Get Involved
Be Ready Utah
The most important first responder in any disaster is the prepared person already there.
"The best time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining."
Why Getting Involved Matters
In a large-scale disaster, outside help may not arrive for days, weeks, or longer. Our neighborhoods and communities are our real support structures, but only if we build them before we need them.
Prepare Yourself First
You are responsible for yourself and your family first. Just like the oxygen mask on a plane: you cannot help anyone if you become incapacitated. Get prepared, then help others.
Then Help Your Neighbors
The more each household prepares, the less burden we place on emergency responders, and the more capacity we have to help others. Every prepared household strengthens the whole community.
Include Everyone
Think of those with access and functional needs in your circle of influence. Offer to include them in your emergency plans. No one should be left behind in a disaster.
Utah's Volunteer Spirit
Utah is known for neighbors helping neighbors. We see it after every emergency: sandbags filled, basements bailed, debris cleared. That same spirit can prepare us before disaster strikes.
Be part of the solution, not the problem. We all have something to contribute. Look for opportunities to share what you know and help others take one step toward being ready.
Check on Your Community's Plans
Emergency preparedness does not stop at your front door. The places where your family spends time every day need plans too, and you can help make that happen.
Your Place of Employment
Ask if your workplace has an emergency plan. If it does, learn it. If it does not, volunteer to help develop and maintain one. Knowing what to do at work can save lives, yours and your coworkers'.
Your Child's School
Get involved through your school's parent and teacher organization. You may be able to help develop emergency plans, assist with drills, or strengthen reunification plans. Be an advocate for school safety alongside teachers and administrators.
Faith-Based and Community Organizations
Your community or faith-based organization is already a trusted network. Find out if they have an emergency plan, and offer to be part of building or updating one.
Support Your Local Emergency Manager
Emergency managers wear many hats and never have enough time, funding, or resources. Ask your local emergency manager directly: "Is there something I can do to help?" The answer is almost always yes.
Ways to Get Involved
There are meaningful ways to contribute at every level, from your block to your county. Find what fits your time, skills, and interests.
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
CERT trains community members in basic disaster response skills: first aid, light search and rescue, fire safety, and team organization. It is one of the most practical things you can do to be ready and to help your community when it matters most.
Find Out More About CERT ProgramsShare What You Know
Bring preparedness into your everyday conversations. Do not overwhelm people with everything that needs to be done. You cannot scare people into action. Encourage with positivity. Show them one thing you have done to prepare and invite them to take one step too.
Help Those with Access and Functional Needs
People with disabilities, chronic illness, mobility limitations, or language barriers often have gaps in their emergency planning. If you know someone in this situation, offer to include them in your plans and help them connect with Utah's access and functional needs resources.
Already prepared? Help someone else get started. Walk a neighbor through the Be Ready Utah checklist. Share the family emergency plan worksheet. One conversation can make a real difference.
How to Volunteer Responsibly
A community already in crisis can be overwhelmed by well-meaning volunteers who arrive unannounced. Being a good volunteer means being prepared, self-sufficient, and responsive to what is actually needed.
Do This
- Wait until volunteers are officially requested before showing up.
- Arrive completely self-sufficient. Bring your own food, water, and shelter.
- Follow directions from authorities on what help is needed and where to go.
- If donating, give cash to a reputable disaster relief organization. It is the most flexible and effective form of help.
- If donating goods, only send specifically requested items: labeled, clean, and ready to use.
Avoid This
- Do not show up unannounced. Communities in crisis are short on time and resources.
- Do not assume local grocery stores or hotels will be available to you.
- Do not send unsolicited donations of food, clothing, or other items. They often end up in a landfill.
- Do not add to the burden of people already stretched thin. A disorganized volunteer response can slow relief efforts.
The best time to help is before a disaster, not after. Organized, trained, prepared volunteers are far more effective than spontaneous ones. Get trained now so you are truly ready when it matters.
Ready to take the next step?
Find a CERT program near you, or connect with your local emergency manager to learn how you can help.
Questions?
Reach out to your local emergency manager or the Be Ready Utah team directly.
Follow Us Online
Social media is a source for preparedness information and emergency alerts before, during, and after disasters. Join the conversation: ask questions, share what you are doing to prepare, and help build a culture of readiness across Utah.
Know your sources. During emergencies, misinformation spreads fast. Follow official accounts from Utah DEM, your county emergency manager, and the National Weather Service. Avoid sharing unverified information.
We want to hear from you. Ask questions. Share what you are doing to prepare. If you are thinking it, chances are someone else is too. Let us build a culture of preparedness together.