Every time I meet someone new on this podcast, it's always a treat. Everyone has a story and I'm usually amazed at the experiences they've had. This week's guest is no exception. Especially when one considers the type of professional experiences this guest has had. What is most amazing to me is that Jeff Jelinek, who you'll meet in this week and next week's podcasts, works in a field which is fraught with stress. He prepares for emergencies and disasters. Things that most of us want to pretend will never happen to us. But in Jeff life, everytime there's a storm he's got to be on alert. Oh joy, what fun.
Jeff Jelinek has been the Emergency Management Director for Sauk County for the past 16 years. Jeff’s responsibility is to prepare Sauk County by planning, training, and coordination between agencies. Prior to his current position, Jeff was the Bioterrorism Education and Training Officer with the State of Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services. Jeff also spent 13 years working for the Wisconsin Department of Corrections in numerous positions. He has been involved in numerous emergency response operations giving him the knowledge and experience to train others on effective command and control.
Rauel LaBreche: 0:04
Welcome to frame of reference informed intelligent conversations about the issues and challenges facing everyone in today's world, in depth interviews with salt counties, leaders and professionals to help you expand in and form your frame of reference, brought to you by the max FM digital network. Now, here's your host Rauel LaBreche. Well, well welcome that's three wells in a row. Well, welcome to High normally say, but I was thinking we should say something about a Well, welcome to you all there, the listening to our frame of reference podcast, especially these days where it seems every time we turn around, there's a new emergency, a new crisis going on, that everyone has to readjust to. And because we're in that kind of mode, I was really happy to find out that my guest today who is in the field of emergencies, that's his his game, his emergencies on a daily basis, that he was willing to come and talk with me today. I'm speaking of none other than Jeff Jellinek, who is the emergency management director for Sauk. County. Correct,
Jeff Jelinek:
1:05
Jeff? That is correct. I got so much for having me. You got it. Right. Okay. Excellent. Well, so I actually
Rauel LaBreche:
1:09
did one thing, right today, could we call my wife and let her know that
Jeff Jelinek:
1:12
we're gonna let her know, forgive me,
Rauel LaBreche:
1:14
I appreciate that. So, Jeff, tell me, what does an emergency management director do? So it's like, I always think of emergent emergency, the old fire show, you know, you know, is that emergency or?
Jeff Jelinek:
1:26
Okay, that's one of the big things that I preach and we are not first responders. Okay, we are in the back background planning coordination. I mean, we do get involved oftentimes and different emergencies. It can be anything from a flood, which, you know, we have a lot of those right. We've been involved very heavily in the COVID response to that. We get we assist law enforcement, you know, bomb threats. Sometimes if there's barricaded subjects with public information, things. There's just a lot of different things that we get involved in. Besides training, a lot of training we do a lot of preparedness training with residents in the public with first responders and with the staff at the county Sure,
Rauel LaBreche:
2:05
sure. And do you find I was just talking with Travis killer Pelican one to make sure I talked to said hello to Pelican commander for him. So this is it I got to find out about this whole Pelican thing at some point. But in Pelican one was saying how he is he was actually doing some teaching with us on active shooter training. But then he was talking about the sort of the the regulation factors that we have to do to self regulate to kind of just be self aware. He talked about you know, being hyper, you know, aware of things and hypo aware of things that we can be in those different states and how that affects us. I would think being an emergency management director, it's hard to regulate to be an optimum because you're either in sort of okay, no emergencies today. Good. Doesn't look like it's gonna flood in the next week. Good. But then all sudden, boom, you know, things go crazy, because there's a, you know, 16 inches of snow coming tonight or whatever. Is that Is that a fair estimation of what life is like in your shoes?
Jeff Jelinek:
3:10
Yeah, the big thing is we really play that game all the time. So okay, something's not happening here. Just like with the snowstorm that's going out East right now. I'm thinking through my mind, what if it happened here? What would be the things that we do and not that we get that much involved with the snow removal? But if power starts going out, right, we'll need assistance. Those are things. So maintaining a level head is probably one of the biggest things. I mean, we you do definitely get adrenaline rushes. But I think as an emergency management director, we're really looking at the community as a whole. There's that site specific incident, and sometimes it might be the whole county. But if it's flooding, you know, it's water, but then what are going to be the impacts from that. I mean, it's it's not just when the water goes down, and always caught getting back to that new normal. For a lot of individuals that are impacted. They're never going to go back to normal. They've lost so many things. And that's one of the big things that we really look at, is trying to look at the community as a whole, just not now. But what's it going to be like, in a month? Six months a year? Sure. And oftentimes many years out.
Rauel LaBreche:
4:10
Yeah, I know, I've talked with Kathy lens quite a bit with an organization called gather my lost sheep, and she's really a specialist in trauma care. And she talks about that same sort of thing where, when you're in an event like that, the trauma of that can often take months, if not years to really impact a person where they realize that oh, gosh, I'm still grieving over that whole process. I'm still struggling with fear over what happened during that period of time. So I would imagine that's part of that picture right?
