September is National Preparedness Month and the City of Austin Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (HSEM) encourages Austinites to start a conversation with friends and family about planning for disasters before they happen. Learning to become resilient is a process that can begin with a single conversation. 

“It can be scary to think about all the bad things that can happen after a disaster. It is easy to feel overwhelmed and avoid talking about disasters or trying to make the right decisions for your family,” said Interim Director of the Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management, Bill Wilson. “This year, we encourage everyone to take the first step and start a conversation with your loved ones about disaster planning. We are here to help make the process easier for you. Planning ahead and following the steps to be prepared will give you confidence, help you recover more quickly, and relieve a lot of the stress associated with disasters.”

Four Steps of Preparedness

Make a Plan

It does not matter if a disaster is weather-related or man-made, having a plan in place is the first step to emergency preparedness and can reduce the level of impact it has on you, your family, or your home. Knowing what to do in an emergency situation is key to being resilient and prepared.

Austin HSEM’s Neighborhood Preparedness Guide is a resource designed to help residents with all types of hazards before, during, and after they occur. Tips on what to do at each stage helps with being more prepared and ready when disaster calls.

Make a Kit

Having a plan in place is just the first step of emergency preparedness. Be sure to have an emergency supplies kit ready in case there is a need to evacuate or shelter in place for multiple days. Shelter in place emergency kits should include 1 gallon of water per person per day and food for seven days. 
A few other things to include in your kit are blankets, clothes, flashlights, batteries, prescription medications, and items for your children, like games and toys. Build a kit on a budget by collecting items over time if needed.

Don’t forget your pets! Your furry friends need food, water, crates, and identifying documents. Be sure to include their needs in your planning and supplies kit.

Know Your Neighbors

Having good relationships with your neighbors does more than just make your neighborhood a nice place to live; it can save lives. Knowing your neighbors can mean being aware of any special medical needs that can make evacuating during an emergency more difficult. Establishing relationships and understanding needs, skills, and resources in a neighborhood could be the difference between managing well or struggling through a crisis.

Stay Informed

Having the latest information is crucial during an emergency. Be sure you have multiple ways to stay informed about emergency information.

Sign up for emergency alerts from Warn Central Texas. A regional early warning system that supports all of Central Texas. By signing up, you can get early warnings before an emergency happens via text, phone call, and email. You can register at WarnCentralTexas.org to receive emergency to alerts. 

Be sure to include a battery-operated weather radio in your emergency supplies kit. This radio can alert about warnings issued by the National Weather Service and manmade events. These radios can be life-saving 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.

During an emergency, Austin HSEM will provide important online updates at the City’s Alerts webpage www.austintexas.gov/alerts. This page provides updates in 14 languages and is updated throughout an emergency to provide the latest information. 

Find a local news outlet you trust to provide updates and tune in during an emergency. Austin HSEM works closely with members of the media to provide quick updates in an emergency. Follow your preferred local news outlet on its official social media pages and follow @AustinHSEM on X/Twitter and Facebook.

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 Department

Central Texas is prone to wildfires where development meets untouched wildland or vegetation, also known as the wildland urban interface (WUI). Due to this WUI, Austin ranks sixth in the nation in number of homes at risk of wildfire.

• Download the Austin-Travis County Wildfire Coalition Ready, Set Go Wildfire Action Guide in English or Spanish and involve children in age-appropriate planning using the Ready, Set, Go Family Guide
• The Austin Fire Department offers free Structure Ignition Zone Evaluations (SIZE) during which a wildfire advisor will walk the exterior of a home and offer guidance about how to strengthen it against wildfire risk. Homeowners may request a SIZE through Austin 3-1-1. 
• 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. AFD has a free smoke alarm program open to homeowners needing assistance. 

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.
• 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 the 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 3rd Annual Get Ready Central Texas Emergency Preparedness Fair on Thursday, September 19 at the ACC Rio Grande campus from 3-7 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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