City hosts free wildfire preparedness training

The Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management is offering a free emergency preparedness training session, “Ready Together: Basic Emergency Preparedness for You, Your Family & Your Neighborhood,” on Thursday, May 8, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Carver Branch of the Austin Public Library. Developed in collaboration with the Austin Fire Department, its Wildfire Division, Ascension Seton, and Go Austin/Vamos Austin (GAVA), the two-hour session aims to equip residents with essential strategies to prepare for emergencies, with a particular focus on wildfire safety. Attendees will learn the four key steps of emergency preparedness: creating a plan, building an emergency kit, knowing your neighbors, and staying informed. Given that Central Texas ranks fifth nationally for the number of homes at risk of wildfire, this training is especially pertinent. Participants will also receive an emergency preparedness starter kit and a NOAA weather radio. Complimentary pizza and beverages will be provided, and interpreters will be available in both Spanish and American Sign Language. Registration is required to attend. The training aligns with recent initiatives by the City Council to bolster wildfire preparedness. Last month, Council adopted updates to the Wildland-Urban Interface code, expanding the designated wildfire risk zones to encompass over half of Austin’s habitable land, representing a 38 percent increase from a decade ago. Information and registration are available online.