Kwik thinking in an emergency: Oak Creek and Milwaukee County partner with Kwik Trip for help

OAK CREEK - In case of emergency, the city and Milwaukee County Emergency Management will have a new partner: Kwik Trip.

The city is entering into a memorandum of understanding with Milwaukee County Emergency Management and Kwik Trip for the latter to supply assistance, if needed, during certain emergencies.

Oak Creek Fire Chief Tom Rosandich said the city was asked to come forward as a model for the county knowing Oak Creek has multiple Kwik Trip locations locally.

The hope, Rosandich said, is that the arrangement will "spread throughout the county.”

The partnership is designed for times of disaster when Kwik Trip will provide “essential service” to responders. This support could include fuel, ATM service, food or any other things they can supply.

Oak Creek is the second city in the area to have such an agreement with Kwik Trip and Milwaukee County Emergency Management. New Berlin is the other.

At an Aug. 15 meeting, when the memorandum of understanding was approved by the Oak Creek Common Council. Alderman Ken Gehl questioned how Kwik Trip got involved from the onset. Rosandich said it was likely due to how they company had already set up an agreement in New Berlin.

In addition, the city already has such an agreement in place with the Red Cross for assistance during emergencies.

Rosandich said there are a number similar agreements that occur within county, state, and federal agencies for emergencies. For example, Kwik Trip might be an important partner as a backup during federal disaster declarations if the primary fuel system emergency services system goes down.

One concern Rosandich expressed after speaking with Oak Creek Police Chief Steve Anderson was how local police are supposed to keep the area secure in such situations, given how busy police are in a major emergency.

Still, in the end, the partnership itself has merit, he said.

“I think it’s a good public-private partnership,” Rosandich said.