Jeff Jelinek:
4:40
Oh, yeah, definitely. We have an individual's yo from the big 2008 flood we've had many between that but in 2018 flood got hit again. And then you know, got flooded out again. And then again, we're going to have heavy rains. So anytime it's going to be a heavy rain from that point on. They have that anxiety isn't going to happen again because we know how it rains around here, right? Um, so big thing I mean that the mental component of it right is huge, right? And just because something doesn't impact me, doesn't mean it's not impacting someone else. So that's the biggest thing that we really look at. Also from a long term recovery. It was kind of interesting. This past 2018 flood with our long term recovery committee, we really looked at mental health is one of the big things we offered mental health counseling, I made an agreement with Aspen family counseling here in Baraboo, to assist us through that process, okay, and at a reduced rate. And it really worked out great. So we had many individuals that were going through our long term recovery process that utilize the services, because it is traumatic. And it's not just a flood, it can be anything, just because something doesn't impact me doesn't mean it's not impacting someone else. And especially when we get into these disasters and emergencies, sure,
Rauel LaBreche:
5:48
why isn't that part of the issue? No, again, Travis, talking about empathy, and how it's very different from sympathy. It's one thing to sit and go all those poor people in California with all those forest fires that are going on wildfires that are that must be awful. It's another thing to be empathetic and understand that well, when you talk with somebody Cal in California, and they seem kind of on the edge, and they're really kind of, you know, zoned out, it takes empathy to really understand that why are they such a jerk? Well, you know, try living through wildfires throughout an entire summer into the fall and you know, see what that does to your makeup. Right?
Jeff Jelinek:
6:20
Yeah, and exactly, and it's just the thick, you know, that you're going to lose something you don't know from day to day, right? Maybe they have lost something already, maybe they did lose something, or a family member, and then just constant stress. And I mean, honestly, you can kind of see that right now with COVID. It's the same thing. I mean, it's just this for some people to stress others not, you know, having different belief systems, and whatever it is, for everyone. It's stressful. And definitely the empathy is so important. And I think that's one of the biggest things is emergency management, we oftentimes look at, you know, what is the results of property and things like that. But truly, the number one priority that we work on is life safety. And truly, when I talk life safety, it's not just blood or things like that. It's the mental component, the mental component can oftentimes be worse than the physical component from a life safety standpoint. Yeah. And
Rauel LaBreche:
7:07
you think of that as being our you know, what our where our mental state is, it certainly affects what kinds of decisions we make about our safety, you know, if you're kind of, you know, out of it, because you're essentially in Shellshock, you're more prone to potentially have an accident, I would think, definitely, you know, not seeing something that you should would normally see. And even, you know, or the relationship issues that come with, in which I got to believe that a cycle downward, so, well, we have a lot to talk about, I can tell. So let's get into the fun part of the show, before we get into all that stuff. Because it does sounds like a lot of what you do, it's not so fun. But it's very, very necessary, and probably help people to think it through and to be aware of what's all involved. So but as you know, because you've seen the preparation, we don't have our opening segment, that is our favorite thing, since a opportunity for our listeners to kind of get a chance to relate to the person that I'm talking with instead of just the emergency management director, which you had another name, but I'm not going to use the French name that you went by. But he was so our favorite things. This is totally rose Shakti and I have to say something, you blow up with the answer that first comes to some obz something you have to think for a while. But please do not choose the option of all I just can't think of anything already that just, you know, just go with something that I've studied. I'm ready. All right, good. We're okay. I'm going to try to throw you that. Okay. How about Jeff had a favorite quote,
Jeff Jelinek:
8:32
favorite quote, actually, we were just talking before we did this about the Denver Broncos, okay. And in their locker room, as you come out of the Denver Broncos locker room, it says, we're now just going brain dead out, of course, because I just lost it. It's something to the effect of treating someone you know, treat those that you can get nothing from the way you'd want to be treated. Okay. And truly, and he really talks about, you know, just because someone's not going to give something back, right really need to help them out. Right, we really need to help people out. And I think that's one of the big things that I'm seeing, as we've gone on. In disasters, we're great about helping individuals out. It's amazing is Sauk County, and it's amazing in the state of Wisconsin, the way people come together or emergencies. But in normal day to day life, you know, it's really good. Now I've got it, you can judge the character of a person, by the way they treat those that can get nothing from there you go. And it really, it's really, it's really sat with me. Because, you know, oftentimes people call us for help, they call for different things. And it might not be that big of a deal. In the big in the grand scheme. Sure, to me knowing everything that's going on, but for that individual. It's a big deal. Yeah. And so we need to try to do something as much as you can. And it's in that's looking at but just in general life, right. That's truly what I try to do. I really try to do things for folks outside of work. Sure. And I'm not expecting anything in return. I just do it because I want to do
Rauel LaBreche:
9:58
it. Yeah, play it forward. Kind of exactly. So I think of two that there's an exercise that I've done years ago where it's basically an assessment of your personality. And it's, it assesses you both in your kind of your normal state, your stressful state, and then the state when there's nothing, no one watching, essentially. So in the the key is, you know, you really find people that have totally different states, depending on who they are. And the and the cool thing was, I always felt good about myself, because I was essentially the same person in all three of those states. Okay, that's where I want to be, I want to be when no one's looking, I still want to be the person says, Hey, let me help you with that. You know, and that's not You're not going to get any accolades for doing that. But it just feels like the right thing. Right?
