Emergency Preparedness

In Any Emergency, Call 911 First.

The skies around here aren't always blue — fire, wind, tornado, illness, hail, violence. Preparedness today is more important than ever. Use the resources below to stay safe.

Call 911

General Emergency Preparedness

  • Visit Ready.gov

    Ready.gov helps prepare the average person for common disasters and emergencies.

    Visit Visit Ready.gov

  • Create/Join a "CERT" Team

    Community Emergency Response Teams are civilians trained to respond in major emergencies. Andrews, Gaines, and Dawson counties are part of Permian Basin CERT (PBRPC). Terry and Yoakum counties are part of South Plains CERT (SPAG). As of 2025 there are no active CERT teams in our region.

    Visit Create/Join a "CERT" Team

  • Sign Up for WTXIS Resident Registry

    Available to residents of Andrews County — sign up to receive general emergency alerts from WTXIS.

    Visit Sign Up for WTXIS Resident Registry

  • Visit the American Red Cross

    From chemical spills to winter storms, the Red Cross has easy-to-follow tips for preparing your family and staying safe during and after an emergency.

    Visit Visit the American Red Cross

  • Build a Kit for Home and Vehicle

    An emergency kit has everything your family may need during an emergency — for staying inside longer than usual or being stranded in your vehicle.

    Visit Build a Kit for Home and Vehicle

Medical Emergency Preparedness

  • Take a CPR/First Aid Course

    Seminole EMS offers CPR/First Aid classes taught by local emergency medical professionals so you can react calmly and effectively in critical situations.

    Visit Take a CPR/First Aid Course

  • Learn How to "Stop the Bleed"

    A free course from Seminole EMS that teaches bystanders proper bleeding control — using hands, dressings, and tourniquets to control life-threatening bleeding.

    Visit Learn How to "Stop the Bleed"

  • Sign Up a Loved One for "Morning Call"

    Seminole EMS Morning Call offers early-morning check-ins and assistance for seniors or at-risk community members living alone.

    Visit Sign Up a Loved One for "Morning Call"

  • Sign Up Your Child for EMS Kids Camp

    An annual Seminole EMS multi-day camp for kids 8–18 with hands-on opportunities to learn essential life-saving skills.

    Visit Sign Up Your Child for EMS Kids Camp

  • Sign Up for "Medical Necessity"

    If you or a loved one depends on oxygen, is wheelchair-bound, or has other medical necessities, Seminole EMS offers a Medical Necessity form so first responders can reach you quickly.

    Visit Sign Up for "Medical Necessity"

  • Register Your Cellar or Basement

    Seminole EMS offers a form to register your cellar or basement so first responders can locate you quickly during an emergency.

    Visit Register Your Cellar or Basement

  • Register Your AED

    Register your business or organization's Automated External Defibrillator to link AED locations with trained responders and cardiac arrest victims.

    Visit Register Your AED

  • Become an EMT

    Seminole EMS offers a 24-week EMT-B training program for prehospital emergency medicine, open to anyone interested in serving our community.

    Visit Become an EMT

Fire Emergency Preparedness

  • Comply with Local Burn Bans

    Burn bans restrict outdoor burning during dry or wildfire conditions. Check the Texas A&M Forest Service map to see if your county is currently under a burn ban.

    Visit Comply with Local Burn Bans

  • Change Smoke/CO Alarm Batteries

    Smoke and Carbon Monoxide alarms save lives but only when their batteries work. An easy reminder: change them when the time changes twice a year.

    Visit Change Smoke/CO Alarm Batteries

  • Clean Up Large Debris Piles

    Piles of trash, wood, boxes, and other debris pose serious fire risks in or near homes. Hoarding situations create particular danger for residents and firefighters.

    Visit Clean Up Large Debris Piles

  • Build with Metal

    During wildfires, flying embers are the main way homes ignite. Building exteriors with metal siding or other non-combustible materials reduces that risk.

    Visit Build with Metal

Security Emergency Preparedness

  • Secure Your Firearm

    Secure firearm storage is the #1 way to help prevent accidents, theft, and misuse. It also plays an important role in suicide prevention.

    Visit Secure Your Firearm

  • Build an Active Shooter Plan

    Encountering an active shooter is unlikely, but it never hurts to prepare. Learn how to react and what to expect in such a situation.

    Visit Build an Active Shooter Plan