Preparedness Quick Tip #51: Is City Hall Prepared?

You prepare your home, your car, your bags, your workplace, and your family …. but is your city prepared?

How would you know? You simply ask.

Most municipalities probably have a Civil Emergency plan in place, and as a taxpaying citizen, you have a right to know what it is. So ask! Call your city hall to find the department that deals in such things, and ask if you can be directed to the city’s plans.

As with all governmental agencies, there may be things that they don’t publish for the general populace. However, you should be directed to a website where the information is published, or given a disaster plan for the city.

• RELATED: Are you prepared for an emergency? Get started here!

Why do you care if City Hall is Prepared?

You need to know what plans the city has in place in the event of typical disasters so that you know how to prepare your family better.

• What are the best escape routes from your town for hurricane evacuations (can you plan a different path that is safe?).
• What services will be available post natural disaster.
• Are services in place to help you recover from a personal disaster such as a home-destroying fire;
• What emergency services are civilians encouraged to participate in.
• Do they have CERT training available? Self Defense classes taught by the police departments? Civil patrol, citizen police, etc.?
• What is the Severe Warning system for your town and do you know the signals?
• Are there preparedness fairs available during the Spring for Earthquake Preparedness or in September for National Preparedness Month?

All these and more is important preparedness information to get from your local government. Why only be partially aware of the preparedness plans and opportunities available to you through your town? And wouldn’t it be good to know if your town does not have a preparedness plan?

Get even more preparedness quick tips here!

Tom Myles

Tom is a Marketing & Communications graduate interested in nature, gardening, agriculture, and traveling. For the last decade, Tom has turned his hobbies into a full-time job, creating useful resources and guides for all our readers. If he is not working on his next article, you will find Tom spending quality time with family or taking care of his own back garden.