August 2025: The First Emergency Management Awareness Month — Why Utilities Should Take Notice
By Russ Henderson, Director of Research
Emergency management professionals are among the most important — and least visible — people in the utility industry. Their work protects lives, safeguards infrastructure, and keeps critical services flowing during the very moments customers depend on them most. From planning and training to rapid coordination in the face of storms, wildfires, or cyber threats, they’re the reason outages are shorter, responses are faster, and communities are safer.
This August marks the inaugural Emergency Management Awareness Month (EMAM), launched by the International Association of Emergency Managers to give these professionals and the work they do the recognition they deserve. The observance was a featured topic during the August call of Chartwell’s Emergency Management Leadership Council, during which members discussed ways utilities can leverage the month to highlight their teams and engage customers.
Some utilities are using the month to highlight their teams, share safety tips, and partner with local officials. Others have kept the observance internal, raising awareness among staff but missing the opportunity to connect with customers. In an industry where trust and reliability are everything, EMAM is a prime moment to make the invisible work of readiness visible.
Here’s how utilities can make the most of it:
- Tell your stories. Share stories of the emergency managers, line crews, and control room operators who prepare for and respond to crises.
- Build on what you have. Tie EMAM into existing campaigns like storm safety, wildfire prevention, or “Call 811 Before You Dig.”
- Show the connection. Link grid hardening, smart tech, and other investments directly to faster restoration and better customer safety.
- Think beyond storms. Highlight readiness for cyber threats, public health events, and other all-hazards scenarios.
- Engage partners. Invite first responders and local leaders to drills, facility tours, or joint training events.
With EMAM in August, followed by National Preparedness Month in September, utilities have a natural runway to first showcase professional capabilities, then help customers prepare themselves. Done right, it’s not just another awareness campaign — it’s a way to strengthen trust, reinforce your role as a community partner, and show the public the people and processes keeping them safe year-round.
Chartwell’s Emergency Management Leadership Council will continue to share strategies and success stories from utilities taking the lead in EMAM — not just this year, but in the years ahead.
To learn more about the Chartwell Emergency Management Leadership Council, please contact Tim Herrick.
Blog posts you may like:
- Four Key Components of a Successful Emergency Management Training Program
- SDG&E’s Efforts in Mitigating PSPS Events and Enhancing Customer Communication Earn Dual Best Practices Awards
- Key Components for Conducting Successful Hot Washes
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