EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
Preparing Southwest Utah for Emergencies: Our mission is to strengthen individual and community resilience, helping to ensure everyone is ready to respond to and recover from disasters. Imagine facing a crisis without water, gas, electricity, or communication. Local officials and relief teams will respond, but they may not reach everyone immediately, and 911 services could be overwhelmed. That’s why community safety and personal preparedness are essential for protecting your health and well-being during emergencies.
Sign up for emergency alerts to stay informed by receiving messages from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and your local county: Washington County Alerts, Iron County Alerts, Kane County Alerts, Beaver County Alerts, Garfield County Alerts, and FEMA Alerts. These alerts provide timely information about emergencies and guidance on how to respond.
Where will you be during an emergency?
Emergencies can happen suddenly. You may need to leave home or stay inside. A solid emergency plan helps keep you safe. Below are 4 steps and additional resources to help guide you. Each section can be expanded for more details.
1. BE INFORMED
📚 Emergency Preparedness Resources:
Be Ready Utah
– Resources and information to help Utah residents prepare
Be Ready (for Kids)
– Games and activities to teach kids about emergency preparedness
Safety Power Shutoff
– Storm and emergency preparedness for power outages
Active Shooter Preparedness
– Resources for physical security and response
Stop the Bleed
– Training to assist in bleeding emergencies
Utah Division of Emergency Management
– State emergency preparedness and response
Utah State Extension Service Emergency Preparedness
– Education for resilience
🏥 Health and Safety:
Flu Introduction by the CDC
– Overview of flu, its symptoms, and preventive measures
Flu Safety by the American Red Cross
– Tips and guidelines for staying safe during flu season
Utah Naloxone
– Opioid overdose prevention
🌍 Earthquake Readiness:
Utah Earthquake Map
– Utah Seismograph Network offers recent earthquake data
🌪️ Natural Hazards:
Utah Geological Survey
– Offers information on natural hazards like earthquakes, landslides, and floods
Utah Wildfire Info
– Shares updates on wildfire conditions, restrictions, and safety information across Utah
☀️ Weather Monitoring:
NOAA
– Delivers data and forecasts for weather, oceans, and climate
Space Weather Prediction
– Monitors and forecasts space weather to protect technological systems
Weather.gov
– Provides real-time weather forecasts, alerts, and safety information
2. MAKE A PLAN
SAFETY CHECKLISTS ✅
COLD WEATHER
Provides tips and supplies needed to prepare for winter weather emergencies.
EXTREME HEAT
Prepare for and respond to extreme heat events to ensure safety during high temperatures.
FIRE SAFETY
Be ready for fire and heat emergencies to help keep your home and family safe.
POWER OUTAGE
Helps you prepare for and manage power outages with essential supplies and knowledge.
AFN SUPPORT 🤝
C-MIST EMERGENCY PLANNING
Key tips and resources for individuals with access and functional needs to prepare for emergencies.
PREPAREDNESS BUDDY
Helps individuals with access and functional needs prepare for emergencies and understand what to do during a disaster.
3. GET A KIT
EMERGENCY KITS 🧳
GENERAL PERSONAL/FAMILY GUIDE
Essential items and plans for personal and family safety during various emergencies.
CAR & OFFICE
Lists essential supplies and steps to handle minor injuries and medical emergencies until help arrives.
LONG-TERM FOOD STORAGE
Guidelines for storing non-perishable food to ensure you have enough to last through emergencies.
PET PREPAREDNESS
Includes supplies and plans to ensure your pets are safe and cared for during emergencies.
FLU/INFLUENZA
Contains supplies and medications to help manage flu symptoms and prevent the spread of illness.
PLAN 9 MATERIALS 📝
GETTING STARTED PAMPHLET
Essential information for developing an effective emergency plan.
TRAINING BOOKLET
Provides detailed guidance and tools for training and preparing your family for emergencies.
TRI-FOLD SUMMARY
Summarizes key steps and tips for making an emergency plan, offering a quick reference.
4. GET INVOLVED
COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM (CERT) 🌟
ONLINE CERT TRAINING | IRON COUNTY CERT | WASHINGTON COUNTY CERT
Essential training and resources for community members to prepare for and respond to emergencies.
LOCAL PROGRAMS 📍
AMERICAN RED CROSS OF SOUTHERN UTAH
Services provided by the American Red Cross of Southern Utah.
MEDICAL RESERVE CORPS (MRC)
Support community health and preparedness efforts during emergencies.
RCARC FOR IRON COUNTY | WCARES FOR WASHINGTON COUNTY
Emergency communication and community support.
TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES 💻
AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION CPR
Resources for CPR training and emergency cardiovascular care to help save lives.
BECOME A STOP THE BLEED INSTRUCTOR
For individuals applying to receive training in bleeding control to help save lives.
Additional Resources | Listed by County
Washington County, Utah
- Emergency Management (Enterprise, Hurricane, Ivins/Santa Clara, Springdale, Virgin, and Washington County)
- Fire Department (Apple Valley, Hildale, and New Harmony)
- Public Safety (La Verkin, Leeds, Pine Valley, St George, Toquerville, and Washington City)
- Utah Tech Emergency Management
- Washington County School District
Iron County, Utah
- Brian Head Public Safety
- Emergency Management (Enoch, Iron County, and Paragonah)
- Fire Department (Cedar and Kanarraville)
- Iron County School District
- SUU Emergency Management
Beaver County, Utah
Garfield County, Utah
- City/Town Website (Bryce Canyon, Cannonville, and Hatch)
- Emergency Management
- Fire Department (Boulder and Escalante)
- Garfield Ambulance
- Garfield County School District
- Tropic Medical Services
Kane County, Utah
- Emergency Management
- Kanab Fire Department
- Kane County School District
- Town Website (Glendal and Orderville)
LOCAL IN-PERSON GROUP PRESENTATION
The Southwest Utah Public Health Department offers free emergency preparedness presentations for organizations and professional groups.
- Presentations typically last 30–40 minutes but can be customized to meet your group’s needs.
Email info@swuhealth.gov to request a presentation for your group.
Emergency Preparedness HEALTH Magazine Issue
If you’d like a downloadable version of this issue, please email info@swuhealth.gov.
Audio Versions
The articles in this issue are available in audio format below. Transcripts are coming soon.
Southwest Utah Public Health Department has been accepted as a Weather-Ready Nation (WRN) Ambassador. WRN Ambassadors are change agents and leaders of their communities. They inspire others to be better informed and prepared – helping to minimize or even avoid the impacts of natural disasters. www.weather.gov/wrn