Jeff Jelinek:
10:45
Yeah. And I play that game every night. I'm married to a psychologist, so I get oh, God, I get free. Okay. Analysis every day, I will
Rauel LaBreche:
10:54
put you in my prayers because you're constantly you have tendencies toward, you know, be like living with Sigmund Freud. Why did you dream that?
Jeff Jelinek:
11:04
Luckily, she's not here to tell you. I'm sure she didn't want to know.
Rauel LaBreche:
11:10
Tell her she can go on the website for for comedy, right. Some give some reviews of that letter? Like, how about a favorite book?
Jeff Jelinek:
11:17
favorite favorite book? Not much in the reading, I can honestly say that. I would really say if it's anything. It's not so much books, its reports I do a lot of studying on active shooter. Active ongoing violence. Okay, so reading a lot of that stuff in my my free time. That's the stuff I look at. Because it's so important. And there's just more and more of that going on. Sure. And how could what can we do? What are the trends and is over the years that I've been doing this, the trends have really changed. Okay, so I just continually I that's what I enjoy doing. You know, that's one of my passions, is to try to go out and do training, as you talked about Herbster pelikin. One, Travis Hilliard, him and I have done many active shooter trainings together here. And we continue to do that. And it's really not just active shooter now it's active, ongoing violence, right? People are using cars are using all different types of things. So that's really what I read
Rauel LaBreche:
12:07
on being aware of those things that are indicators that you might be developing
Jeff Jelinek:
12:11
exists. There's a lot of different indicators nowadays. Sure. I've read so much in college I got I just never really read much.
Rauel LaBreche:
12:22
Well, and I'm when we're getting ready to do the broadcast, you and Mike ganger. Were talking quite a bit. And I could tell there was a lot of sports information being you know, poured between the two. So I thought, I wonder if he's the kind of guy that likes those like sports books about the history of boxing or you know, history of football, that kind of thing is
Jeff Jelinek:
12:38
no no, not much. I've got a couple of friends that are encyclopedias for that. So if I had any questions and a son, I give them a call. I get the answer.
Rauel LaBreche:
12:46
Shows. No. Not Wikipedia. How about a favorite color?
Jeff Jelinek:
12:54
My favorite color? Whatever my wife tells me. That's it. Yeah. Good answer. Wow. Highly trained professional.
Rauel LaBreche:
13:03
Yeah, do not just oh my god, you know, what would look good on me right now?
Jeff Jelinek:
13:09
Actually, my favorite color is black is black. Really? Yeah. I just love you know, now my friends really in the car shows in cars, okay. And I'm not much into him, but I go with them. And I mean, some of these paint jobs nowadays that they're coming out with some of these vehicles. I don't know what the colors are. But there's some blues that are just absolutely gorgeous too. But if I had a vehicle it'd be Black
Rauel LaBreche:
13:28
isn't black hard, though in Wisconsin, because it shows all the salt in
Jeff Jelinek:
13:31
one. Oh, yeah. It's hard.
Rauel LaBreche:
13:33
You just get a bunch
Jeff Jelinek:
13:34
of those little tokens that carwash Right, right.
Rauel LaBreche:
13:37
I was taught Gray was a really good color to have in Wisconsin. Yeah, just kind of fades into everything else. Yeah, so I can't wait to stump you here. How about a favorite bird?
Jeff Jelinek:
13:46
Favorite bird? Oh, there's no doubt about this one right? A Pelican
Rauel LaBreche:
13:52
here that pelican. He shows you I got Okay, let's ask you this. Where does the Pelican thing come from?
Jeff Jelinek:
13:59
Florida for Travis? Yeah, well, when the water was coming up him being on the south prairie Police Department and the river being right out back he started i He'd be my point of contact it just kind of get an idea because I knew how the river flow and turn out that Wisconsin River was coming up because when the water really came up and start coming towards the PD, you can write right on the river there. Okay, and one thing we just started talking and I have a love for pelicans. I mean, we go to Florida, my wife and I quite often have a pelican in my office. A really big size Pelican, okay. Yes, yes. Okay. That's that's really then. So and then our Pelican commander now, never commanded anything in my life, but at least that
Rauel LaBreche:
14:40
would that be nice if you went down to Florida and said, Okay, pelicans over there. And the
Jeff Jelinek:
14:45
funny thing I was telling Tracy that works really? Okay. Tracy Hamel works. She's the Deputy Director for our department, okay. And I was telling her that I was going down here to become a pelican crossing guard. And so I would be I'd have the Pelican underground and I was practicing Yeah. Yeah, so after believing that I was going to do that
Rauel LaBreche:
15:03
pelicans need that sort of thing.
