City of Grand Rapids Emergency Management

This Veterans Day, Grand Rapids OEM honors and thanks all who have served our country! Nov. 11 service reminders: 🏢 Most City offices are closed 📚 GR Public Library locations remain open 🚛 Waste collection as scheduled Thank you, veterans! ❤️🤍💙 #GrandRapids #VeteransDay

This week is Winter Hazards Awareness Week! 🏠Prepare your home: Check your heating system and make sure detectors are working 🚗Prepare your vehicle: Check tires, battery, and wipers. Keep a vehicle emergency kit ready 📱Be informed: Monitor weather reports #ReadyGR#WinterSafety

🚨 Outdoor siren testing TODAY, Nov. 6! Tests will take place on the first Friday of each month at noon year-round. 🚨 🔊 Hear sirens outside scheduled testing? Seek shelter and check trusted sources for updates. Text GRANDRAPIDS to 888777 for local alerts! #ReadyGR

🚨Hey, GR! Our outdoor warning siren testing is going year-round! Starting Nov. 6, sirens will be tested at noon on the first Friday of every month.🚨 Sirens may signal tornadoes, severe storms or other immediate outdoor threats. Always check trusted sources for updates. #ReadyGR

🎉 Congrats to the graduates of GR CERT Class #7! Over the past 6 weeks, these dedicated volunteers completed hands-on training in disaster response, fire safety, medical operations, search & rescue, and more. Interested in joining? Spring 2027 classes are coming! 💪 #GRCERT

November is Carbon Monoxide (CO) Awareness Month! Remember carbon monoxide is an odorless, invisible gas that can be deadly. 🔔 Test your CO alarms. 🔥Inspect fuel-burning appliances. 🚗Never run a vehicle in an attached garage. If your alarm sounds, get outside and call 911!

Grand Rapids, it’s time to #FallBack! ⏰ On Nov. 1, turn clocks back 1 hour and get ready for winter! 🔥 Test smoke alarms 🔦Check flashlights & batteries 🧤Stock up on warm clothes & blankets 📱Know where to find emergency alerts A little prep goes a long way! #ReadyGR

A little Office of Emergency Management creativity + a lot of Grand Rapids Fire Department talent = 🏆FIRST PLACE in the City department pumpkin contest! 🎃 #HappyHalloween from the Grand Rapids Office of Emergency Management. 👻 #GrandRapids #GRFD

Grand Rapids, keep Halloween fun and safe! 🕕 Recommended trick-or-treat hours: 6–8 p.m. 💡 Only visit homes with porch lights on. 🍭 Don’t let kids eat any candy or other food until it has been checked by an adult. Have a spook-tacular night! 🧛 #ReadyGR #HalloweenSafety

🚗🍂 Don’t let parking catch you off guard! Seasonal parking rules begin Nov. 1 on many #GrandRapids neighborhood streets. Check your street’s rules and help keep roads clear for street sweepers, snowplows & emergency vehicles! ❄️🚒 🔗 grandrapidsmi.gov/city-news/…

Scams are getting harder to spot, especially with AI making messages more convincing. Before you click, pause and ask: 🔗Was I expecting this? 📧Do I know the sender? ⚠️Is it urgent? 🔍Does the link look right? #CybersecurityAwarenessMonth #ReadyGR

🚨 When the incident happens, will your plan perform? Join Kent County LEPC's From Paper to Performance on Nov. 6 (8 AM-12 PM). Free workshop for Tier II facilities, emergency coordinators, fire/EMS, law enforcement, healthcare, public health & local gov. #PaperToPerformance

Did you know Halloween can be spooky for pets, too?! This Halloween make sure to: 🚪 Keep pets away from open doors and provide a safe space for them 🎃Decorate with pets in mind 🍬Keep candy away from paws #GrandRapids #HalloweenSafety #PetSafety

💊Check your medicine cabinet! Drug #TakeBackDay is an opportunity to safely dispose of unused or expired medications. Proper disposal helps prevent accidental use, misuse, and medications getting into the wrong hands. Find a collection site: dea.gov/takebackday #GrandRapids

🌊 Flood Fight Training in Action! 🌊 City staff & GR CERT volunteers recently teamed up with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for hands-on sandbag training to strengthen GR's flood preparedness. Thanks to USACE and everyone who participated! 💪 #ReadyGR #USACE #GRCERT

🚨 GR CERT Class #7 is over 1/2 through training! They have completed CERT Organization, Disaster Psych, & Disaster Medical Ops. They're gaining the skills needed to help themselves and their community during emergencies. Interested? CERT training returns Spring 2027! #GRCERT

🚌 It's National School Bus Safety Week! Keeping students safe is a team effort. 🚗 Drivers: stay alert 🚌 Students: follow bus safety rules 👨‍👩‍👧 Families: talk about safety Don’t forget to thank the transportation professionals who safely get students where they need to go! 🙏

❄️ First taste of winter tonight! A Freeze Warning is in effect from midnight to 8 AM Saturday (10/17) for much of West MI. Temps may drop to 31°F. Protect sensitive plants, outdoor plumbing, and hoses. Good news: NOAA's winter outlook favors a warmer, less snowy winter. #MIwx❄️

🐾 October is National Animal Safety & Protection Month! Emergencies can happen when we least expect them, so make sure your pets are part of your emergency plan. 🏷️ Update ID tags 🚗 Plan how you’ll transport them 🏠 Pet-proof your home 🩹 Keep vet info handy #PetSafety

👏 GR CERT volunteers recently completed American Red Cross shelter training and are ready to help support emergency shelters when needed. Thanks to the Red Cross and our regional emergency management partners for making this training possible. 💚🏠 #GRCERT #VolunteerStrong