One time when my daughter was little, I was helping out in her nursery group. We were in a public building and there were about a dozen little kids and a few other adults in the room. As we were passing out the fish crackers and juice for snack time, the fire alarm suddenly went off. Everyone’s eyes went big, …
May 2025: Healthy, Happy, and Ready
Many of us know the importance of first aid training and supplies. We may even have some over-the-counter medicines and bandages in our disaster supply kit. But before you can help others, you need to care for your own mental, emotional, and physical wellness. If you were to stop somebody on the street and ask them, “What are the pillars …
April 2025: Communication – Phone Feasibility
In April, we focus on the Great Utah ShakeOut and emergency communication. As we’re preparing for the biggest earthquake drill in the state, you might ask, “Will mobile phones work in an earthquake or other disaster?” The answer is … maybe. If your phone doesn’t lose power, if the cell towers are still functioning, and if the networks are not …
March 2025: Food Storage – Eggs, a Great Investment
Local, national, and global events often affect you in unexpected ways. Inflation is one way you can be affected financially. To prepare for the future, people often make investments in things that hold value. They invest in the stock market, land, and in precious metals. Historically, people have also invested in salt, spices, silk, and even tulip bulbs! I saw …
February 2025: Water Storage, Easier Than You Think
It’s inevitable. Every time there’s a warning that an emergency or bad weather is imminent, grocery store shelves are emptied within hours. The essentials of toilet paper, disposable diapers, food, and water all disappear. People panic buy, often taking more than they need, and others are completely left without. One thing we teach at Be Ready Utah, is that when …
January 2025: Winter Cold, Warm and Safe
It seems inevitable that when we have ice, snow, and cold, there are going to be power outages. Have the means to keep your family safe and warm during a power outage or other emergency. One of the first things you can do to stay warm is to put on extra layers of clothing to trap and hold warm air …
December 2024: Resolve to be Ready – Preparedness Basics
Benjamin Franklin famously said, “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!” In Utah, we’ve seen flooding, flash flooding, wildfires, and severe winter storms. Nationally and worldwide, there have been hurricanes, tornadoes, supply chain disruptions, war, civil unrest, earthquakes, pandemics, and many other disasters. What are we going to see in the future? Will you be ready? This …
November 2024: Be Informed Before You Buy and Holiday Preparedness Gifting
Be Ready Utah’s November topic is “Tools and Personal Items.” November also means a lot of travel, a lot of food, family, and friends, and the beginning of the gift-buying season. If you have an emergency preparedness mindset, you may already be thinking about practical gifts to give to those you love to help them “be ready” for possible difficulties …
October 2024: Cybersecurity Awareness Month & Power Outage Tips
October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. In our internet connected world, no one is immune from cyber threats, but you can do four simple things to secure your world and stay safe online. Check out CISA’s Secure Our World page, and Be Ready Utah’s Cybersecurity webpage for ideas to protect yourself, your family and your workplace. In addition to National …
September 2024: National Preparedness Month & “What’s up, Docs?”
September is National Preparedness Month. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) encourages everyone to take steps to prepare against disasters or disruptions of any kind. This year FEMA’s theme is “Start a Conversation“, and is encouraging our Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities to prepare for disasters and build resilience before disaster strikes. Consider ways to engage these …