Being prepared for anything

John Hehnke knows what to do in case of disaster.

Sidney's Emergency Manager and Public Services Director is prepared for flooding—rain sometimes falls—tornadic storms and even chemical spills. When a problem arises, he takes charge of the situation.

“We use an emergency plan almost every day for something,” Hehnke said.

Major issues are covered by the Local Emergency Operation Plan, a guide approved by the state every five years and implemented at the county and city level. Representatives from government, healthcare, first responders and other key areas meet to determine everything from resp...