Jeff Jelinek:
15:05
But he never takes me
Rauel LaBreche:
15:06
seriously. You know, I have the same problem really, really do Jeff. So yeah, you don't pelicans are such interesting birds with the beak. They're weird the way it is. I remember all the cartoons that back in the day with, you know, Looney Tunes and whenever you see a pelican, they would have like, you know, that would be like a suitcase they'd be carrying something in there is that do they actually carry like fishing okay?
Jeff Jelinek:
15:30
The big thing is a lot of them end up dying from starvation because for splashing in the water, how they get their their catch, okay, they end up getting cataracts on our eyes, and then they can't see the fish any longer really, really end up. That's end up they end up starving to death, unfortunately, well, that doesn't sound good. It's not a good thing. So if you
Rauel LaBreche:
15:46
see a kind of a scrawny Pelican, maybe Oh, the fish market and get a couple of fish. Yeah. Yeah, definitely a couple.
Jeff Jelinek:
15:52
They like mackerels.
Rauel LaBreche:
15:53
Okay. Holy mackerel. It really is a holy field. Definitely. So how about a favorite food?
Jeff Jelinek:
16:00
Favorite food? It's got to be Italian lasagna. Cool. Yeah.
Rauel LaBreche:
16:03
Are you did you grow up Italian? Or, you know, I
Jeff Jelinek:
16:06
had a good friend that was Italian and his grandmother. Oh, man. I'm telling you. I'm having flashbacks right now. For lunch. I mean, lunches were that wasn't lunch. It was like, it was just like, a buffet. Exactly. Yeah. I think that's where I probably got it in growing up and receiving there was so many great Italian and there are so many great Italian restaurants that just love Italian food. Yeah, it's interesting
Rauel LaBreche:
16:31
that cultures that really kind of focus around the meal. Yeah. I had a close friend going through college. That's Greek and his family. I swear to God, the sucrose is when you would get together for any kind of a family gathering. Mama su gross made enough food for everybody that was inviting, invited to the party. And she assumed that everyone's gonna bring six guests. Yeah, you know, so there was enough for all that. It's like, Oh, my God, you know, the food just kept coming in. It was you know, spanakopita baklava. I was, you know, anything you could ever have your mouth water over with Greek it was there. And it was, you know, so it sounds like the same kind of thing. But yeah,
Jeff Jelinek:
17:08
this was just lucky to be the four of us. He his grandpa and grandmas, his grandpa worked for Ford, for doubted were seen as auto mechanics. So he'd come home for lunch. And he'd eat all this stuff. And I'm like, how do you go back to work? I mean, it was just it was, it was great. I mean, it's really some fun times. Like I'm sitting right at their kitchen table right now just thinking about it. Well, I can't tell you what I did earlier today. But
Rauel LaBreche:
17:29
that's okay. You know, those memories, they share? What is it? The olfactory sense is the strongest one for eliciting memories? So I'm sure you smell some good a lot lasagna right away back there.
Jeff Jelinek:
17:39
Right. It's a it's a good, good memory.
Rauel LaBreche:
17:43
Okay. So do you have like a favorite personality? Somebody you really follow religiously that you think is like the penultimate, maybe either person in your career or somebody that you think just, they're they have characteristics about them that you really think are the kind of person you'd like to be?
Jeff Jelinek:
18:00
Yeah, I do. And it's nothing, probably nothing. It's not no historic figures. It was my neighbor, George Beasley. He passed away. July of 2020. Just a great man did a lot in the city of Portage that him and Nancy were from, from Illinois came up. They live right next door to us. Nancy's to this day still lives right next door to us. But a great man very active in the community. worked on getting in the Beasley pavilion that it's called now it's a music pavilion and by pocket park and the splash pad and all these different things that are in the rotary and all these different organizations, so very involved, but they're still to this day when things happen. I call him Papa George. And you know, what would Papa George do in this situation? What would Papa George do? So a very instrumental in my life? Unfortunately, we lost him way too early. I just outstanding man.
Rauel LaBreche:
18:54
How old was he when he passed away?
Jeff Jelinek:
18:56
78. Okay, just so I had a good long life. Just 78 would have been 78 on July 7 In the past July.
Rauel LaBreche:
19:02
Okay. Isn't it interesting, too. It's those common folk often time. I've actually thought about that with President Lincoln, you know, that he is so often seen as like the penultimate, or, you know, the best president we've ever had. But he was common folk, you know, I mean, who around here grew up in a lien to you know, that's just like what so and then you think about, you know, his dad actually, you know, building log cabins by hand, you know, and growing up in places with dirt floors, and you know, so he knew what it was to be a true frontiersman.
