The City of Austin’s Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (HSEM) encourages community members to get ready this September, in observance of National Preparedness Month. Members of the public should follow the four steps of preparedness, and work together with their families and neighbors to plan for disasters. This can help build a more prepared, more resilient Austin.

“The more proactive we are in preparing, the more easily we can make it through the next emergency together,” said HSEM Director Jim Redick. “If you don’t know where to start, we can help! Make a plan, build a kit, know your neighbors, and stay informed. When you follow the four steps of preparedness, you can rest easier knowing you’re in a better position when emergencies hit.”

HSEM offers resources for community members to begin their preparedness journey and be resilient when disaster strikes at ReadyCentralTexas.org.
 

Four Steps of Preparedness

Make a Plan

Knowing what you and your family will do in an emergency can keep you safe and reduce the impact emergencies have on you. Consider everyone in your family, and their needs in an emergency. Remember to include pets.

Make a plan that includes both evacuating and sheltering in place. Plans should also include:

• A place to meet if you are separated
• A plan to contact one another if you cannot meet, or communications are interrupted
• Public safety phone numbers (i.e. fire, hospital, and police) for your area
• An out-of-area contact to communicate that you are safe and learn the status of the other family members.

Austin HSEM’s Neighborhood Preparedness Guide is a resource that can help residents plan for different hazards before, during, and after they occur. 

Build a Kit

Make an emergency supply kit in case you need to evacuate or shelter in place for multiple days. Kits should include seven days’ worth of water and food for each individual in your home. Remember to have one gallon of water per person per day. Other items for your kit include blankets, clothes, flashlights, batteries, prescription medications, and items for your children, like games and toys. Remember pet food, along with water, medication, toys, crates, and documents for pets.

Build a kit on a budget by collecting items over time if needed. If you have already built a kit, review the contents, track expiration dates, and replace or replenish items as needed.

Learn more about building a kit at HSEM’s digital preparedness hub. 

Know Your Neighbors

Knowing your neighbors can help you and your community work together and help each other. It can help you be aware of any special medical needs that can make evacuating during an emergency more difficult. Establishing relationships and understanding your neighbors’ needs, skills, and resources can help you work together during a disaster and recover more easily.

Stay Informed

Having accurate, up-to-date information is crucial during an emergency. Make sure you have multiple ways to stay informed about emergency information.

• Sign up for emergency alerts from Warn Central Texas, a regional alert system. By signing up, you can get alerts before an emergency happens via text, phone call, and email. You can register at WarnCentralTexas.org to receive emergency to alerts.
   
• Include a battery-operated weather radio in your emergency supplies kit. This radio can alert about warnings issued by the National Weather Service and human-caused events. These radios can be lifesaving in a tornado, flash flood, wildfire, or terrorist event.
   
• Sign up for the Accessible Hazards Alert System (AHAS) to receive emergency messages in American Sign Language (ASL) and English voice and text. Subscribers will receive video ASL messages on their internet and video capable devices like computers, cell phones, smart phones, tablet computers, and wireless Braille readers. Register for AHAS online at atc.ahasalerts.com or by texting AHAS to 737-241-3710.
   
• Bookmark the City’s Alerts webpage www.austintexas.gov/alerts. Austin HSEM updates this page with vital emergency information in 14 languages.
   
• Follow HSEM on social media: @AustinHSEM on X/Twitter , @austin.hsem on Instagram, and Austin Emergency Management on Facebook.
   
• You can also follow your preferred local news outlets for updates during an emergency. Austin HSEM works closely with members of news media to provide updates before, during and after emergencies.
   

Disaster Planning Guidance and Resources

Many departments are supporting National Preparedness Month with programs and resources to help residents with emergency planning. 

Austin-Travis County EMS

Follow these important tips from Austin-Travis County EMS.

• Make sure your kit includes any medically necessary items such as prescription medications and medical equipment (like a CPAP machine, ventilator, glucometer, etc.), for both you and your pets.
• Learn CPR and First Aid with your family and neighbors, and don’t forget to put a first aid kit in your emergency supplies.
• Create a hard copy of the medical histories, medication lists, and insurance information for all members of your household. Don’t forget any allergies.
• Pre-plan a meeting location for your family and plan multiple evacuation routes ahead of time.
• Download the what3words app on your Apple or Android devices so you always know exactly where you are should an emergency arise.
• Familiarize yourself with the signs and symptoms of heat- and cold-related illnesses and how to care for someone until help arrives.
• Learn more about preparing for specific types of emergencies on Austin-Travis County EMS’s Safety Resources Page.
   

Austin Fire  

Central Texas is prone to wildfires where development meets untouched wildland or vegetation, also known as the wildland urban interface. As a result, Austin ranks fifth in the nation in number of homes at risk of wildfire. In Texas, 90% of wildland fires are caused by human activity. Embers from these events can be carried by wind more than a mile and have the potential to start additional fires and ignite homes, debris and other objects, threatening the entire community. 

