I recently had the opportunity to meet at Camp Williams with other local leaders to learn about the mission of the Utah National Guard and how we as local leaders can support that mission. One of the presenters stated that we all need to focus on domestic preparedness and as citizens, we need to be better personally prepared for anything that may happen at home.
September is National Preparedness month. Before I became mayor, I worked for the city as the Emergency Manager. Bluffdale has an excellent reputation for being prepared but I know I personally can always do a little more to be ready for any emergency. When I talk to business owners and residents, the first question about planning is, “where do I start because it is very overwhelming.” My advice is to choose to do one thing. Once you have completed that, choose one more. If we make a big list of all the things we should do, we usually don’t do any of it.
Bluffdale has an excellent Neighborhood Emergency Plan. Each neighborhood has a “Section Leader.” If you would like to know who your section leader is, you can email emergencyprep@bluffdale.gov with your address. You can also find the city maps at www.bluffdale.gov/Neighborhood-Emergency-Plan
The plan is this. Help your family first. Make sure everyone is safe, and they have what they need. Next, reach out to your group (we need volunteer group leaders too). Usually, your group is a handful of neighbors living on the same street. Once your immediate neighbors are accounted for, reach out and help your section.
There are so many things we can do to become more prepared. Remember that you only need to choose one and then come back and choose one again. If you really don’t know which one to pick, start with water storage.
Thank you for all working together to make sure we are prepared and can take care of each other during a power outage, snowstorm, flooding, earthquake, fire or even lost children.
I would love to know what you chose to work on this month. Send me an email, nhall@bluffdale.gov, by October 10th to be entered into a drawing for preparedness prizes.
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