Jeff Jelinek:
19:34
And this was this was GEORGE Yeah, I grew up in a cut fields down south and kind of picking cotton. You know, not not a great thing and just self built man, State Farm agent down in Illinois for a lot of years. And just the way he approached people and the way he talked to people in just his interactions that it really had a tremendous impact on my life.
Rauel LaBreche:
19:54
So he was truly the person that treats people very well without exception. Anything he was a
Jeff Jelinek:
20:01
legend and unfortunately, with passing during COVID didn't kind of get the send off. He deserved and for sure, and we we tried to do everything we possibly could. But you know, unfortunately, the times the COVID just didn't get that too. Yeah,
Rauel LaBreche:
20:13
yeah, that's fun. One of the most heartbreaking things about COVID is the the number of people that had had to say goodbye to someone without really having any opportunity to be there when they were passing. Definitely, you know, you read story after story of how heartbreaking that was for people. And I think one of the most concerning things for me, just looking around at that, is the number of people that have insulated themselves from Oh, yeah, that'd be too bad. And not really realizing the depth of that pain. And, you know, not being willing to go to a place where they can really, truly say, Okay, I haven't lost anyone close to me, just part of why COVID Maybe isn't treated as seriously as as could be should be, perhaps. But they, because they haven't had that closeness to it, like people have had with folks with losing jobs, say, you know, it's just really hard for a lot of people, I think, to go to that place where they can really feel the pain, or, you know, try to feel the pain of what someone has gone through. Right. And just
Jeff Jelinek:
21:14
paying your last respects. Yeah. When you really think about it, like you're saying the lasting ramifications, because that's going to be something that is going to last for years. And it really goes back to what we talked about earlier, that mental health component. Yeah, I mean, that's a tremendous impact. We can't be there with the loved ones passing or you have to pick I think when for Papa George's funeral, there could only be like 40 or 50 people. Now, there would have been five 600 There's no doubt in my mind. Sure. There would have been that many, at least. Sure. And now to try to pick 50. Right. Well, you do that, right. We made the cut thing, but luckily, I didn't expect it. I mean, I honestly did not. But yeah, but you know, for me, I'd already I'd set my I got to say my my final piece. And I, I was fine with that I met emotionally and mentally I worked through that. Sure. And but you know, I really wanted to be there. Don't get me wrong, but it's like, you know, someone else can go, right. And luckily, we were asked, so my wife and I,
Rauel LaBreche:
22:09
when you think of your wife probably would support this, that the mental health component to COVID has been so tremendous. And even our choice of words early on of saying social distancing, instead of just physical distancing. And I remember reading a report by I think it was a pediatrician out of lacrosse. And he said, one of the things that he saw early on, because this was written in like, April, or June or May of 2020, new saying the thing, one of the things he was observing was that COVID was a different kind of thing in that it was attacking our groups. And by attacking our groups, it was attacking our individual identity, because so much of how we define ourselves is by the groups that were part of. So you think of you know, Papa George, and the number of groups that he was involved in the number of groups that he had an impact on in there, and it's how many millions of those stories do they have to be across the whole world right now? And you're right, what the impact of that will probably not be felt for many, many, many, and I
Jeff Jelinek:
23:09
my impact was only 12 years. I mean, we moved in, and it was 12 years until he passed, but you think about the impact. And it's not just him, but there's so many people that have those impacts are you just don't know. Right? You know, I did sit under the radar and just do those things and aren't looking for the, the media or the attention. They're just doing the right thing. Okay, now the good thing. Yeah, yeah.
Rauel LaBreche:
23:29
So kind of along that line, is there a favorite little thing? That you really like it when someone close to you remembers to do it for you,
Jeff Jelinek:
23:39
saying thank you. That's a little thing. Doesn't happen much anymore.
Rauel LaBreche:
23:46
My when my daughter was growing up, Barney, remember,
Jeff Jelinek:
23:50
remember? Oh, gosh,
Rauel LaBreche:
23:52
TV, and his one song that he's saying please, and thank you. They are the magic words. And, you know, I don't particularly like Barney too much. And they just know especially when like, they introduce the other characters like, Oh, this is just hard. But then Teletubbies came in I went oh my god. That's compared to Teletubbies. You know, but that whole thing of please and thank you they are the magic words is like, what a great thing to teach kids that age. Right. So it's
Jeff Jelinek:
24:18
not just kids. It's adults. He has a long way. Yeah, I mean, those two words go. They carry a lot of weight. Right. You know, I don't need anything. Just that thank you. Right. And it's my friends are great. I mean, I've got a great support group around me are fantastic are like that, but it's just, it's just all together here. And if it's not a friend, just the Thank You sure means a lot. Sure.
