EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

Chances are, if you are reading this newsletter, you live in an apartment, condo, or other multifamily housing complex. You’re not just sharing walls with your neighbors: in an emergency, you may depend on building systems, communal infrastructure, and shared evacuation routes. That means preparedness is especially important. We hope the following information will be helpful in putting plans in place. And we all hope that this planning stays dormant!

Utah faces many natural and man-made hazards. Some are more likely where you live in multifamily housing:

• Earthquakes — Utah lies along active fault lines, and earthquakes can strike without warning.
• Floods & flash floods — Often associated with heavy rain, runoff, or post-wildfire debris flows.
• Wildfires (nearby areas), smoke, and associated dangers — especially relevant if your housing is near hills, dry vegetation, or fire-prone zones.
• Severe weather/storms/power outages — Winter storms, heat waves, or utility failures can affect many living units at once.
• Fires inside the building — Multifamily buildings bring increased risk because of shared corridors, stairwells, utility lines, and more units.

Here are practical steps you and your household can take — many of them low-cost or free — to increase your safety and resilience.

• Build an emergency kit: Include water (for at least 3 days), non-perishable food, flashlight, extra batteries, first aid kit, essential medications, personal hygiene items, copies of important documents, pet supplies (if any), blankets, extra clothes, etc.
• Have an evacuation/escape plan: Know at least two routes out of your unit (e.g., stairwells, windows, hallways), and make sure everyone in your household knows how to get out safely. Practice. If you’re on a higher floor, consider how you’ll evacuate — especially if elevators may be unsafe after an earthquake or during a fire.
• Secure heavy furniture and appliances: In earthquake-prone Utah, unsecured furniture, water heaters, or wall hangings can become dangerous projectiles. Secure bookshelves, dressers, TVs, water heaters, and anything heavy to walls or floors.
• Create a family/household communications & meet-up plan: Choose a contact outside Utah (out-of-state friend or relative) that all household members can check in with. Decide on a “where to meet” location if home becomes unsafe or inaccessible.
• Stay informed — sign up for alerts and local emergency info: Many communities (especially around Salt Lake) have alert systems for earthquakes, floods, fires, or other emergencies.
• Know building-specific plans: Talk with your property manager about the building’s emergency/disaster plan: fire escape routes, shut-off valves, meeting points, policy around utility shutoffs, where emergency supplies are (if any), and responsibilities.
• Think about special needs: If anyone in your household has medical needs, disabilities, pets, or other special circumstances — plan accordingly. Include medications, mobility devices, service-animal needs, and alternate communication means.

We wish you good health and
much happiness.