Sheriff’s office surpasses goal for hurricane relief

By Brandi Makuski

The Portage Co. Sheriff’s Office has surpassed its goal in raising funds to help sheriff departments in the southeast following Hurricane Ida.

The Sheriffs Adopting Sheriffs relief project is designed to help sheriff’s office employees, and their families, who have been personally impacted by the natural disaster.

Sheriff Mike Lukas on Oct. 27 told the Public Safety Committee that his department had a goal of $1,000. They raised $1,210.

According to the National Hurricane Center, the Category 4 Ida made landfall on Aug 29—the 16th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina—with sustained winds of up to 150 miles an hour, leaving over one million people without power and at least 66 dead. It’s been classified as the second-most damaging hurricane to strike Lousiana on record. 

The Badger State Sheriff’s Association president, Grant Co. Sheriff Nate Dreckman, said the families of first responders too often take a back seat during large-scale disasters.

The program is designed to bring a little direct relief to sheriff’s employees who leave their families during times of major emergencies and go to work helping others, he said.     

Sheriff Mike Lukas said local donations were taken from members of his department and residents in the community. The donation period closed on Oct. 15. 

The BSSA previously activated the program following Hurricane Sandy in 2012, offering assistance to sheriff’s employees in Union Co, New Jersey.