Minneapolis Emergency Preparedness
The health and safety of Minneapolis residents is our top priority. In case of an emergency, the City of Minneapolis and its Emergency Preparedness team are prepared to provide leadership in preparing for, responding to and recovering from natural or manmade disasters in our community.
The City’s emergency readiness planning efforts focus on all hazards: weather-related disasters, terrorism, and disease outbreaks, such as SARS. Emergency preparedness requires strong partnerships with other local, state and federal agencies. While these partnerships are essential to ensuring that we have the resources we need to handle such an emergency, it is important to realize that all of us – our residents, businesses and nonprofit agencies – play a part in being prepared and vigilant.
This site will provide you with resources that will keep you both informed and prepared if we are faced with an emergency situation. Here is some basic information that you and your family can use to prepare for an emergency:
Preparing for emergencies – English (pdf)
Kev npaj rau lub caij muaj xwm txheej ceev -Emergencies [Hmong] (pdf)
Qorshaha Gar-Gaarka deg-degga ah [Somali] (pdf)
Preparativos para Emergencias [Spanish] (pdf)
How You Can Help
Become a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) member: The CERT program
educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact our community. This valuable course is offered by the City of Minneapolis and is designed to help you protect yourself, your family, your neighbors and your neighborhood in an emergency situation.
Give blood. Blood donations are needed year around. Please call the Memorial Blood Centers of Minnesota or the American Red Cross in advance to schedule a time for your blood donation.
Memorial Blood Center blood donation information
American Red Cross blood donation information
Make a Donation. The American Red Cross helps people free of charge when an emergency or disaster devastates a community. Click here for more information on how to make a donation to this effort.
And don’t forget those closer to home. Many organizations locally continue to serve those in need who live in our community during good times and during emergencies. Please seek out your local organizations and donate generously. Here is a list of some established agencies:
The Minneapolis Foundation
Minnesota Community Foundation
The Saint Paul Foundation
Greater Twin Cities United Way
Northwest Area Foundation
McKnight Foundation
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation
Personal Preparedness
State resources for personal preparedness - CodeReady.org
Federal resources to personal preparedness - Ready.gov
Emergency and Community Health Outreach (in six languages) - EchoMinnesota.org
Minnesota Helps opportunity for response to recent disasters - MinnesotaHelps.org
Information and checklists to prepare for a "bird flu" or pandemic flu outbreak - Avian Flu and Pandemic Flu
Ready.gov Resources for Seniors
Ready.gov Resources for the disabled
Ready.gov Local and state emergency preparedness sites
American Red Cross resources (babysitter training, speakers bureau, preparedness tips) American Red Cross training opportunities (doc)
FBI Tip Line
Have a tip or information you regarding suspicious or terrorist activity? Contact the FBI tip line
More information
Minnesota Department of Public Safety with additional information and links on public safety, terrorism, severe weather and other emergency preparedness.
Severe weather and other emergency readiness information
Preventing terrorist attack: How you can help (FBI website)
Talking to kids about terrorism or acts of war (NYU Child Study Center)
Last updated May. 2, 2012