City of Chicago, IL

09/10/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/11/2025 07:54

September is National Preparedness Month and Chicago is Getting Super Prepared

CHICAGO: The Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) in conjunction with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is encouraging residents to participate in National Preparedness Month throughout the month of September. National Preparedness Month (NPM) is observed each year to promote family and community disaster planning year-round.
2025 Theme: Preparedness Starts at Home
This year's focus is on Preparedness Starts at Home. We are asking residents to take actions to prepare for any disaster they may face:
  • Know the different types of emergencies that could happen and appropriate responses to stay safe - severe weather, flooding, fire, bleeding control, reporting suspicious activity, pet safety, etc.
  • Make A Plan: Know how to prepare for disasters that include how you will communicate with family and friends during disasters, reviewing insurance papers, and much more. Include learning to stop the bleed, CPR and other life-saving techniques in your plan in advance of a crisis.
  • Build A Kit: You'll need items to survive during a disaster that includes supplies you may need at home as well as a go kit of items you may need if you must evacuate quickly to a safer location.
  • Prepare for Disasters: Find out the best way to limit the impacts a disaster may have, like having the right insurance coverage or what can you do to your home to make it stronger and more resilient.
  • Celebrate OEMC's 30th Anniversary and National See Something, Say Something Day on Thursday, September 25 and learn about the 5Ws to reporting suspicious activity and other tips.
  • Pet Preparedness: Remember your pets in emergency plans to keep them safe, they're family too.
  • Safe Chicago: Learn more about the OEMC program and the more than 2,500 Safe Chicago bleeding control kits installed across the city (details below).
  • Download the Chicago OEMC App
  • Sign-up for Smart911. Create a profile for you and your family which will give 9-1-1 information to help in an emergency. To create a Smart911 profile, download the Smart911 mobile app or visit Smart911.com
  • Sign up for one of the alerts offered by the City of Chicago to stay informed on traffic impacts, severe weather and emergency alerts.
  • NotifyChicago alerts, visit NotifyChicago.org
  • CHILAKE: For lakefront notices, TEXT "CHILAKE" to 7-8-0-1-5
  • CHIBIZ: For alerts affecting businesses, TEXT "CHIBIZ" to 6-7-2-8-3
Are You SUPER Prepared?
Throughout the month OEMC will present tips on CTA buses and trains, as well as educational videos on social media to ensure residents are prepared for emergencies. Chicago native and Marvel Superhero Ironheart is bringing preparedness tips and safety information to all age groups, from young kids to adults with themed messaging featuring the fan-favorite character. Preparedness tips include reporting suspicious activity, severe weather and tornados, extreme heat, water safety, fire safety, downloading the Chicago OEMC app, pet safety, building an emergency kit and more. For complete details visit Chicago.gov/oemc (Ironheart).
Safe Chicago
OEMC is committed providing not only preparedness information but the tools to keep residents safe. Through its Safe Chicago program, OEMC has installed over a 2,500 Safe Chicago Bleeding Control Kits across the city adding to the public safety of residents, city employees and visitors. The lifesaving kits are in museums, Navy Pier, City Colleges, on Chicago river tour boats, water taxis, along the Riverwalk, the Chicago Architecture Center, sports arenas, tourist destinations, multiple museum campuses, City of Chicago owned and leased buildings, among other locations throughout the city. OEMC's Safe Chicago initiative has helped make bleeding control kits and training widely accessible throughout the City of Chicago, today more than 5,000 city employees and partners have been trained on how to utilize the bleeding control kits.
For complete details on emergency preparedness information and tips are available on OEMC's website Chicago.gov/OEMC or the FEMA website at Ready.gov/September. Follow the Office of Emergency Management and Communications on Facebook, Twitter (@ChicagoOEMC) and Instagram (chicago_oemc_911) using the hashtags #BeReady, #NPM2024 #SeeSay #Smart911, #ChicagoOEMC. You can also find video tips and our podcast on YouTube at OEMC Chicago - YouTube.
City of Chicago, IL published this content on September 10, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on September 11, 2025 at 13:54 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]