We live in calamitous times.
Natural disasters have always plagued humans, but anthropogenic climate change – meaning, brought on by human activity – has meant more, and more destructive, disaster events. We’re still grappling with the impacts of COVID-19, and worrying how vulnerable we may be to another pandemic. And then there are the threats that feel especially of this moment – think: cyberattacks, active shooter situations, and whatever it is AI-gone-rogue has planned for us.
It’s a lot.
For the more anxious among us, anticipating the next disaster can feel like a full-time job. Fortunately, there are trained professionals whose actual job is emergency planning – making the best of the absolute worst times.
In the wake of the September 11 attacks, FEMA chose September as National Preparedness Month. Since 2004, the annual campaign has endeavored to educate and to empower. It’s all about the planning – to have family conversations in advance in case communication chains break down; to prep a “go bag” for a swift exit and to stock emergency supplies for a long shelter in place; to learn skills now, like CPR, that could make all the difference in the future.
In our community, there are a host of people – including public safety employees, mutual aid volunteers, and inventive students – who are thinking outside of their own homes and families to consider larger-scale disaster preparedness. We tell a few of their stories here.
The city of Austin hosts the fifth annual Get Ready Central Texas Emergency Preparedness Fair on Friday, September 18 (2-6pm) on the ACC Eastview Campus, 3101 Webberville Rd., Building 8000. A free, family-friendly event, the fair will offer training and resources for making an emergency plan and building an emergency kit. Kids in kindergarten through eighth grade can submit artwork for Austin Emergency Management’s annual Emergency Preparedness Calendar Artwork Contest. Find more details at www.austintexas.gov/ready-central-texas.
This article appears in September 11 • 2026.
Kimberley JonesEditor A graduate of the Michener Center for Writers at the University of Texas, Kimberley has written about film, books, and pop culture for The Austin Chronicle since 2000. She was named Editor of the Chronicle in 2016; she previously served as the paper’s Managing Editor, Screens Editor, Books Editor, and proofreader. Her work has been awarded by the Association of Alternative Newsmedia for excellence in arts criticism, team reporting, and special section (Best of Austin). The Austin Alliance for Women... More by Kimberley Jones
