Public education is an integral part of the Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) objectives.  The OEMC continues to remind residents that the best defense against any emergency situation is to be prepared and to be informed.  The City offers a variety of tools to help individuals plan ahead and respond and recover from emergency situations.

OEMC Media Affairs division coordinates media messages through press releases, press conferences, social media and speaking engagements.  Notify Chicago is the public emergency notification system which provides subscribers with emergency alerts including major incidents, severe weather and traffic disruptions.

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is a training and volunteer program funded by the Department of Homeland Security which offers area residents an opportunity to learn basic hands-on disaster response techniques.

OEMC encourages the public to be ready, respond and recover to emergency situations.  Planning now and knowing what to do will make it easier if an emergency occurs.