Community leaders are responsible for ensuring the safety of their constituents and the resiliency of their communities. They work with their local agencies and personnel to prepare and respond to natural, technological or national security emergency/disaster situations. They also advocate the need for preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation activities to their constituents to cope with potential hazards.
What should your community prepare for?
Find out what the hazards and threats are in your area and in your home:
- What parts of your community are in a flood zone, or in an area where wildfires, winter storms, or earthquakes could strike?
- Do you have effective security for your computer networks and smartphones, or operate vehicles?
- Other possible sources of danger
What can community leaders do to prepare?
Consider using the following resources:
- Review and update your community’s emergency operations plan (EOP)
- Become familiar with the process of declaring a disaster
- Participate in emergency responders’ exercises and drills
- Get to know your local emergency responders, emergency managers, and your IOEM Area Field Officer (AFO)
- Community preparedness toolkit
- Get to know representatives of your local volunteer organizations