emergency plans at places where your family spends time: employers, daycare providers, schools, etc.

• Talking to your neighbors about how you can work together: In the event of an emergency, you will be better prepared to safely reunite your family and loved ones if you think ahead and communicate with others in advance.

For more information, materials and tools to help prepare your family, home or business for all types of emergencies, visit ready.gov or call 1-800-BE-READY.