Photo Credit: Sarnia Talich

Mission Statement

We will provide public safety communications to individuals, organizations, and government agencies to save lives, prevent injuries, and give assistance wherever and whenever needed. We will strive to establish a monitoring network of trained volunteer citizen-based communicators using any and all available means to deliver the message.

National Weather Service "STORM READY"
Awarded to Lake County for 2002-2005
Recertified for 2006 - 2008
Recertified for 2009-2011

REACT Radio Frequency 453.225

  • Number Retired - Unit 1

  • Don Maag - Unit 2

  • Jim Enga - Unit 3

  • Doug Merager - Unit 4

  • Number Retired - Unit 5

  • Cotton Koch - Unit 6

  • Number Retired - Unit 7

  • Gary Callies - Unit 8

  • Larry Johnson - Unit 9

  • Jayson Limmer - Unit 10

  • Joel Brick - Unit 11

  • Alden Henrichs - Unit 12

  • Chad Patch - Unit 13

  • Deb Stamm - Unit 14

  • Donna Patterson - Unit 15

  • Scott Johnson - Unit 16

  • Craig Falor - Unit 17

  • Veryln Vostad - Unit 18

  • Bob Johnson - Unit 19

  • Dale Sorenson - Unit 20

  • Shawn Martin - Unit 21

  • Number Retired - Unit 25

  • Vacant - EM-1

Lake County Storm Shelter locations (Available 24 hours a day 7 days a week)

  • 116 West Center Street, Madison SD, Enter at Police Station entrance

Severe Weather Awareness Links

REACT REFERENCE LINKS and INFORMATION

NOAA All Hazard Weather Radios

A “NOAA All hazard weather radio” is a useful tool that can help alert families and businesses of coming severe weather as well as provide several additional emergency messages. Since sirens are useful and designed for outdoors, alert weather radios take up the void when a home or business is not within hearing distance of a siren. Weather radios can be placed in a residence or business to provide up to date weather information as well as early notification of a hazard for the user’s specific location. Most weather radios can be programmed to utilize SAME or FIP codes for their specific counties. Utilizing these codes allows only emergency messages designed for your specific or surrounding areas. For additional information checkout the links provided by the National Weather Service (NWS).

Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME) codes for Lake County and Surrounding Counties

  • Lake County – 046079
  • McCook County – 046087
  • Miner County – 046097
  • Kingsbury County – 046077
  • Brookings County – 046011
  • Moody County – 046101
  • Minnehaha County – 046099

National Weather Service warning tower frequencies

  • 162.400 MHz (Sioux Falls)
  • 162.425 MHz
  • 162.450 MHz (Mitchell)
  • 162.475 MHz
  • 162.500 MHz
  • 162.525 MHz (Brookings)
  • 162.550 MHz (Huron)

A Tribute to our fallen Comrade - PERRY RICHMAN
(Perry Richman was REACT Member No. 5)
Written by Dale Waba

"43-2...THIS IS REACT 5, DO YOU COPY?"

The Tower Clouds were building; the oncoming storm was in sight;
The Weather Bureau had just made it official we could be in for a long, rough night.

"43-2....This is REACT 5" - A voice out of nowhere echoed loud and clear;
"Our guys are out there doing their job and they know that I will be near.
I'll be on the side, monitoring their every move during this night of anguish and fear.
Until things are back to normal and once again appear to be safe and secure."

The raging storm moved quickly, bringing with it rain, lightening, and hail.
The sky lit up like the 4th of July and wind blew like a gale.
"Hang in there guys - the storm is about over," a voice out of nowhere seemed to cry.
Everyone felt a little more at east just feeling that "REACT 5" was standing by.

The wind finally receded and there was a clearing to the WEST.
The guys were ready to call it a night, go home, and get some well-deserved rest.
"43-2 - This is REACT 5" - His voice once again broke the silence of the night.
"Things are looking better now, there's not a threatening cloud in sight."

"With the tower clouds disappearing and the further fear of storms so slight,
This is REACT 5 signing off and on the side, may we have a peaceful night."

Contact Information

Gary Callies
President
Madison, SD 57042

Bob Johnson
Vice-President
711 NE 3rd Street
Madison, SD 57042

Joel Brick
Treasurer
524 North Kansas
Madison, SD 57042

Photo Credit: Sarina Talich

Announcements

County Offices Closed 12/24 - 12/26
Wednesday, December 3, 2025

County Offices will be closed on Wednesday, December 24, Thursday, December 25 and Friday, December 26 in observance of Christmas.

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