Are You Emergency Ready?

By Jessica Thompson 

Taylorsville - According to the U.S. Geological Survey website, the chances of Utah having a large-scale earthquake along the Wasatch Front in the next 50 years is at 25 percent. What if that earthquake were to happen today? Would you have a 72-hour kit ready? Would your family have an emergency preparedness plan?  

In order to help residents feel prepared, Taylorsville City hosts an Emergency Preparedness Fair each September. This year the event included demonstration booths by The American Red Cross, Be Ready Utah, Medical Reserve Corps, Taylorsville Cert, Emergency Management, Hamnet, Public Safety Committee and the Unified Fire and Police Departments. 

Volunteers at the various booths took time to interact one-on-one with each family to help them know what can be done to meet their individual needs if a disaster were to hit their family. 

 “The Emergency Preparedness Fair is hosted by the City of Taylorsville to give the opportunity for public safety organizations to provide tips, tools and resources to the citizens of Taylorsville and surrounding communities so they can prepare for emergencies and disasters that could affect their family and home,” Ben Gustafson, Taylorsville’s emergency coordinator, said.

For the first time, this year’s fair hosted two keynote speakers; Bob Carey, earthquake program manager, and Joe Dougherty, public information officer, to teach audience members specifics on earthquakes and how to receive emergency messages for Utah. 

Carey’s enthusiasm for earthquakes helped audience members know more about how earthquakes affect their area and how they personally can be prepared if one strikes. Audience members Ray and Donna enjoyed learning more about exactly where the earthquake faults are found in Utah.

“I think it is important to be aware of the fact that we live near earthquake fault lines,” Donna said.

Next, Dougherty taught those in attendance about four different ways to be better updated about a disaster. 

VECC9-1-1.com: When you register your number with this website, a notification text will be sent to your cell phones. 

EmergencyInfoUtah.com: This website makes it possible to receive updates on emergencies via your email. When you join their mailing list, you can choose for which emergency you would like to receive updates. 

Social Media: Twitter and Facebook are two of the quickest ways you can be notified of a disaster in your area. Look up Be Ready Utah, Taylorsville City Hall, Unified Police Department and Utah Emergency for quick updates on emergencies in your area. 

Ham Radios: Another way to be updated quickly in a state of emergency is through the HAM radio. Taylorsville City is hosting a HAM Cram Course and Amateur Radio License Exam on Nov. 7 at Taylorsville City Hall, 2600 Taylorsville Blvd. The Ham Cram Course will be at 1:30 p.m. with the license exam following from 6-8 p.m. 

“I really enjoyed learning more about the emergency information system. I even set up a Twitter account while listening to the speakers,”  Mr. Gardener, a Taylorsville resident, said.