North Austin News

Austin’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) has released new editions of its Neighborhood Preparedness Guide in Chinese Simplified and Vietnamese. The guide, already available in English and Spanish, aims to assist individuals, families, and neighborhoods in preparing for emergencies.

“We need everyone in our community to know how to prepare for emergencies,” said HSEM Interim Director Bill Wilson. “Having the Neighborhood Preparedness Guide available in the languages spoken by our community helps everyone have the same access to emergency resources and meets the needs of Austin’s growing population.”

The guide can be downloaded from ReadyCentralTexas.org in English, Spanish, Chinese Simplified, or Vietnamese. Physical copies are available at Emergency Preparedness Pop-Up Events scheduled for August 21, October 18, and November 15 this year. Additionally, guides will be distributed at the 3rd annual Get Ready Central Texas Emergency Preparedness Fair on September 19 at ACC Rio Grande Campus. In the coming weeks, staff will deliver guides to various organizations and places of faith. Businesses or organizations interested in stocking the guides can request them via hsemcommunications@austintexas.gov.

HSEM collaborated with several entities including Watershed Protection Department, Office of Sustainability, Go! Austin / Vamos! Austin (GAVA), and the RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service at The University of Texas at Austin's LBJ School of Public Affairs to develop the guide. The initiative was inspired by the Dove Springs Neighborhood Guide pilot project. Contributions also came from other City of Austin departments and emergency management offices nationwide.

For more information about Emergency Preparedness Pop-Up Events, Neighborhood Preparedness Guides or general emergency preparedness visit ReadyCentralTexas.org.