Be Informed: Community

The Point

Resilient communities know the disasters that could impact their lives. Local Emergency Managers work hard to keep their communities informed where training and resources can be obtained.

Do This

  • Create channels of communication with your organizations to inform members and residents.
  • Establish community programs that bring partners together to work together in times of disaster.
  • Research what disasters take place near your community.
  • Make community plans to address how the community works together to respond to disasters.

Be Informed: Community

Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to community resilience. Take the time before emergencies occur to learn about the risks your community may face, and the emergency notification systems your community plans to use.

Establish community programs that help programs work together in times of disaster. Below you will see multiple community programs and tools to help you do this.

Research what disaster take place near your community. Check out the Utah Hazards page for details. Because of its varying climate and terrain, Utah can experience a variety of disasters. Wildfires can strike during the hot, dry summer months and severe storms during the winter season can blanket parts of the state, causing power outages and increased avalanche danger. Make plans to protect your community from a variety of disasters, including flooding, tornadoes, wildfires, drought, debris flows, landslides, earthquakes and terrorist attacks. It’s important to be informed about Utah’s hazards so you can be ready for the unexpected.

Know who your local Emergency Manager is. Find out at https://dem.utah.gov/ and scroll down to the interactive map.

Your community may provide local Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) classes to teach you basic disaster response skills. Know when and where these classes may be available by calling your local city offices or local fire department.

Graphic of the 12 Areas of Preparedness with clip art for Shelter, Water, Food, Hygiene, Light & power, First Aid, Communications, Safety, Tools, Cooking, Important documents, and Transportation.
12 Areas of Preparedness
A graphic made up of images of nine different Utah Hazards: avalanche, climate change, dam failure, drought, flood, geologic hazards, severe weather, space weather, and wildfire.
Utah Hazards

I Wonder Webinar Series

Check out the I wonder Webinar Recordings and Schedule.  Or click the button for the recordings on Youtube. This series answers questions that local Emergency Managers and community leaders may have. 


I Wonder Webinars
Graphic of a woman looking thoughtful, with a word bubble saying "I wonder... what is the future of the I Wonder Webinar Series?" It includes the Division of Emergency Management logo.
Graphic saying "Prepare Your Community-based Organization for Disasters Before they happen! Includes depiction of a city block of high-rise buildings.

Organizations Preparing for Emergency Needs (O.P.E.N.) Training

OPEN teaches 10 preparedness actions to help your organization remain OPEN. OPEN includes both a web-based, self-guided training, and a downloadable instructor kit that will guide participants on how to identify risks, locate resources, and take preparedness actions. 


OPEN Training

Disasterville

Disasterville is a whole community disaster table top activity, and is great tool for:

  • Program Recruitment 
  • Sponsor By-In
  • Member Training
  • Preparedness Education
  • Basic CERT Course Teaching Tool

Check out this recorded National Disasterville presentation, and the Disasterville toolkit, as well as this short Disasterville video.


Disasterville Presentation
Disasterville Toolkit

Toolkit: Building a Whole Community Preparedness Coalition

It takes involving the whole community for a community to be prepared. Here are the tools to do it.


Whole Community Coalition Toolbox
Whole Community Coalition Webpage
 

Private Sector Preparedness Council

A Private Sector Preparedness Council (PSPC) helps connect the community's private sector to emergency preparedness principles and practices.


Private Sector Preparedness Councils
Image saying Private Sector Preparedness Council

Neighborhood Watch

Neighborhood Watch Training empowers community members to be the eyes and ears for law enforcement. The Neighborhood Watch Toolkit may provide valuable information to help you in your efforts. Also see the National Neighborhood Watch page


Neighborhood Watch Toolkit
 
Image saying Private Sector Preparedness Council

Neighborhood Rapid Disaster Assessment Toolkit

This is an alternative solution to the Block Captain Program. This allows anyone to fill a role and perform the task of assessing your community post disaster.


Neighborhood Rapid Disaster Assessment Toolkit

Community Animal Response Team (CART)

CART empowers community planning and response for animal related issues. CART is supported by the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food which provides tools for local implementation. 


Community Animal Response Team (CART)
 

Community Emergency Response Team

CERT training empowers your community to organize and safely respond to disasters. See the CERT Website to learn more about CERT.


Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
Community Emergency Response Team logo

Voluntary Organizations Active In Disaster (VOAD)

VOAD is a coalition of non-profit non-government organizations that help in disasters. Work with Utah VOAD to organize a community VOAD. Also see National VOAD.

Utah VOAD
 

Follow The Be Ready Utah Conversation


Be Informed by Audience