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Dear CC Residents
Dear Clinton County Residents, As we look ahead to 2026, many people are thinking about resolutions—changes they hope to make and priorities they want to set for the year ahead. I encourage you to consider one resolution that strengthens not only your household, but our entire community: making your household prepared . Prepared households become neighbors you can count on, and that raises an important question for all of us—can your neighbors count on you? Household prepared

Thomas Breckel
4 days ago3 min read


When the Lights Go Out ... but the System Says They’re On
Lessons from the December Power Outage Near OH-730 Residents near OH-730 by the Equestrian Center experienced a power outage during the evening of December 18, 2025 , followed by another outage the morning of December 19 . While the outage itself was disruptive, what followed highlighted an important lesson for anyone who experiences a loss of power — now or in the future. What Happened: During this event, utility systems showed conflicting information. An outage appeared on

Thomas Breckel
Dec 19, 20253 min read


Charles Jacob Wayne "Charlie" Pell
Community Notice: Increased Emergency Responder Presence in Blanchester Tuesday, December 16 & Wednesday, December 17 Blanchester residents and visitors should expect a visible increase in emergency responder activity in the village on Tuesday (Dec. 16) and Wednesday (Dec. 17) due to funeral services and related events for a local resident. To support public safety, traffic management, and emergency access, the following agencies will have personnel operating in and around

Thomas Breckel
Dec 15, 20252 min read


Winter is Here
Winter in Clinton County: Not Extreme, Still Risky Winter in Clinton County doesn’t usually make national headlines. We’re not Alaska, North Dakota, or the mountains. Most winters bring a mix of snow, ice, cold rain, and wind—often in modest amounts. But those “routine” winter conditions are exactly what cause the most problems locally. A few inches of snow can shut down rural roads. Freezing rain can snap tree limbs and power lines. Overnight temperatures can drop quickly, t

Thomas Breckel
Dec 15, 20253 min read


BOX-14 Holidazzle Plan
BOX-14 Parade Night: Final Ride-Along Details We’re set for the Wilmington Holidazzle Parade this Saturday night, and everyone who signed up to ride the BOX-14 float is good to go. Here are the final details so the evening runs smooth: 📍 Meeting Location: 185 Park Drive – all the way at the end of the street, at the storage unit. ⏰ Arrival Time: Please be there no later than 6:30 PM. We’ll stage quickly and head into lineup shortly after. 🚗 Parking: Plan to park outside the

Thomas Breckel
Nov 28, 20251 min read


AI Cyber Threat
The New Front Line of Cyber Threats: How AI-Driven Attacks Are Changing the Game for Rural America Short news story ( link ) Cybersecurity stocks slide after Anthropic reveals first fully AI-led hack, or Anthropic says Chinese hackers used its AI chatbot in cyberattack ( link ). Purpose of this post: To inform the public about a rapidly evolving cyber threat — one that is increasing in both frequency and sophistication, and one that is expected to grow significantly in the co

Thomas Breckel
Nov 19, 20258 min read


(Briefing) Understanding Power Grid Reliability: What It Means for Clinton County Residents
Why Power Grid Reliability Matters Electricity powers nearly every part of our daily lives — from heating our homes and keeping food cold to running medical equipment and cell towers. Most of us don’t think twice when the lights come on — until they don’t. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently released a report warning that parts of the nation’s electric grid could become less reliable between now and 2030 . While Clinton County residents don’t need to be alarmed, it’s

Thomas Breckel
Nov 10, 20254 min read


Alert Fatigue: The Sequel
Public Notice: Repeated Alerts During System Test If your phone buzzed like it had a mind of its own this morning—you’re not alone.During Clinton County’s Winter Storm Planning Meeting , Emergency Management staff were testing a new keyword-based text alert feature designed to make it faster for authorized officials (like Sheriff’s Office representatives) to issue snow emergency updates directly from the field. Unfortunately, the system decided to show off its enthusiasm—by