Rauel LaBreche:
24:41
How about a favorite? Do you have a I was just thinking about this a favorite? Um, oh, gosh. Now I completely forgot what I was gonna say because it had to do with the talking about Barney and all those favorite things that go on with that. Boy, this is the first time this has happened, Jeff. For the next Ferret, I want to go to something Elephants All right. Okay, let's go to my How about a favorite place to go to when you want to destress?
Jeff Jelinek:
25:06
Marco Island, Florida? Marco Island. Where is Marco Island, Florida, south of Naples south of Fort Myers about about 50 miles south of Fort Myers airport.
Rauel LaBreche:
25:16
Okay, so not as far that's would that be along the east coast?
Jeff Jelinek:
25:20
It's on the Gulf side. Gulf. West west coast. Okay. Yeah. Marco Island, Florida.
Rauel LaBreche:
25:24
Okay. So how is that kind of in line with like, Orlando, would it be that
Jeff Jelinek:
25:29
nor No, it's farther down? Farther down? It's way down. Okay. You know, where Alligator Alley comes across like from Miami? No clue. Okay, so I was 75. Okay, you're talking way down there. Okay.
Rauel LaBreche:
25:39
So almost to the keys. Not quite, not quite. Okay. But I'm in line with what would
Jeff Jelinek:
25:45
be your Miami What if you come straight across onto the west side? That's where Mirko okay.
Rauel LaBreche:
25:49
So real close. Yeah. Okay. Yep. Gotcha. Do you have a favorite memory that you you go to, or that you'll find you kind of keep coming back to regularly that makes you kind of remember a special time or remember, you know, something that I think of them as kind of, like inspirational moments in our lives. You know, we when you're I cuz I tend to go to those places. I think when I'm kind of depressed, you know, feeling like, Why do I keep doing this? And there's that thing, usually they're set those events that happen that we're like, Well, I gotta hang out, hang out there like touchstones. Right? Exactly. Nothing. Do you have one of those and
Jeff Jelinek:
26:29
I really, I've got I've got a lot of them. I think the is a kid I go back to, you know, in our backyard, we had a pool, and just big pool parties and people over and I just love talking to people and I really think that you know, I'm kind of more extroverted. And just those types of things, you know, being around people and, and having fun and cooking and it's really kind of led you you know, I do a lot of barbecuing on the side. Oh, no smoking, we're gonna be best friends. Yeah. So people I say, oh, pick that as your favorite food Italian. So I've got a major smoker and do different things. You're one of those guys, one of those guys
Rauel LaBreche:
27:09
participate in some of those barbecue cook. I've got
Jeff Jelinek:
27:11
enough stress during work. So I try to just they look fun and but you know, but for me, that is one of my stress. reducers is is the cooking ham. I love it. You know, it's long and slow and Sure. Got a good friend Phil Rob, who's our communications engineer for Suffolk County. So him and I do a lot of that together. And that's kind of our distressing. Okay,
Rauel LaBreche:
27:33
how about a favorite music? type of music? Yeah,
Jeff Jelinek:
27:37
not into music. You got the wrong guy. Not at all. You know, my wife will say she told me the other day meatloaf died. I'm like, Well, I didn't know we had meat. Yeah, potatoes. Meat Loaf was so
Rauel LaBreche:
27:52
favorite songs. Nothing?
Jeff Jelinek:
27:53
I guess I would say Bon Jovi. Bon Jovi? Yeah. That's kind of kind of like my career with my career paths God and living on a prayer. Okay. So
Rauel LaBreche:
28:03
I want to make sense at least right? Yeah. All right. Is there a fever? We were I was trying to wrap up with this question, because I think it segues into things. But do you have a favorite memory from childhood? Something that you know, when you and maybe somebody that actually has a whole bunch of favorite memories from childhood? But is there one in particular that when something comes around it that reminds you of it? It's kind of one of those moments of? Yeah, that was a good time?
Jeff Jelinek:
28:31
Christmas, Christmas? Yeah. Okay. I really like Christmas and the family and everybody getting together and that type of thing that really comes into mind. And this year, now my grandson turned to and it was the first Christmas we actually spent together. Actually, the day after Christmas, but still Sure. Because of COVID. He couldn't come the first year, right. And it just really brought me back to that that Christmas memory of the family and everybody just being together, you know that that whole group didn't get together very often, but sure, when they did, it was cool. When I think back together
Rauel LaBreche:
29:03
one at all that really stands out as being or is it just that that regular tradition, I think
Jeff Jelinek:
29:09
just the regular tradition, or just every year of everybody getting together and I think as I'm growing a little bit older, I'm realizing that, you know, trying to get us all together is more and more important, cheerier and just getting that family getting that family group together, tired when everybody's spread out, you know, kids are on different schedules. They've got lice, it's it's difficult but need to make the time it's so important. I mean, it's it's so short, and it's nothing like family.
