Hurricane Preparedness Week is a good time to plan for out-of-state mutual aid: Crews from Wisconsin were quickly deployed to support the recovery effort following Hurricane Milton in October 2024. In fact, the first call for mutual aid came on Monday afternoon, and by early Wednesday morning dozens of Wisconsin crews were on their way to Lakeland, Florida. Having a plan for how your community would respond to a call for out-of-state mutual aid is critical to a timely response. MEUW is encouraging members to use National Hurricane Preparedness Week (May 1–7) to complete a checklist and prepare in advance for the resources you can offer for an extended, out-of-state mutual aid event.
MEUW works collaboratively with coordinators on a regional and national level, and when the call for help comes, there’s no time to waste. Utilities interested in sending crews for out-of-state mutual aid need to make a lot of decisions in a very tight timeframe. Based on lessons learned from Hurricane Milton, there’s value in knowing how your utility would respond.
Here are a few things to consider: Who is available and interested in traveling? How will you decide who gets to go? What resources (e.g., trucks and equipment) can you send? When it’s time to go, will you be ready? Which neighboring utilities will help while you’re short-handed, and are they willing? Who is involved in making the decision to offer resources (e.g., city/village administrator, utility commission, etc.)? MEUW has developed this checklist utilities can use to prepare.
Depending on the expected scope of damage, not every resource that is volunteered will be selected to travel. One major factor in the decision is the type of equipment the utility can offer (digger-derricks and bucket trucks are more essential than a pick-up truck, for example). Making the effort to pre-plan will help to expedite the process to mobilize and deploy Wisconsin resources when they’re needed. Please direct questions about the mutual aid process to Mike Czuprynko, MEUW’s Director of Safety Services and Operations.
Have you registered for the Annual Conference? Time is running out to register for this year’s Annual Conference in La Crosse! The “early bird” discount of $30 expires on Thursday, May 1. You won’t want to miss the great agenda or the opportunity to connect with your colleagues from across the state. The Annual Conference will take place May 14–16 in La Crosse, with the bulk of the programming (and the awards ceremony) set for Thursday, May 15. You’re invited to attend as much or as little of the conference as your schedule allows. Join in the golf outing Wednesday morning, a tour of Dairyland Power Cooperative’s facilities Wednesday afternoon, and then a welcome reception aboard a riverboat on Wednesday evening, May 14. Click here to learn more. Be sure to register no later than Friday, May 9.
Fraudsters are attempting to confuse MEUW members: Smaller organizations like MEUW can be targets for devious online tricksters who send emails attempting to fool members into clicking harmful links or malicious attachments. While MEUW continuously takes steps to ensure the security of our emails and your information, these fraudsters are increasingly sophisticated and make their phony electronic communications look very authentic. We’ve recently upgraded our email security to safeguard our systems and make it more difficult to spoof MEUW employees’ email accounts. If you ever have a question about the authenticity of an email from someone at MEUW, please contact the “sender” directly or call the MEUW Office at (608) 837-2263 to verify.
Spots still open in Excavation Competent Person workshops: Well-trained employees are the best defense against injuries on the job. Excavations represent a common hazard faced by utility employees. MEUW is pleased to offer Excavation Competent Person training that includes both classroom and hands-on field training. Attendees will review OSHA’s 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P Excavation Standard (adopted and enforced by the state under SPS 332) and learn safety aspects, potential hazards, protective systems and planning for safe excavation and trenching. Several workshops have already filled up; choose from among three remaining locations ― Kaukauna (May 29); Waunakee (June 3); or New Holstein (June 4). Full details can be found here.
Be sure your utility’s vote is counted: Elections for Directors and Alternate Directors in odd-numbered districts are currently underway. Instructions have been provided to a contact at utilities eligible to vote this year. Voting closes on May 7, and the results will be announced at the association’s Annual Business Meeting on Friday, May 16.
Are you communicating professionally? Email, text, phone calls … there are many ways we communicate with customers. But are we doing it well? And legally? This 90-minute virtual training will help participants master the art of clear and professional communication across email, text, and phone interactions. This course covers phone skills such as active listening and gathering key information to ensure effective outcomes. Explore etiquette, policies, and legal considerations for written communication. Learn to craft concise, impactful emails and texts that enhance customer service and reflect professionalism. Held virtually on Thursday, May 22, at 10 a.m., there’s something for everyone in this class. You have the choice to enroll as an individual learner or have one person from your municipality register for group viewing. Registration is located here.
Learn about Utility Planning & Risk Management: Are you effectively planning and managing risk at your utility? Take the next step in your professional development and register for this course. As part of MEUW’s professional development programming, this course explains the basics of strategic and operational planning, why planning matters, and how well-thought-out plans and careful assessments of risks can contribute to long-term success. Led by Dave Krause, P.E., Engineering Operations Manager for EPS Engineering & Design, Inc., this one-day class is for individuals tasked with oversight for municipal utility operations, including Utility Commissioners and Council members. The class will be held Wednesday, June 4, in Mauston ― details and registration are available here.