Austin residents can mark their calendars for the last emergency preparedness training session of the year, hosted by the City of Austin Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM). Scheduled for October 10, from 5:30-7:30 p.m., this educational opportunity is designed to ensure locals are ready to efficiently handle emergencies. The two-hour course will be held at the Hampton Branch at Oak Hill Austin Public Library, located at 5125 Convict Hill Rd, Austin, TX 78749, as per the City of Austin announcement.
Interested individuals are required to register in advance to secure their seats. To complement the learning experience, attendees will be treated to complimentary pizza and beverages—a gesture to both nourish and encourage participants to engage in this civic exercise. To help plan accordingly, the organizers are asking those intending to go to RSVP. The event, titled "Ready Together: Basic Emergency Preparedness for You, Your Family & Your Neighborhood (Classroom Training)," welcomes anyone, whether they are new to emergency preparedness or looking to refresh their knowledge.
The HSEM has collaborated with several local agencies and organizations—including Austin Watershed Protection, Austin Fire Department, and Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services—to construct an informative session that addresses a variety of potential emergency scenarios. Ascension Seton and Go Austin/Vamos Austin (GAVA) are also playing vital roles in the program's development. The class will address the four critical steps of emergency preparedness: making a plan, assembling an emergency kit, knowing your neighbors, and staying informed.
With a special focus on flood safety—a significant concern for Central Texas residents—participants will learn crucial strategies to protect themselves and their neighborhoods in the face of rising waters. Additionally, the program will offer insights into fire prevention in the home and include a CPR demonstration. Each person completing the course will walk away with not only enhanced knowledge but also an emergency preparedness starter kit and a NOAA weather radio exactly as reported by the city's announcement. Language shouldn't be a barrier for this essential training; hence, interpreters for Spanish and American Sign Language will be available, with additional language support upon request. For any special accommodations, the city requests that interested parties contact 3-1-1 or (512) 974-2000 at least five days in advance of the event.
