Did you know?

September is National Preparedness Month, and there are numerous resources available to help your family prepare based on your specific needs.

Ready.gov has everything you need, from plans with older adults in mind, to flood specific information, or winter ready information as you gear up for the cold weather.

Winnebago County has been through a lot in 2026: a historic blizzard in March, flooding in April, poor air quality through the summer due to wildfire smoke, and an F-3 tornado that devastated several of our communities in July. This has been a powerful reminder that severe weather can happen with little warning. While we cannot control the weather, we can take simple steps to be better prepared and keep ourselves and our loved ones safe.

Here are a few important tips:

• Have multiple ways to receive weather alerts. Don't rely on outdoor warning sirens alone. Enable emergency alerts on your phone and consider a NOAA weather radio for overnight warnings. Sign up for alerts from Winnebago County here.
• Know where to take shelter. The safest place to shelter for a tornado is a basement or an interior room on the lowest level of your home, away from windows. In flood conditions the safest place is higher ground or the highest possible level of a building. Avoid enclosed attics or walking/driving through flood waters.
• Keep an emergency kit ready. Include flashlights, extra batteries, bottled water, nonperishable food, medications, a first aid kit, and phone chargers.
• Make a family plan. Talk with everyone in your household about where to meet, how to communicate, and what to do if you're separated.
• Stay informed. Pay attention to weather forecasts, especially when severe storms are expected, and don't wait until the last minute to prepare.

Preparedness doesn't have to be complicated. Taking a few minutes today to make a plan and gather essential supplies can make a big difference when every second counts. Stay weather-aware, stay safe, and look out for your neighbors.

If your home was built before 1978, it may contain lead-based paint. Lead paint is often hidden beneath newer layers of paint, making it difficult to identify. Knowing what to look for can help you recognize potential hazards and protect your family.

Start with the Age of Your Home

The year your home was built is one of the biggest clues. You can usually find this information on your local assessor's website or property records.

• Built before 1978: Your home may contain lead-based paint, even if it has been painted over many times. Homes built in 1940 and earlier are particularly likely to have lead paint.
• Built in 1978 or later: It is unlikely your home contains lead-based paint, as residential use of lead-based paint was banned in 1978.

What Does Lead Paint Look Like?

As lead-based paint ages and deteriorates, it can develop a distinctive cracking pattern known as "alligatoring." This pattern resembles the rough, scaly skin of an alligator. When lead paint cracks, chips, or peels, it can create lead-contaminated dust, which is often more dangerous than the paint itself because it can be inhaled or swallowed, especially by young children.

• Lead-based paint often develops fine, crackled "alligator" patterns before it flakes away.
• Latex paint typically peels in larger sheets or strips without the distinctive crackled appearance.
• Look for Multiple Layers of Paint. Older homes often have many layers of paint on walls, windows, doors, trim, and porches. If you notice thick layers of paint, there is a chance that one or more of the older layers could contain lead.

While these signs can be helpful, you cannot tell whether paint contains lead just by looking at it. The only way to know for sure is through proper testing.

Why Is Lead Paint Concerning?

Lead is toxic, especially in young children. Lead poisoning can affect anyone, but babies, children under the age of 6, and pregnant women are most at risk because their bodies are still developing. If you have children in the home and you think your home may have lead-based paint, don't guess. Contact us to learn whether you qualify for our Lead Safe Home Program. Eligible homeowners, landlords, and renters may receive assistance with identifying and safely removing lead hazards, helping create a lead safe home for children and families.

Early identification and safe removal of lead hazards can protect your family now and into the future. Contact us today: (920) 232-3000 or visit our website.

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With fall just around the corner, now is the perfect time to prepare your home for the colder months ahead. A little seasonal maintenance can go a long way toward keeping bats, rodents, spiders, and other unwanted pests outside where they belong.

Here are a few simple tips to help keep your home pest free this fall:

• Clean your gutters: Clogged gutters can create damp, sheltered areas that attract spiders, squirrels, and other unwanted guests. Keep gutters clean and free of debris to reduce potential nesting and entry points around your home.
• Inspect your foundation: Take a walk around your home and carefully inspect the foundation for cracks, gaps, or holes. Sealing these openings before winter can help prevent pests and water from finding their way inside - and save you from bigger headaches later.
• Seal pipes, vents, and other openings: Pipes, vents, and other openings can provide easy access for unwanted guests. Use appropriate mesh or fine screening where ventilation is needed, seal unnecessary openings, replace damaged screens, and add weather stripping around doors and other gaps as needed. Bats can squeeze through holes roughly the size of a dime.
• Inspect your HVAC system, fireplace, and chimney: Before these systems see regular use again, give them a quick inspection. Check for clogged lines, debris, or other issues and make sure everything is operating properly. For fireplaces and chimneys, consider having them professionally inspected and cleaned when appropriate.
• Tidy up outdoor spaces: Dead vegetation, cluttered sheds and garages, and piles of firewood can provide shelter for pests. Clear away unnecessary debris, organize storage areas, and keep firewood elevated and away from the house when possible.



A little preparation now can help keep your home comfortable, protected, and pest-free all season long. Button up your house before winter, and keep the unwanted guests outside!

September is Falls Prevention Awareness Month! This year the Falls Free Wisconsin Coalition is encouraging all of us to add connection to our toolbox, this September and beyond. Strong social connections help us stay active, supported, and mobile as we age. 