Rauel LaBreche:
29:33
Yeah, one there's so many things when you think about all the forces that are driving us apart from one another polarization factors, you know, so much of the politics and the you know, the opinions on things and I think about why I'm here doing this podcast, but you know, there are people out there who say, Well, yeah, I heard Seth Rogen say blah, blah, that's got to be true. You know, it's like I you know, I, I like Seth Rogen, dog get bought really come on. So Carl says, Yeah, I don't really care about Carl, what do you think? And please don't let it drive you apart from the people that are close. Exactly right. So, folks, my guest today is Jeff Jelinek, who is the emergency management director here for Sauk. County. We're going to take a quick break to hear a word from our sponsors. And when we come back, we get into the meat of things, that meatloaf stuff, I really talk about his leadership experiences and some of the things that go on in emergency management directors life that you and I probably have no idea and yet have all kinds of ramifications for how we live our lives, training emergency and beyond. Right. So don't go anywhere. We'll be right back here on 99. Seven Max FM's digital network and frame of reference are you dealing with a moody meow or a whiny woofer or a negative Nayar in your family welfare not Macfarlanes and sock city has just the right pet toys and pet foods to put spring in any step and Whoopie in any Wolfer and a me Wow in any cat stop by and bring your fur baby with you. We're pet friendly in every way at Macfarlanes. one block south of highway 12 Seven at Carolina Street in Sauk. City. And we're back here on frame of reference on 99 Seven Max FM's digital network. My guest today is Jeff Jelinek was the emergency management director here in Sauk. County. And, Jeff, I should ask is it an emergency management director? Does every county have one of those? Does every city have one of the How does that work? In terms of the system across the country?
Jeff Jelinek:
31:39
Every county is required to have at least a deputy emergency management director 11 tribes have emergency management directors. Okay. And then it's up to the city's because of Home Rule statute 59 to final decision making authorities at the local level. Okay, so somebody is identified as an emergency management director in your villages and your cities, also in the towns but the towns from the way the statutes fall fall underneath the county? Okay, definitely, we're not going out and making decisions for townships, okay, we work with whoever that point of contact is. So someone is identified as an emergency management director for your area where you live. So does that
Rauel LaBreche:
32:15
change them when you have a disaster that's big enough to be at the federal level does FEMA come in? And then are they in charge of the situation? Are they still having to coordinate with the local municipalities, and
Jeff Jelinek:
32:26
they coordinate with the local municipality. So oftentimes, the coordination of that will be through the county, and then the county to FEMA, okay, so we'll work with the locals, the towns, the villages in the cities, and we'll coordinate everything with them, do what we need to do. And then with the FEMA component, we get the information from those areas, and then we share it. So it's just kind of up through the state and then the state, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, okay.
Rauel LaBreche:
32:51
So it strikes me that part of what happens in an emergency situation is that there is the the initial crisis, the kind of critical mode that you're in as the tornado is happening, and people are just trying to survive that whole thing. And then there's sort of the immediate needs to reinstitute whatever public services have been lost, for example, and, you know, making remaking the infrastructure, getting the power back on for people, whatever, those things that really have to happen, first, the infrastructure, and then there's the long lasting impact the rebuilding of homes or whatever that may be. Is that Is that an accurate kind of assessment of what it looks like? Are there other components to that, that I'm not?
Jeff Jelinek:
33:34
Well, really up before that is, is the preparedness getting people ready and prepared and identify systems that they're going to be notified for oftentimes, you bring up tornado, people think that they're supposed to be woke up in the middle of the night by a tornado siren? Well, those aren't designed to wake you up in your homes, those are outdoor warning devices only. So what's going to be that mechanism that you are going to get woken up at two o'clock in the morning. So we talk about weather radios, or some type of an app, the Nixle system we use here in a company that has severe weather warnings, right? So that's a big component of it. But then when we got that response phase that we refer to it as where that tornadoes coming in. And you know, it's just that initial life safety things. We're already starting to think about recovery, we have to be thinking about recovery. And we need to strike while the iron is hot. There's a lot of resources that are available oftentimes, when that response phase is going on. But as soon as that goes away, things start going away as well. So while we have that media attention, while we have all these different things, we want to get out about recovery. What do we need, you know what's going on? What programs what systems we work with the greater sock Foundation, we have a fun with them. So there's a lot of things that are in place. But we really, recovery is such an important piece, but it needs to start right at the beginning. Sure.
