Emergency Preparedness

Preparedness Depends on the Whole Community

Preparedness is everyone’s job because disasters can happen anywhere at any time. Being prepared and knowing what to do can greatly reduce the fear and anxiety that accompany an emergency event. Some of the things you can do to prepare, such as making emergency kits and developing family plans, are the same for naturally occurring, accidental, or purposeful human-caused events. There are important differences among potential emergencies that will influence the decisions you make and the actions you take.

Reading this guide and following the tips is a good start toward individual and family preparedness. This guide will help you learn more about the actions you can take before, during, and after emergency events or disasters.

PPROEM also offers preparedness presentations, materials, and support for neighborhoods or organizations. Requests for speakers or training may be submitted to cert@elpasoco.com or by calling (719)385-5957. Another way to enhance your knowledge of emergency preparedness is by taking a Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) course, offered by PPROEM. CERT provides both classroom and hands-on training. To subscribe to receive notifications for upcoming CERT events, visit www.ppcert.org.

Hazard Mitigation Plan

PPROEM maintains the Pikes Peak Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan, to assess risks and identify actions that can help reduce injury, loss of life, and property damage due to natural disasters. The plan is reviewed and updated every five years. It identifies natural hazard risks to the region, describes the potential impact of those events, and defines local mitigation strategies. The complete document is posted for the public at www.pproem.com.

Help Keep Your Family Safe With The American Red Cross Emergency App! Be ready to respond when a natural disaster or other hazard strikes. The FREE emergency app lets you monitor for more than 35 different severe weather and emergency alerts in your town, and other cities that matter to you. Learn how to prepare your family and home, check if loved ones are safe and let them know you’re safe. Download the app by searching for American Red Cross in the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store for Android or by going to redcross.org/ mobileapps. Select English or Spanish language with an in-app toggle. Emergency Preparedness