Among my favorite things about being a Northside elected is getting to work with people in order to solve problems. I love it when people from different areas or different perspectives come together to make their shared community better.

For the past several weeks, I have worked closely with Northside Alder Anita Weir to problem solve around an issue unique to our area. District 18 is home to Mendota Mental Health Institute. As well-managed as this institution is, once in a while a patient escapes custody. Leaving Mendota grounds, an escapee would likely enter one of our neighborhoods. In a situation like this, it is important that neighbors are informed and can take any precautions necessary.

Mendota staff work closely with the Madison Police Department during a situation like this. While they urge people not to panic, they need a way to communicate information and instructions to neighbors. The most efficient way of communicating this information is through the Dane County 911 system. Anita and I are working with Madison Police and the 911 Emergency Management staff to create a protocol to follow so that information gets to neighborhoods as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Reverse 911 calls, as they are commonly known, are recorded messages that offer pertinent information and instructions to neighbors possibly affected by an incident. These calls go out to land lines in the affected area. Residents may also sign up their cell phones to the Dane County Alert system at www.countyofdane.com/
emergency/warning/default.aspx. Click the light blue button on the page that says “Sign up for Dane County Alerts.” Please note that, for data security reasons, this is a multi-step process that requires user validation before a new registration becomes active. Signing up will connect you to information about any type of emergency warning in Dane County.

I am grateful for the amazing emergency professionals in our city and county who work so hard every day to keep us safe.

Please feel free to contact me. I can be reached at ritt.michele@countyofdane.com or 335-6827.