Meeting/Event Information

Beth Drendel
Preparedness Specialist
Kane County Office of Emergency Management
719 S. Batavia Ave, Building C
Geneva, IL

I live in North Aurora, IL. I moved to North Aurora from New Hampshire in 1987.

My greatest joy in life is being a mom to my five boys, one daughter, three daughters-in-law, and two grandchildren.

I joined the Kane County Office of Emergency Management in 2019 as a volunteer. In January 2021, I was hired full-time as a Preparedness Specialist.

I love my job because it allows me to teach both children and adults how to prepare for emergencies and disasters. Since 2021, I have taught preparedness classes to over 4,500 kids. I also coordinate emergency exercises for our team and local jurisdictions, serve as an Emergency Shelter Coordinator, and participate in the Search and Rescue Team as both a searcher and instructor.

In my free time, I enjoy being outdoors—hiking, swimming, spending time with my family, sitting by the fire pit, and hanging out with friends. I also love to cook.

If you are interested in hosting or attending a preparedness class, you can contact me at:

📧 Email: [email protected]
📞 Office: 630-232-2634
📱 Cell: 224-239-8042

Emergency and Disaster Preparedness: Building a More Resilient Community

Learn how to plan and prepare for emergencies and disasters so that you can:
• Reduce your risk of injuries.
• Respond to and recover from disasters more quickly.

Why Is Preparedness Important?

Emergencies and disasters can occur without warning. In some cases, it may take 72 hours or more for first responders to reach you.

• Prevent loss: Being prepared helps minimize the risk of injury, loss, and long-term damage to people and property.
• Improve response: Those who are prepared can respond more effectively to emergencies and disasters.
• Build resilience: When a community works together and prioritizes preparedness, it becomes more capable of withstanding and adapting to disasters.

Building a More Resilient Community