EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

Emergencies can happen anytime and anywhere. Staying aware of potential risks and knowing how to respond helps you make safer decisions. This section provides links to resources with tips to keep you informed and prepared.

Emergency Preparedness Resources

• Be Ready Utah – Resources and information to help Utah residents prepare.
• Ready.gov – National preparedness guidance for emergencies and disasters.
• Utah Division of Emergency Management – State emergency preparedness and response.
• Utah State University Extension Emergency Preparedness – Community resilience education.

Health and Safety

• Flu Information (CDC) – Overview of flu symptoms, prevention, and safety measures.
• Flu Safety (American Red Cross) – Tips for staying safe during flu season.
• Utah Naloxone – Opioid overdose prevention resources.

Earthquake Readiness

• Utah Earthquake Map (UUSS) – Recent earthquake data and seismic activity in Utah.

Natural Hazards

• Utah Geological Survey – Information on earthquakes, landslides, and floods.
• Utah Wildfire Info – Wildfire conditions, restrictions, and safety updates.

Weather Monitoring

• National Weather Service (NOAA) – Weather forecasts, alerts, and safety information.
• Space Weather Prediction Center – Space weather and its impacts on technology systems.

Being ready means having a plan for any location. Whether at home, school, work, or in the community, this section links to resources to help you create and follow an emergency plan.

Be Ready Utah Resources

• Families – Creating household emergency plans, supplies, and communication strategies.
• Schools – Guidance on school emergency plans, drills, and student/staff safety procedures.
• Businesses – Helps businesses develop plans and maintain operations during emergencies.
• Communities – Assists communities with planning, communication, and coordination.
• Access and Functional Needs (AFN) – Support network for individuals with AFN.

Having the right supplies can make a difference in any emergency. This section provides links to resources for assembling kits for families, schools, businesses, communities, pets, and vehicles.

12 Areas of Preparedness (Be Ready Utah)

1. Communication – Phones, radios, and emergency contacts.
2. Cooking – Tools and supplies for preparing food in emergencies.
3. First Aid – Medical supplies and basic training for injuries.
4. Food – Non-perishable food and nutrition planning.
5. Hygiene & Sanitation – Hygiene supplies and waste management.
6. Important Documents & Money – Records, IDs, and emergency funds.
7. Light & Power – Lighting, batteries, generators.
8. Safety & Security – Personal safety and physical security measures.
9. Shelter, Clothing & Fire – Staying safe, warm, and protected.
10. Tools & Personal Items – Multi-use tools and essential personal items.
11. Transportation & Navigation – Vehicles, maps, and evacuation planning.
12. Water – Storage, purification, and supply planning.

Types of Kits

• Individual Survival Kit (Ready.gov) – Essentials for a single person for 72+ hours.
• Family Kit (Be Ready Utah) – Core items for households, including food, water, and first aid.
• School Kit (Be Ready Utah) – Supplies for students and staff.
• Business Kit (Be Ready Utah) – Tools to support employees.
• Community Kit (Be Ready Utah) – Shared supplies for local response.
• Emergency Car Kit (American Red Cross) – Essentials for emergencies while traveling.
• Flu Survival Kit (WebMD) – Supplies to manage flu symptoms at home.
• Pet Disaster Kit (CDC) – Food, water, medications, and carriers for pets.

Long-Term Food Storage

• Preserve the Harvest (Utah State University Extension) – Safely store food for long-term emergency preparedness, including freezing, canning, and dehydrating techniques.

Getting involved in preparedness programs helps strengthen your community’s ability to respond to emergencies. This section provides links to training, volunteer programs, and local response organizations.

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

• CERT Training (University of Utah) – Disaster response training for community members.
• Iron County CERT – Local CERT training and volunteer opportunities.
• Washington County CERT – Community emergency response training and resources.

Local Programs

• American Red Cross of Southern Utah – Disaster relief services, preparedness education, and volunteer opportunities.
• Medical Reserve Corps (Southwest Utah Public Health) – Supports community health and emergency response efforts.
• Rainbow Canyons Amateur Radio Club (RCARC) – Iron County communication support.
• Washington County Amateur Radio Emergency Service (WCARES) – Communications community support network.

Training Opportunities

• American Heart Association CPR Training – CPR and emergency cardiovascular care.
• Stop the Bleed Instructor Application – Apply for training in bleeding control techniques.

Local emergency resources and contacts for your area. This section provides links to county agencies, schools, fire departments, medical services, and public safety organizations across Southwest Utah.

Washington County, Utah

• Emergency Management –Enterprise, Hurricane, Ivins/Santa Clara, Springdale, Virgin, Washington County
• Fire Department – Apple Valley, Hildale, New Harmony
• Public Safety – La Verkin, Leeds, St. George, Toquerville, Washington City
• Schools – Utah Tech University, Washington County School District

Iron County, Utah

• Emergency Management – Enoch, Iron County, Paragonah
• Fire Department – Cedar, Kanarraville
• Public Safety – Brian Head
• Schools – Iron County School District, Southern Utah University

Kane County, Utah

• Emergency Management – Kane County
• Fire Department – Kanab
• Schools – Kane County School District
• Town Websites – Glendale, Orderville

Beaver County, Utah

• Emergency Management – Beaver County
• Fire Department – Beaver
• Public Safety – Milford
• Schools – Beaver County School District

Garfield County, Utah

• Emergency Management – Garfield County
• Fire Department – Boulder, Escalante
• Medical – Garfield Ambulance, Tropic Medical Services
• Schools – Garfield County School District
• Town Websites – Bryce Canyon, Cannonville, Hatch