Busy Week of Training and Collaboration for Northeast PET Region and Stanton County Emergency Management

Busy Week of Training and Collaboration for Northeast PET Region and Stanton County Emergency Management

Stanton County Emergency Management, in coordination with the Northeast PET Region, participated in a week full of important training and collaboration aimed at improving public safety and emergency response across the region.

The week kicked off on Monday at the National Weather Service (NWS) office in Valley, Nebraska. Emergency managers and partners from counties within the NWS Valley service area—many of whom are part of the Integrated Warning Team (IWT)—gathered to review severe weather alerts, warnings, and decision-making processes. The IWT serves as a crucial link between meteorologists, emergency managers, and broadcasters to ensure accurate and timely communication during severe weather events.

During the meeting, attendees discussed the types of information local emergency managers and television meteorologists rely on to make informed decisions during severe weather. The session also gave NWS staff a valuable opportunity to share what information they would like to receive from local emergency management agencies and the public during severe weather incidents.

Later that evening, Stanton County hosted a storm spotter training class led by retired meteorologist Brian Smith. Due to staffing reductions at the National Weather Service resulting from the Department of Commerce's decision to eliminate certain positions, the NWS is no longer able to provide in-person spotter training sessions. As a result, emergency managers across the state are finding creative ways to continue offering this vital training. While online options exist, they lack the critical real-time interaction and practical insight that in-person classes with experienced meteorologists provide. These opportunities to learn directly from professionals remain invaluable to local spotters and responders.

The remainder of the week saw Stanton County Emergency Management working alongside nationally recognized criminal profiler Phil Chalmers in South Sioux City, Pender, and Norfolk. Chalmers, known for his expertise in profiling teen killers, mass murderers, and serial killers, presented to school administrators, law enforcement, first responders, and mental health professionals.

These sessions were made possible through a U.S. Department of Homeland Security grant secured by Stanton County on behalf of the entire Northeast PET Region. The approved project includes six sessions in total—three this spring and three more planned for the fall. However, recent changes to the grant management process under the new federal administration now require a manual review of events scheduled more than 90 days in advance, complicating efforts to finalize the fall schedule. Emergency managers are adapting to the updated process as they work to continue delivering these critical trainings.

The Phil Chalmers sessions focused on identifying warning signs of potential teen and serial killers. Drawing from extensive interviews with offenders, Chalmers highlighted common “triggers” that have led individuals down violent paths, such as bullying, breakups, and strained personal relationships. The trainings provided attendees with valuable tools to recognize early warning signs and better protect students, staff, and communities.