On the job with Rice County's emergency management director

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Joe Johnson, Rice County’s new emergency management director, wants everybody to have a plan and resources at the ready just in case a manmade or natural disaster strikes.

Johnson, who took the job in late April, said his No. 1 goal is ensuring residents are prepared in the event of an emergency.

“Have enough food and water for three days,” said Johnson. “Ensure you have a plan to self- sustain if needed.”

Johnson is well-versed in preparedness planning having worked as a paramedic for Northfield Hospital + Clinics Emergency Medical Services for 17 years. Additionally, Johnson has served as Chief of the Nerstrand firefighters for more than five years.

Brian Edwards, an EMS Chief with Northfield Hospital + Clinics, said Friday that while he is excited for Johnson, “It’s a big loss for us and a big gain for the county.”

Edwards said his former assistant chief was always good at managing a crisis, “He’s going to do great,” said Edwards. “Joe’s a natural fit. He keeps his head and stays calm and focused during a crisis. He’s got an innate ability.”

Originally from Wisconsin, Johnson joined the local fire department and ambulance service following his high school graduation. He received his associate’s in Paramedic Technology from Century College. After a few years as a paramedic, he went back to school to earn a bachelor’s in Fire and Emergency Management from the University of Wisconsin in Oshkosh.

Along the way, not only was he the first in his family to have a college degree, his pathway allowed for the development of leadership skills in emergency services.

Johnson said being in the field as a paramedic with the ambulance service since 2007 and serving as assistant chief, it was time for him to look for a new challenge.

While many of his current responsibilities are similar to those he had as Northfield EMS assistant chief, he said he may have to complete more paperwork, but his new role widens the population of residents he’ll be helping to include the entire county.

In his first two months on the job, just a few weeks, Johnson said he’s touched base with several local, state and federal agencies to review emergency response plans. Recently, he was on the team with the Department of Natural Resources that conducted a mock-search training exercise for a missing person at Big Woods State Park.

He’s met with county department heads, township officials and area public safety partners to help them assess their emergency preparedness and to update their relevant policies.

“My goal is to improve collaborations and communications between response groups to create a smoother operation,” he said. “Since an incident can swing back and forth, we want to try for a more unified command.”

Johnson said the continuity of operations in public safety is important so there is no loss of service. “I want to make sure somebody else knows what I do, so that we don’t have just one brain bank.”

Sheriff Jesse Thomas said that when a local person with the skill set Johnson has applies for an open position, it’s even better when that individual rises to the top and accepts the offer.

“Joe brought a fresh set of eyes, a positive energy and the eagerness to succeed,” said Thomas.

“He was involved with the May 25 rescue on the Cannon River, took over incident command and immediately started documenting resources to make sure we knew where every person was. It will be exciting to see where Joe takes Rice County Emergency Management.”

At home, Johnson is married to Rachael, a crop insurance agent. The couple has three school-age sons. The family lives on a farm in rural Northfield, where they raise goats and cattle. When he’s not working, he enjoys hunting, fishing and attending his sons’ wrestling tournaments, or 4H or FFA events.

“I still have a lot to learn,” said Johnson. “I just want to make sure that we are ready, and have support, for that disaster.”