WC Wisconsin News

How long have you been in your role?

Seth Wilson was recently appointed as the Emergency Management Coordinator at the Sheriff's Office. Prior to this, he served as the Emergency Management Specialist for about a year and a half.

Tell us a bit about yourself?

Wilson is originally from Holmen and graduated from Holmen High School. He attended North Dakota State University, where he studied Disaster Resilience and Emergency Management while also playing football. After college, he returned home and took on the role of Emergency Management Specialist.

What does emergency management involve?

“It’s all about preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters—anything from flooding and severe weather to public health emergencies or hazardous material releases,” Wilson explained. “I work on emergency plans, coordinate with other agencies, and help ensure we’re all on the same page when something goes wrong.”

What keeps you up at night?

Wilson identified two main concerns: “Making sure our Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is fully ready to go. If we needed to open it quickly, we’d make it work—but I’d like to strengthen those plans and logistics.” Additionally, he mentioned the possibility of a mass power outage impacting multiple states: “It’s rare, but if it happened, it would be extremely difficult to respond to.”

What’s the biggest local threat?

According to Wilson, flooding poses a significant risk: “A 1-in-1,000-year flood could overwhelm our infrastructure and cause widespread damage.”

What’s something the public might not know?

Wilson emphasized preparedness: “Every household should be ready to go 72 hours without outside help. In an emergency—like a tornado or flash flood—first responders might not be able to reach everyone right away. Have a kit ready with food, water, flashlights, batteries, and yes… even a waste bag if you’re stuck in a basement.”