Developing and Implementing a Citizen Preparedness Plan

Project Overview

The Regional Catastrophic Planning Team (RCPT) of Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin sought to implement a comprehensive, multi-media citizen preparedness plan across the three states. The goal was to enhance community readiness and ensure effective disaster response for the region.

Understanding the Mission

The program had to be based on proven best practices in emergency preparedness. Additionally, it needed to incorporate evaluation tools for ongoing assessment and continuous improvement, ensuring long-term effectiveness.

The Hagerty Approach

Hagerty began by researching successful emergency preparedness programs from other organizations. These insights informed the development of a dynamic and multifaceted citizen preparedness plan under the slogan “Gear Up. Get Ready!” The campaign included:

• Multi-Platform Outreach: The campaign featured events, digital billboards, TV and radio ads, print advertisements, and public relations efforts to reach a broad audience.
• Dual-Language Content: The program targeted both English and Spanish-speaking audiences, with select media and materials available in both languages to ensure accessibility.
• Accessible Websites: Hagerty developed two fully compliant websites, one in English and one in Spanish, offering downloadable preparedness resources for 15 different hazards. Both websites met Section 508 accessibility standards, ensuring inclusion for all users.
• Regional Collaboration: Hagerty worked closely with regional stakeholders to update preparedness guides and create a comprehensive Regional Citizen Preparedness Plan, which covered topics such as evacuation, mass care, pet safety, and more.

Achieving Results

The campaign reached over 15.6 million people across 19 counties, engaging 30,000 households through 61 outdoor events. Nearly 100,000 individuals received direct mail materials, and over 260 emergency managers and volunteers were trained. As a result, the program equipped the team with vital preparedness resources to support their ongoing efforts in the field.