In recent weeks, we’ve witnessed the devastation wreaked by Hurricane Helene from Georgia to North Carolina.

The images of flooded streets, destroyed homes and displaced families have once again reminded us how vulnerable our communities can be when natural disasters strike. While Utah may not face hurricanes, we are not immune to the forces of nature.

Earthquakes, wildfires, flooding and winter storms are real threats, and preparedness is key to mitigating their impacts.

In Eagle Mountain, we pride ourselves on a forward-thinking approach to emergency preparedness. Our Emergency Preparedness Plan, which covers a wide array of potential disasters ranging from earthquakes to wildfires, serves as our roadmap for how we best prepare and how we intend to respond.

This plan is more than just words on paper. It’s an evolving and dynamic strategy that prioritizes the safety of our residents while keeping in mind the rapid growth of our community.

The question, however, isn’t whether we are prepared but whether we are doing enough to ensure that when disaster strikes, we respond effectively.

As I’ve spent time reflecting on our preparedness efforts, it’s clear that building and maintaining a resilient community requires two critical ingredients: resources and relationships.

In city government, we must make tough decisions about where to allocate our budget. Often, it’s easy to prioritize infrastructure projects, parks and services that offer immediately visible benefits to residents.

Emergency preparedness, by contrast, is often more difficult to fund because its payoff comes in times of crisis rather than day-to-day life.

As we’ve seen time and again, whether it’s wildfires threatening our neighborhoods or severe flooding sweeping through our streets, investment in preparedness saves lives. That’s why I’m urging Eagle Mountain, and Utah County at large, to think more broadly about the role of emergency preparedness in our community planning.

This means dedicating significant dollars toward improving early warning systems, ensuring our public safety personnel have the tools and resources they need, and continuously updating our emergency protocols to keep pace with the growth in Utah County.

Eagle Mountain has made strides already. We conduct routine emergency drills, train city personnel and collaborate closely with state and federal agencies. But there is always more to do. Future investments in preparedness will only enhance our ability to protect our residents and minimize damage in the face of catastrophe.

While financial investments are critical, preparedness is not just about dollars spent. It’s also, I’m finding, about human connection. In times of disaster, it is the strength of our relationships that often determines how well we respond.

My son is serving an assignment for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Georgia. In a recent conversation, he mentioned the ways he has been able to assist those impacted by Hurricane Helene through the relationships he has built with those owning heavy equipment and those who simply want to serve their community more in the disaster response efforts in the area.

We’ve seen the stories emerging of neighbors helping neighbors, communities rallying to care for the most vulnerable and local organizations stepping up to provide shelter and supplies. These are powerful reminders that, when the worst happens, we are only as strong as the bonds we forge.

In Eagle Mountain, we know the value of community. We see it during community events, in our local businesses, schools and churches. We also saw it recently in our own community as we responded to a wildfire during the summer that threatened homes near one of our neighborhoods. Neighbors came together, shared resources and urged the city to plan additional routes out of the neighborhood.

I encourage every one of us to deepen those connections now. Get to know your neighbors, whether it’s through a neighborhood block party, joining a community service group or simply striking up a conversation.

Stronger community ties mean that, in the event of a disaster, we won’t just rely on government resources. We’ll rely on each other — on the bonds we’ve built long before disaster arrives.

Preparedness is not a luxury. It’s a necessity that requires both planning and proactive investment.

I ask you to think about how you can contribute to our collective preparedness. Whether it’s attending a local emergency drill, volunteering with a local organization or simply reaching out to a neighbor, we all play a role in building a more prepared community.