Thomas Breckel
Nov 5, 20252 min read


Fascinating Turkey Facts
Giving Thanks — With a Twist: Five Fascinating Thanksgiving Facts Thanksgiving is much more than a big meal — it’s packed with traditions, history, science, and a few wonderfully strange stories. As folks across Clinton County gather this year, here are some conversation-worthy facts — and two false ones — to bring to the table. (Spoiler: I’ll let you decide which ones to spring on your family first.) 1. Turkey became the centerpiece for practical reasons The Pilgrims may or

Thomas Breckel
Nov 1, 20253 min read


Gobble-Gobble 2025
Did I Win a Turkey? By Clinton County EMA It’s that time of year again — when phones ring from strange numbers, hearts race, and people across Clinton County wonder if answering with “Gobble-Gobble” might just win them a Thanksgiving bird. Last year’s Turkey & Gratitude Giveaway was one for the books. We made 16 calls before someone finally answered , and when they did, they forgot the magic phrase and just said, “Hello.” Realizing their mistake, they let out a very… un-Tha

Thomas Breckel
Nov 1, 20252 min read


Food Help
🍎 Clinton County Working Together: Local Food Resources and Community Support As the federal government shutdown continues to affect key programs, Clinton County Emergency Management and our community partners are closely monitoring the potential impact on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). While benefits for November are still expected to be distributed, any interruption could create stress for local families. Our goal is to keep information factual, calm

Thomas Breckel
Oct 30, 20253 min read


Beat the Winter Rush
Understanding Winter Weather Alerts: What They Mean for Clinton County While kids may cheer for snow days and the chance to play outside, not everyone shares their enthusiasm for what winter brings — especially when it has to be shoveled. As winter storms approach, it’s essential to understand how alerts from the National Weather Service (NWS) Wilmington Forecast Office work — and what you can do now to prepare in Clinton County. Alert Criteria (NWS Wilmington) The National W

Thomas Breckel
Oct 23, 20253 min read


PNM 20251019
Prepare Now Message (PNM): Marginal Risk for Severe Weather – Sunday, 19 October 2025 Clinton County, Ohio – The National Weather Service (NWS) and Storm Prediction Center (SPC) have placed our area under a Marginal Risk (Level 1 of 5) for severe weather on Sunday, 19 October 2025 . This means isolated strong to severe storms are possible, with damaging winds being the main concern. Overview A strong storm system will move through the Ohio Valley late Saturday into Sunday.

Thomas Breckel
Oct 17, 20252 min read


Seasonal House Fires
As Nights Turn Cold, Home Fires Rise: What Ohio Households Should Do Now Home for the Holidays: Because nothing says Christmas like a...

Thomas Breckel
Oct 10, 20253 min read


Cellular Service During Disasters
Staying Connected When Disaster Strikes: Cellular Service for Organizations When disaster hits, cellular networks can be damaged or...

Thomas Breckel
Oct 7, 20253 min read


Church Security Armor
Body Armor and Church Safety Teams: What You Need to Know Across the country, churches and houses of worship are taking a hard look at...

Thomas Breckel
Oct 3, 20254 min read


Halloween 2025
Beggars Night in Clinton County – Thursday, October 30, 2025 Beggars Night is set for Thursday, October 30, 2025 , across Clinton County....

Thomas Breckel
Oct 2, 20252 min read


National Preparedness Month: Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late
September has been National Preparedness Month , a time to pause and think about how ready we are for life’s unexpected emergencies. Over...

Thomas Breckel
Sep 29, 20252 min read


Are You Ready to Leave in 5 Minutes?
Are you prepared to leave your home at a moment’s notice, with the essentials you’ll need to get through the next several hours—or even...

Thomas Breckel
Sep 23, 20253 min read


Build Your Emergency Kit Before You Need It
When disaster strikes, you won’t have time to run to the store. Having an emergency kit ready means your family can focus on safety—not...

Thomas Breckel
Sep 22, 20252 min read
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