Heath Stevenson
Emergency Manager
hmstevenson@orem.org | 801.229.7146
Community Preparedness
The Emergency Alert system allows local officials to help protect lives and property in the City of Orem by providing crucial information to residents during dangerous situations, disaster situations, and other emergencies.
The system allows the Police Department, Fire Department, and/or City Management to quickly send out an emergency alert to residents in any affected or geographic area in the city. Depending on the emergency, the alert may be sent to the entire city or selected areas within the city. The current database that our Public Safety Departments can send messages to includes only traditional wire-line telephones (the “land line” you may have in your home).
If you want the system to send alerts to other communication devices that you use, such as a cell phone or email, you will have to provide your contact information by logging into the system and signing up for alerts.
Amateur Radio or better known as ham radio, is a very popular hobby. Ham radio is fun, social, educational, and can also be a lifeline during times of need. Ham radio is used to talk with people in the community, across town, around the world, and is vital in helping with communication efforts during various situations and events throughout the year. Although Amateur Radio operators get involved for many reasons, all operators have a basic understanding of radio technology and the needed operating principles. Ham radio operators also have to pass an examination to gain their FCC (Federal Communications Commission) license and be allowed to operate on radio frequencies, known as the "Amateur Bands."
Amateur Radio is a vital part of disaster preparedness here in the City of Orem. Here we partner with the local ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) group UCARES (Utah County Amateur Radio Emergency Services) and the Local Amateur Radio Club UVARC (Utah Valley Amateur Radio Club) to provide radio communications at various events throughout the city and the county. Volunteers from these groups are trained and licensed to provide communications across the city during a disaster, an emergency situation, and also help out with the City of Orem Drill and the Summerfest parade and firework show.
If you are interested in either of the groups mentioned above please see their website at ucares.org and uvarc.club, and if you are interested in becoming a licensed ham radio operator please see the list of available classes below that are offered here in Orem.
The City of Orem will be conducting monthly Neighborhood Preparedness courses, which all residents are welcome to attend. More information coming soon.
CERT educates individuals about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team building, and disaster medical operations. The CERT program information is being taught online, at your own pace, by the University of Utah. This course provides valuable preparedness information for your family, your neighborhood, and the community as a whole.
Neighborhood Programs
Information regarding the City of Orem Drill can be located at drill.orem.org
This program follows many principles learned in the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training. We have developed a training packet that Block Captains can study and use as a training manual for their responsibilities. The simplified instructions that explain the block captain program, as well as, how to train citizens to be block captains can also be found at the following link Block Captain Program.
The Community Emergency Plan will help each community in Orem to prepare for natural disasters and any other major emergency by being aware of their surroundings. Below you will find a plan recommended to each community by the City of Orem. For your convenience, the first part of this page explains the various roles that should be filled in a community. The second portions describes how to develop your plan and the third section is blank guide for you to follow or even use as you create your Community Specific Emergency Plan.