• Working smoke alarms are key to preventing fire tragedies. Place them on every level of a home, test them monthly, change out batteries annually and replace them every 10 years. Austin Fire has a free smoke alarm program open to homeowners needing assistance. To participate, call the Free Smoke Alarm Hotline at 512-974-0299. Leave your name, address, and phone number and your call will be returned to schedule a free installation.
• Prepare before a wildfire or other large-scale event. Download the Austin-Travis County Wildfire Coalition Ready, Set Go Wildfire Personal Action Guide in English or Spanish and involve children in age-appropriate planning using the Ready, Set, Go Family Guide.
• Austin Fire offers free Structure Ignition Zone Evaluations (SIZE) during which a wildfire advisor will walk the exterior of a home or business to offer guidance about strengthening it against wildfire risk. Homeowners may request a SIZE through Austin 3-1-1 or by submitting an online request.
   

Austin Energy

Plan ahead and know what to do in case of a power outage.

Power outages can happen because of storms, vehicle crashes, ice, tree branches, and even animals. Make an outage preparedness plan that works for you and your household so you can get ready and stay ready before a power outage ever happens.

• Know how to report a power outage, view the Outage Map, and sign up to receive Outage Alerts
• Ensure that Austin Energy has your correct contact information in case of emergency
• Make an emergency kit
• Create an evacuation plan
• Charge external power sources for your devices
• Think ahead for safety: generators, downed power lines, food safety, tree trimming

Watershed Protection Department

Austin lies in the heart of Flash Flood Alley, and it is critical you be alert to the dangers of flooding both in your home and on the road. Visit ATXFloodSafety.com for links to important resources, such as safety tips, floodplain maps, insurance information, and more.

• Keep drains, gutters, and drainage easements clear of debris. Do not dump brush into creeks and report any debris or drainage concerns to Austin 3-1-1.
• Store important papers, photographs or valuables in watertight containers, placed on a high shelf.
• Check ATXFloods.com for road closures before driving. Slow down on wet roads, especially at night. Do not drive through high water or around barricades.
• Use ATXFloodPro.com to determine whether your home and workplace sit in a floodplain, and call your insurance agent to get a quote on flood insurance.

Austin Public Health

Having bottled water and nonperishable food on-hand for an emergency is an important part of preparedness. If an emergency causes any power outages, the perishable food in your refrigerator and freezer can become dangerous. Knowing when it is not safe to eat perishable food is crucial to being well-prepared, and properly disposing of it can prevent you and your loved ones from getting a food-borne illness during an emergency.

• Keep Refrigerator and Freezer Doors Closed: During a power outage, keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to maintain their cold temperature.
• Use Dry Ice or Block Ice: If available, you can use dry or block ice to keep the refrigerator and freezer cold during a power outage.
• Use a Thermometer and Check Food Temperatures: In the refrigerator, the temperature should be 40°F (4°C) or below, and the freezer should be at 0°F (-18°C) or below. If the power has been out for more than four hours, check the temperature of perishable food items. Discard any perishable food (such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and leftovers) if the temperature is above 40°F (4°C).
• Frozen Food Safety: A full freezer will hold its temperature for about 48 hours (24 hours if half full) if the door remains closed. If you believe the power will be out for an extended period, consider moving perishable items to a friend's or neighbor's freezer.
• Safe Disposal of Perishable Foods: If perishable food items have been above 40°F (4°C) for more than two hours, they should be discarded for safety reasons. This includes meat, poultry, seafood, cooked leftovers, dairy products, and cut fruits and vegetables.
• Don't taste food for safety: Never taste food to determine its safety. Spoiled food may not always have an off odor or appearance.
• Be Cautious with Refreezing: While some foods can be refrozen if they still contain ice crystals or are below 40°F (4°C), others may not be safe to refreeze. Use your best judgment or consult a food safety expert.
• Clean and Sanitize: After disposing of spoiled food, thoroughly clean and sanitize your refrigerator and freezer to remove any lingering odors or bacteria.

For additional guidance on food safety during power outages and other emergency situations, visit the Food and Drug Administration’s website at fda.gov.
 

Join Your Community

Austin HSEM has multiple ways for community members to get ready and stay safe before disasters.

HSEM is hosting its 4th Annual Get Ready Central Texas Emergency Preparedness Fair on Friday, September 19 at the ACC Eastview campus from 2-6 p.m. This year’s fair will feature more than two dozen vendors, each with an activity associated with preparedness. The event is free and open to the public. Guests will receive a free emergency supplies kit to get them started on their preparedness journey, limit one per household while supplies last. 

Each month Austin HSEM hosts an Emergency Preparedness Pop-Up at an Austin Public Library in a different City Council District. These pop-ups are drop-in style events held the third Wednesday of the month. Public safety partners and learning materials are catered to reflect the weather threats most likely to impact that district. 

Each quarter Austin HSEM hosts Ready Together, an emergency preparedness classroom training. These classes are offered with speakers from partners and public safety departments. For the full schedule of events or to register for the next Ready Together training visit ReadyCentralTexas.org.

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