City to host first annual emergency preparedness fair
Eagle Mountain residents will have a new opportunity this month to learn how to better prepare for emergencies while connecting with the first responders who serve their community.
The City is hosting its first annual Emergency Preparedness Fair, called PrepFest, on Saturday, Sept. 27, from noon to 5 p.m. at Cory Wride Memorial Park.
The event will showcase a wide range of public safety demonstrations, hands-on resources and emergency preparedness vendors designed to help families build resilience in the face of natural disasters.
“Our largest emergency issues in Eagle Mountain are wildfires, extreme weather events, and earthquakes” said Public Safety Director Dave Ulibarri, who has led the City’s preparedness efforts for the past four years. “It’s important that, on the City level, we prepare and build redundancy into our systems, but it’s equally important that families prepare in their own homes. The more people who can be self-sufficient for 72 hours, the better our entire community will fare in an emergency.”
PrepFest will feature both local and regional organizations that play a role in emergency response. Attendees will be able to visit booths from the American Red Cross, Intermountain Health’s Primary Children’s Hospital, and Utah County Search and Rescue.
A medical helicopter landing is planned, along with demonstrations from K-9 units, a Jaws of Life vehicle extrication, and the National Guard’s 85th Civil Support Team. Residents will also be able to learn about neighborhood-level training programs such as Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT), HAM radio courses, CPR and Stop the Bleed first-aid classes.
“This is about giving residents the chance to see the tools, training, and people that make up our emergency response network,” Ulibarri said. “It’s also a chance for residents to get involved themselves, through volunteering, taking a class, or simply making sure they have supplies at home.”
Ulibarri said that while Eagle Mountain has invested in citywide readiness—such as adding above-ground diesel tanks to keep wellhouses and vehicles operating during emergencies—family-level preparedness remains essential.
“Preparedness lessens the impact of an emergency and speeds up recovery,” he said. “When families have food, water, and supplies on hand, it allows first responders to focus on the most critical needs right away.”
Since joining Eagle Mountain four years ago, Ulibarri has expanded training opportunities for both residents and City staff. The City now offers four HAM radio courses each year and counts more than 230 licensed HAM operators among its residents, supported by the City’s own repeater system.
Youth engagement has also been a priority, with a high school internship program designed to expose students to public safety careers and emergency response skills.
Still, Ulibarri said the work of preparedness is ongoing.
“Life is busy, and it’s easy to get complacent,” he said. “We don’t often face situations where our preparedness is tested. That’s why events like PrepFest are so important. It’s to remind us that taking a little time now can make all the difference later.”
PrepFest is free to attend, and all residents are encouraged to participate.