Emergency Management

National Preparedness Month

National Preparedness Month

The City of Abilene Office of Emergency Management, as well as community partners, encourage you to prepare for emergencies by using these tips shared during the month of September.

Week 4: Teach Youth about Preparedness

Review your family emergency communications plan with your kids at your next household meeting.
Kids, parents, & educators can visit the Ready Kids website in English: ready.gov/kids & in Spanish: ready.gov/es/ninos
Need tips for talking to your kids about natural disasters? Visit ready.gov/kids/parents
Many Americans aren't familiar with their child's school evacuation & reunification plans. Are you?
Kids can become Disaster Masters at ready.gov/kids/games & teens can become involved in Teen CERT. Find opportunities online at ready.gov/kids/teen-cert

Free Programs

Be Prepared Before Severe Weather Hits

Sign up for CodeRED Alerts

Enroll in Abilene-Taylor County's emergency alert program and receive inclement weather advisories, evacuation notices, & more. To sign up:

Text ABITAYTX to 99411
Sign up at https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/en-US/5B6524CD675E

Get Assistance After an Emergency Event

Register with the STEAR Program

The STEAR Program is a free registry that provides local emergency management planners & responders with information related to your needs during an emergency.

Who should register? People with disabilities, people who are medically fragile, & people with limited mobility, communication barriers, or require additional assistance. To register:

Visit stear.tdem.texas.gov
Or call 2-1-1 for assistance

Your Resource During a Disaster

Download the FEMA App

Take charge of disasters with the FEMA app, your free personalized disaster resource. Receive real-time weather alerts, send notifications to loved ones, locate emergency shelters in your area, & more.

For more information, visit fema.gov

Download the app:

Preparing for Wildfires

Preparing for Wildfires

Plan Ahead and Be Prepared

Having a plan in place will help you prepare quickly, evacuate safely, and settle possible claims faster.

Have an Emergency Action Plan: Include details for handling pets & livestock
Know How & Where to Evacuate: Know two ways out of your neighborhood & have a predesignated meeting place
Evacuate if it's Unsafe: Don't wait to receive an emergency notification if you feel threatened from the fire
Check your Insurance: Conduct an annual insurance policy checkup to adjust for local building costs, codes, & new renovations
Create or Update a Home Inventory: Settle insurance claims faster.

Visit firewise.org for more details on preparation.

More Ways to Prepare

Recognize Warnings & Alerts: Have several ways to receive alerts, such as CodeRED, the FEMA app, and the Emergency Alert System (EAS). Be aware of fire danger alerts. Follow the Abilene Fire Department on Facebook for fire danger warnings.
Make an Emergency Plan: Make sure everyone in your household knows & understands what to do if you need to quickly evacuate. Don't forget to plan for your office, kids' daycare, & other frequented areas.
Strengthen Your Home: Use fire-resistant materials to build, renovate, or make repairs. Create a fire-resistant zone that is free of leaves, debris, or flammable materials for at least 30 feet from your home.

Review Important Documents: Make sure your insurance policies & personal documents, like your ID, are up to date. Make copies and keep them in a secure, password-protected digital space.
Know your Evacuation Zone: You may have to evacuate quickly: learn & practice your evacuation route with your household & pets, & identify where you will go. Follow instructions from local authorities.
Gather Supplies: Have enough supplies for your household, including a first aid kit, in your go bag or car trunk. Make essential purchases & slowly build supplies in advance. Be cautious when carrying flammable or combustible products. Keep your cell phone charged when wildfires could be in your area, & purchase backup charging devices to power electronics.

Tornado Safety

Emergency Operations Plan
Local Emergency Management
Assisted Living Emergency Plans

The Emergency Operations Plan (EOP)

The Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) is consistent with and complements a comprehensive emergency management system for the state of Texas and the United States. Mission accomplishment will reduce the vulnerability of our citizens to injury and loss of life, and lessen the loss of property and damage to the city. This can be achieved by providing a system for the mitigation of, preparedness for, response to, and recovery from natural or man-made hazards, and terrorist threats.