Feeling lonely at some point in our lives is not unusual. For many people those feelings of loneliness are temporary. People of all ages and backgrounds can experience loneliness or social isolation (meaning having little or no regular contact with others). As we age, the risk of loneliness and isolation can increase, and for many older adults, it can become a regular part of life. 

Social connection, on the other hand, means having meaningful relationships and feeling like we belong, are cared for, and are supported. Strong social connections don’t just make life better, they also help protect our health and can lower the risk of heart disease, stroke, dementia, depression, anxiety, and even falls. 

Here are some simple ways to stay connected and active, and help reduce our risk of falling as we age: 

• Attend an exercise class (like our Wellness Plus classes!) - and invite a friend to join you! 
• Check in on friends or neighbors on a regular basis. 
• Ask someone you trust to go with you to a doctor’s appointment for support and an extra set of ears. 
• Try something new together, like using mobility tools such as walking poles, or a new activity. 
• Turn shoe shopping into a social outing while choosing safe, supportive footwear. 
• Help family or friends schedule important appointments like a medication review or vision check. 
• Make movement social - walk, dance, stretch, or stay active together. 

While falls are common, they are not a normal part of aging. If you have fallen, you are not alone. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 1 in 4 adults aged 65 and older fall each year. Winnebago County Public Health can help. We offer Wellness Plus classes in locations across the county to help improve strength and reduce your chances of falling. We also offer In-Home Nurse Visits for medication and condition management, and In-Home Assessments to identify fall hazards and eliminate them, so you can stay independent at home as long as possible. Fill out this form to request those services for yourself or someone you love.

Staying connected to the people and communities around us is an important way to stay strong, mobile, and independent.  

Learn More:

Aging and Disability Resource Center of Winnebago County

Falls Free Wisconsin

Wisconsin Institute For Healthy Aging

Celebrating Our Vibrant Community: Hispanic Heritage Month

Every fall, communities across the United States come together to honor Hispanic Heritage Month - a time dedicated to recognizing the rich histories, vibrant cultures, and lasting contributions of Americans whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

This national observance began in 1968 as a weeklong celebration under President Lyndon Johnson. Two decades later, President Ronald Reagan expanded it to a full month, and in 1988 it was officially enacted into law. Today, it stands as an annual reminder of the diverse voices, traditions, and achievements that strengthen our country.

Who Makes Up Our Local Hispanic Community?

Here in Wisconsin about 8% of residents identify as Hispanic or Latino - and in Winnebago County, that number is 5.7%. Each year, these communities continue to grow, contributing to local culture, education, business, and public life.

Understanding the Terms: Hispanic vs. Latino

Although often used interchangeably, the terms Hispanic and Latino mean different things.

• Hispanic refers to people of Spanish‑speaking origin or ancestry.
• Latino refers to people with origins in Latin America.

For example, a person from Spain is considered Hispanic but not Latino, while someone from Brazil is Latino but not Hispanic. Importantly, neither term refers to race - Hispanic and Latino individuals may identify as White, Black, Indigenous, Asian, or multiracial.

How We Support Our Community

Like all communities, Latino populations face unique health challenges. Understanding these health patterns for all cultural groups we serve helps public health agencies develop prevention, education, and support strategies. Our public health department is committed to ensuring that all residents can access services in a language they understand. To better serve our Spanish‑speaking community members, we employ bilingual staff whenever possible. We also use interpretation services like Language Line during appointments, along with Pocket Talk devices at the front desk to support clear and respectful communication.

Hispanic Heritage Month is a celebration - but it’s also an opportunity to build expand cultural understanding and renew our commitment to improving health for all.

Learn more about the Hispanic population in the United States at Census.gov

Here When It Matters: How Our Public Health Team Responds to Emergencies

When a tornado struck our community this summer, Winnebago County Public Health stepped into action in ways many residents didn’t expect. Our Community Health & Prevention Team rapidly mobilized trained volunteers to support relief operations, helping organize and distribute donations to families who had lost homes or access to essential supplies. Their calm, coordinated efforts helped ensure that donations reached the right people at the right time - something community members repeatedly told us made all the difference.

Behind the scenes, our Environmental Health staff worked directly in the affected neighborhoods, conducting damage assessments that guided cleanup priorities and helped identify immediate safety risks. At the same time, our administrative team kept operations running smoothly by managing data, sharing updated 211 information, communicating with media, residents and community partners, and supporting planning efforts throughout the response. Our team worked closely with community partners to get communications translated for community members affected whose first language is not English, and our bilingual staff assisted in person as interpreters. Even our front desk staff played a critical role - fielding calls from overwhelmed residents, answering questions, and connecting people to services during a moment when clear information felt just as vital as supplies.

Public Health’s involvement in emergencies is often unseen, but it is no accident. Our staff complete federally required Incident Command System (ICS) training to ensure they are ready to respond whenever disasters strike. The community’s feedback has been clear: they didn’t realize Public Health played such a crucial role, but they saw and felt our impact.

If you, or someone you know, were impacted by the tornado and need assistance, contact 2-1-1 or visit: wchd.pub/WinnebagoCountyTornado for information about resources. There is also a Tornado Recovery Peer Support Group convening at the Elisha D. Smith Public Library, see Community Happenings below for more information.