Rauel LaBreche:
34:49
Well, it sounds like it's really about the science of being proactive instead of reactive, which is I know that that's really difficult in a lot of fields especially come from a business background, right. And it seems like Businesses that are really tuned into things can be more proactive. But in reality day to day, we tend to be reactive because you know, you, you, you would like to predict what's going to happen. But you know, the American consumer who knows what they're going to, you know, jump on something, right? Yeah. And
Jeff Jelinek:
35:17
I think you said interesting thing there about, you know, just being proactive, be proactive, you have to be willing to change, you have to be willing to stay with the times, and you have to be willing to think outside that box that you've grown up through year over year, so many years of career, hey, we've always done it this way. Doesn't mean it's always the right way. Things change. Things, you know, different pieces of equipment, different knowledge, skills, and ability are available to you. So you have to be willing to change sure to stay proactive.
Rauel LaBreche:
35:43
When you think about it. One thing you do have going, I think for your profession is that the fire tends to behave like a fire. And there may be parameters that play into it that are differently, I think of like some of the wildfires that have been going on, they're continuing to learn things about that, and how the fires work and the things to be prepared for. But at the end of the day, you don't really know which way the winds gonna blow, right? So you have to be prepared for any direction. And that must get exhausting, doesn't it to try to think about every contingency, especially when you're aware of the history of all the contingencies, right?
Jeff Jelinek:
36:19
And we have so many contingency plans that we've already done ahead of time, a lot of times because of different emergencies or disasters. So it's just a matter of picking that tickler file. And it's really prepared. We hope we don't have to use of contingency plans. It's great if we don't do because it means things are going the way we want them to Sure. But we have to be prepared for that curveball that comes to us so we can deal with the known. We got to be prepared for the unknown. And when that comes, we have a reaction, we're ready to go. Sure. And that's really being proactive. It's not a reaction. It's just reacting to what happens. But being proactive, we already have a plan in place. Don't get me wrong. There's times where things come that we have no clue. But then all comes back to is our number one priority. Life Safety. Sure
Rauel LaBreche:
37:02
why and and I would think there are things that are somewhat transferrable, that you know this, we may not have seen this exact crisis before but the the needs of any crisis are going to be relatively generic.
Jeff Jelinek:
37:15
Exactly. And really, you look at like from the 2008 flood, we did an after action review. After everything was done. We got all the first response agencies burnsy management directors from the towns, cities and villages. And we really went through and I documented, you know, notes, we bulleted it, I want a 2018 Floods started, we went like two in the morning, I went through and I read through all those things, because we've already been through this. So why reinvent the wheel? Right? Let's see what went well, what things were identified as problem areas back then. Right. And that really helps guide you through the process.
Rauel LaBreche:
37:45
You know that that old saying of it gets often gets misquoted. But those that do not remember, the past it's not learned from but it's remember the past are doomed to repeat it. And you know, we think about that. How are you going to remember something? Oh, yeah, I think we did this and this and this. Yeah. How many times do you do think that? And then go back and go? Oh, no, we didn't do that at all.
Jeff Jelinek:
38:06
We call t hat the magic 8 ball.
Rauel LaBreche:
38:09
Yeah, maybe next time?
Jeff Jelinek:
38:10
Yeah, we'll get it right. Next time. I don't like that answer. Shake it again.
Rauel LaBreche:
38:14
Yes, definitely. Folks, my guest is Jeff Jelinek, who's the emergency management director here in Salt County. And as you've already been hearing, he's like a lot of Emergency Management directors except maybe a little different than he actually tries to learn from what happens it's sometimes it seems like people just never learn, you know, and you kind of wonder, do we have the right person on this job or not? We're gonna take another quick break. I'll come back with closing thoughts for this episode, and then continue this conversation for next week's podcast as well. So I hope you can come back and tune into that hope you go back and listen to some of Jeff's favorite things because it was awful fun to talk about. But we will be back. continuing that conversation and I encourage you to join us then. Don't go anywhere. We'll be right back. Here we're closing thoughts on 99 Seven Max FM's digital network and frame of reference.
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39:07
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Rauel LaBreche:
39:36
When I was about 11 years old, I remember watching this brand new show on television with my mom called emergency. My mom worked in hospitals for most of the time, I was a team and she really liked shows that dealt with doctors and hospitals. She liked to see how close they got to showing what it was really like. Anyway, this new show was a whole new level of reality. She really liked it. So of course, I like to to each week DeSoto and gage got to step into dangerous situations so they could save people's lives. But they didn't just jump in, they always stopped and made a plan. Then as they executed that plan, it fell back onto their training to make sure the person in need was taken care of safely and quickly. In the real world of emergencies, Jeff Jelinek and his staff are among the best trained emergency services professionals that you will ever find anywhere. Their job is to know what the best course of action is, when all hell breaks loose. Whether it's a natural or manmade disaster. Their job is to have thought through what steps need to be taken to get everyone to safety. So why would we not see them as life savers instead of liberty infringers? Next week, we'll talk with Jeff about his experiences and challenges as a leader in emergency services. But I also hope that as we talk more, our frame of reference will grow to help us understand just how selfless and worthy of respect and trust people in his line of work are. Till then, stay well.
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