Let's Get Ready!

On Saturday, September 27, the Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) will host “Let’s Get Ready!” a city-wide multi-agency community fair to educate and encourage residents on what protective measures to take before, during, and after an emergency. The event is free and open to the public and wraps up Boston’s emergency preparedness and awareness education campaign during National Preparedness Month in September.

“Residents often ask how they can help the City during an emergency,” said Mayor Martin J. Walsh. “You can help by having an emergency plan that ensures you, and your family, can be self-sufficient following any emergency that may impact your normal routine.”

“Emergencies can happen anywhere and anytime. That is why OEM is always on alert and ready to activate the City’s emergency plans,” said Rene Fielding Director of OEM. “This community preparedness event will give you the opportunity to meet City Departments and learn how you can prepare your family so when an emergency occurs you have a plan to keep your family safe.”

The “Let’s Get Ready!” community preparedness fair will be held at BCYF Tobin Community Center on Saturday, September 27, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. At the event, residents will view a “mock” emergency shelter while learning about personal preparedness, pet sheltering, bystander CPR, and mobile City Hall services. All attendees will receive a family preparedness go-bag, filled with enough supplies to support a family of five people. Item quantities are limited and will be provided on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Other departments providing information and in attendance at “Let’s Get Ready!” will be Boston Centers for Youth & Families, the Boston Police Department, the Boston Fire Department, Boston EMS, the Boston Public Health Commission, the Inspectional Services Department, Greenovate Boston, City Hall to Go, Boston Water and Sewer Commission, Animal Care and Control, the Boston Parks Department, Suffolk County Sheriff's Department, American Red Cross, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, and Target.

During National Preparedness Month, OEM representatives have attended 19 Crime Watch, Neighborhood Watch, and Neighborhood Civic Association meetings across the city, to share emergency preparedness tips with residents. OEM representatives also met with department staff within City Hall to engage them in how emergency preparedness can be incorporated into the work they are doing and passed onto their constituencies.

Additionally, OEM Director, Rene Fielding, hosted a Chief Chat on the City Hall to Go Truck in East Boston to answer citizens’ questions. OEM also held a Twitter Chat in conjunction with the Boston Public Health Commission and Greenovate Boston around emergency preparedness.

Residents are encouraged to stay informed about incidents that occur within the City throughout the year by registering for AlertBoston, the City’s notification system. By registering for an AlertBoston account residents can receive alerts on their cell phone, work phone, via text message, email, or home phone. Residents can also specify the neighborhoods for which they want to receive information such as a home address, parents’ home address, a workplace, or a child’s school, as long as those locations are within the boundaries of Boston. For more information about AlertBoston or to sign up for an account please visit www.cityofboston.gov/alertboston.

Follow @readyboston on Twitter for emergency preparedness tips and join the preparedness conversation using hashtag:  #ReadyBos.