6 Ways to Prepare Your Community for a Disaster

Disasters demand leadership. Not just from the government, but from us. From women who already hold their families and communities together. The ones thinking ahead, checking in with neighbors, keeping the group chat going. That’s leadership, too.

We need leadership now more than ever. Right now, the federal government plans to cut $1 billion of funding for FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and shift disaster support to states. It also aims to cut 25% of the budget for NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). These cuts would take effect this winter, after hurricane season ends. The result could be less warning about severe weather and fewer resources when a crisis happens.

That’s scary. But preparing ahead is one of the simplest things you can do to make your home and your community more resilient.

6 ways to prepare your community for a disaster

1. Talk to your local elected officials.

You can bring this up in town hall meetings, write to your officials, or contact your city or county department of emergency management. A few things to ask:

• State: If FEMA assistance is reduced, how will the state fill the gap?
• Local: What’s their plan for being disaster-ready? What emergencies are they preparing for? Is the crisis plan changing this year? How can citizens get involved? Are there any workshops available for neighborhoods or workplaces?

2. Train up to lead in a crisis.

By learning basic skills like first aid, fire safety, light search and rescue, and coordination with emergency responders, you can act effectively without slowing down official efforts.

CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) trains citizens in these skills. It’s currently run through FEMA but offered locally. Some cities also offer similar programs called NERT or NET, which focus on neighborhoods. If nothing like this exists where you live, take a first aid class and ask your local officials if they’d consider starting one.

3. Make a personal plan.

Do you know what to do if there’s a major storm, a public safety emergency, or a health crisis? What if there’s an infrastructure failure and you couldn’t communicate, shop, or travel the way you normally do?

Check your city or county website for plans for the most likely emergencies, evacuation routes, and contact info. You can also find solid action plans for emergencies from the Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity.

Once you know the plan, take action. Collect important documents, buy or replace supplies, run a drill with your household, and sign up for emergency alerts in your area.

4. Be aware of frauds and scams.

When disaster strikes, so do the opportunists. A few common scams: Fake government entities (federal, state, or local), fake charities, fake insurance claims, fake GoFundMes, and contractor price gouging. Keep your insurance documents in a safe place and gather contacts for official agencies and relief organizations.

5. Build neighborhood resilience.

Are you part of a community group, neighborhood watch, or group chat? These are great places to start making a plan. And if they don’t exist yet, here’s your reason for taking the lead.

A few things to discuss:

• Will anyone need extra assistance?
• Are there any parts of the neighborhood that are especially vulnerable?
• Is there a designated emergency evacuation route?
• Does a group chat, phone tree, etc. exist yet? How is it updated?

Ideally, you can divide up responsibilities. One person could attend a CERT training, another could research local agency contacts, and others could lead a supply drive, arrange a preparedness workshop, or be assigned to help neighbors who need a hand.

6. Work with relief orgs before the next crisis.

Disaster relief organizations do critical work, but it can take time. We’ve all seen the rush of requests for blood donors and urgent “help now!” links. If you can, now’s the time to figure out which organizations you’d like to help out now. Donate, give blood, or start volunteering today.

Because now’s the time to plan, talk, organize, and act. Being prepared isn’t just about safety. It is about showing up for your community when it matters.

And that’s the kind of leadership we’re here to support at She Should Run. Women who are already caring for their communities, seeing what needs to be done, and choosing to step up. Often, we’re already doing this work. We just need to keep going.