PREPAREDNESS
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The City of Austin Office of Emergency Management works with every City department to prepare for the inevitable disaster before it strikes. Advanced preparation helps keep our community resilient— saving lives, property, time, money, and resources.
Planning, Exercises, Mitigation, and Public Education are our key preparedness activities that help build Austin's disaster resistance. These activities are described below:
Planning
We have carefully developed a citywide Emergency Operations Plan so that we can identify hazards, assess vulnerabilities, and prioritize actions to reduce losses. An ongoing planning process helps us maintain the Emergency Operations Plan, which directs the City-wide response before, during, and after a disaster. In addition, every City department has their own emergency plans and mutual aid agreements for their critical business functions.
The Emergency Operations Plan covers many vital functions for the City, for example:
 - Communications, Public Information, and Warning
- Shelter and Human Services
- Fire and Rescue Services
- Law Enforcement
- Medical, Health, and Mental Care
- Public Works and Utilities
- Resource Management
- Damage Assessment and Recovery
The basic Emergency Operations Master Plan document is available to view online.
(PDF Format, 2.3 Mb, You will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view.)
Exercises 
Plans won't work unless you test and use them, so the Office of Emergency Management regularly coordinates and participates in a number of preparedness exercises. These range from small tabletop drills to full-scale community exercises with response vehicles and actors. After a drill, participating agencies evaluate the results and discuss improvements to the plans that were tested.
Mitigation
While we will never be able to completely prevent disasters from occurring,
the City of Austin works hard to reduce the impact on people and property. Mitigating (i.e. reducing or eliminating) hazards before a disaster is the most proactive and successful method for lessening the physical, financial, and emotional losses caused by disasters. Visit our Hazard Mitigation web page to learn about the various techniques the City uses.
Public Education
Austin is a great place to live because of the work of individuals and groups across the community. We need to continue to work together to protect our community by taking preventive measures before a disaster strikes. Our community education program helps share preparedness information through many outlets. Read more about community education topics on our Disaster Education web site.
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