Advance emergency planning can help keep individuals and families safe when severe weather or a disaster strikes. Emergency management agencies, through local media and other communicaton methods, work to provide advance notification and offer instructions to help protect the public.

At times, those instructions may include seeking shelter. Not all homes and businesses in the area are equipped with a basement or other safe place to seek shelter. RecPlex, located inside Prairie Springs Park at 9900 Terwall Terrace, is designated as an Emergency Shelter for the area. During inclement weather or other emergency situations, area residents may come to RecPlex to seek shelter.

The facility is accessible as an emergency shelter during regular operating hours. During those hours, individuals seeking shelter should use the main entrance on the south side of the facility. 

After-hours access as an emergency shelter is only available when authorized through a formal emergency declaration by the Village Board or public safety leadership. In these cases, direction will be provided by the Village Board or public safety officials, and information will be shared through local media and official Village communication channels.

In the event of a declared emergency requiring after-hours sheltering, the main entrance on the south side of the facility should be used. If no staff are present and shelter is needed during a declared emergency, contact public safety personnel at 262.694.7353. They will ensure appropriate personnel are dispatched to open the facility.