Emergency management officials in Draper and Cache County are highlighting the critical importance of community preparedness as they manage frameworks for responding to natural disasters such as wildfires, floods, and earthquakes. While local governments maintain primary responsibility for disaster response, both jurisdictions are emphasizing that citizen self-sufficiency is vital for effective recovery.
Draper Response Frameworks
The City of Draper maintains a Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP) designed to establish a framework for responding to, recovering from, and mitigating various hazards. According to the City of Draper, this plan dictates that local government holds the primary responsibility for emergency management activities. If an incident exceeds local capabilities, Draper will seek assistance from neighboring jurisdictions, Utah County, Salt Lake County, and eventually the State of Utah.
Logistics and Mitigation
The City of Draper utilizes a Logistics Annex to support both response and recovery phases. This document is designed to be scalable, allowing for the coordinated distribution of supplies and equipment to responders and the public during incidents ranging from minimal to extensive operations. Additionally, Draper participates in the multi-jurisdictual hazard mitigation plan through its Jurisdictional Annex to the Salt Lake County Hazard Mitigation Plan.
Wildfire Risk Management
Addressing the specific threat of fire, the City of Draper noted that over 600 Utah communities are currently classified as being at risk of wildfire. The city emphasizes that protecting private property and community infrastructure is a shared responsibility between citizens, developers, and local, county, state, and federal governments.
Cache County Operations
In Cache County, Emergency Manager Will Lusk oversees the day-to-day operations of the Emergency Operations Center (E.O.C.), a centralized location where agencies coordinate response efforts during major disasters. The E.O.C. serves to support decision-making, manage logistics, and allocate resources across multiple jurisdictions. To ensure real-time communication during crises, the Cache County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Management utilizes the cachecountyalert.org website and broadcasts updates via the WQKB (1610 AM) radio station.
Community Training Programs
Cache County officials emphasize that because the region is rural, individuals are often the first on the scene during large-scale disasters. To address this, the county promotes several community programs, including the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program, which is currently active in North Logan and Hyble. CERT training educates citizens in basic disaster response skills such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations.
Emergency Communication Networks
The county also relies on the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) to maintain communication lines when traditional infrastructure fails. The ARES network, which includes the Bridgerland Amateur Radio Club ARES Team in Cache County, provides a way to relay messages when phone, internet, or power systems are disrupted. These licensed operators assist with coordination at hospitals, shelters, and emergency operations centers.
Individual Preparedness Resources
Both jurisdictions advocate for individual preparedness as the foundation of community resilience. Cache County has released a Family Emergency Guide—originally developed for Sheriff’s Office employees but now available to the public—which provides instructions on building 72-hour kits, creating family emergency plans, and preparing financial contingency plans. Similarly, Draper City points residents toward resources like 'Be Ready Utah' from the State Division of Emergency Management and FEMA's 'Are You Ready' guide to help protect lives and property.
