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Citizens Preparedness Academy Testimonial video:
About the CPA
The Highlands County Citizen’s Preparedness Academy is part of the Board's emergency preparedness outreach program.
The academy is a series of five classes designed to help residents understand the hazards that could affect our community and be prepared for any disaster, including storm preparedness, home fire safety, flooding, evacuations, staying at a shelter, and car safety tips.
The academy is a series of five classes designed to help residents understand the hazards that could affect our community and be prepared for any disaster, including storm preparedness, home fire safety, flooding, evacuations, staying at a shelter, and car safety tips.
The academy is held annually, over five weekly classes, and is taught by Emergency Management and Public Information staff, with guest speakers from partner organizations like the National Weather Service, Florida Forest Service, and the local health department.
Classes are normally held from early February through early March every Wednesday.
All class materials are provided to students, including safety flyers, disaster supply buckets, and preparedness items like flashlights, multi-tools, windshield breakers, blankets for their car, sandbags, weather radios, and a map of the entire county.
Classes are normally held from early February through early March every Wednesday.
All class materials are provided to students, including safety flyers, disaster supply buckets, and preparedness items like flashlights, multi-tools, windshield breakers, blankets for their car, sandbags, weather radios, and a map of the entire county.
To hear firsthand testimonials from previous years' students, watch the video above and decide for yourself if this class is right for you.
We have a short series of episodes covering every class we held during the 2026 academy. All together, the videos are no more than 6 minutes long.
You can watch them all on YouTube by clicking the button below.
We have a short series of episodes covering every class we held during the 2026 academy. All together, the videos are no more than 6 minutes long.
You can watch them all on YouTube by clicking the button below.
Want to learn even more?
Here is a write-up of every class from the 2026 academy. Please note that the 2027 academy may differ somewhat in the topics taught and how they are taught.
Here is a write-up of every class from the 2026 academy. Please note that the 2027 academy may differ somewhat in the topics taught and how they are taught.
Class 1: Building Your Supply Kit
What’s in your go-bag? How about your emergency supply kit? Are you prepared to respond to an emergency on the road or at home?
Class 1 for the 2026 CPA covered the basics of disaster preparedness, including building a supply kit, preparing your household and making a plan for different types of emergencies.
Participants learned what to keep in a go-bag, home supply kit and car kit, along with how to personalize their supplies to fit their needs.
The class also covered making and practicing a plan, including where to meet if phones are down, how to communicate if roads are blocked, who your out-of-area contact is and where to find reliable information during an emergency.
Participants received an emergency supply bucket and saw a presentation featuring an actual go-bag and examples of items to consider for their own kits.
If a medical emergency happened right now, do you have a first aid kit or know how to use it? Do you know where the nearest fire extinguisher is or how to use one?
Last year’s second class covered these topics and more, including a tour of a fire station and hands-on fire extinguisher training.
Highlands County Fire Rescue staff gave a presentation covering the importance of smoke detectors, common household items that can be dangerous or flammable, and lithium-ion battery safety.
The class also covered wildfire preparedness, with guidance from Florida Forest Service staff on how defensible landscaping can protect your property from wildfires.
Class 3: Storm & Flood Preparedness
Are you ready for the next storm?
Class 3 covered all things regarding inclement weather like tornadoes, flooding and straight-line winds, with practical steps residents can take to prepare their homes and families before severe weather strikes.
The class also covered flood safety, including the dangers of driving through floodwater and the importance of knowing your flood risk.
Participants learned about the National Flood Insurance Program and why it is important to review insurance coverage before a storm. The class also covered documenting property with time-stamped photos and other steps residents can take to prepare now.
As well why it is important to be registered for an emergency alert system to be ready to respond when severe weather occurs.
Class 4: Evacuation & Sheltering
Do you know where you’ll go if a disaster strikes?
Class 4 covered evacuation planning, public shelters, sheltering in place and the Special Needs Shelter.
Students learned what to expect when staying at a shelter, how to prepare a supply kit for evacuating or sheltering at home, and options for staying with friends or family.
They received a presentation on what life in a shelter can be like and were shown how much space an evacuee may have. The class also included a presentation on the Special Needs Shelter, including who may qualify, what services are available and the annual registration process.
The class covered evacuation considerations for mobile home residents and why it is important to evacuate tens of miles, not hundreds, when possible.
Class 5: Final Exercise & Real-World Response
When disaster strikes, preparation becomes action. Do you know the County’s role during a disaster and how you can help?
Class 5 brought together everything participants learned throughout the 2026 Citizens Preparedness Academy with a tabletop exercise SIMULATING a major brush fire in the Sun ’N Lake area of Lake Placid.
Students stepped into the role of emergency managers and worked through decisions involving evacuations, hazards, fireground operations, shelters and public communication.
The exercise also gave participants a behind-the-scenes look at how County staff and community partners coordinate during an emergency and the role residents play before and during a disaster.
To wrap up the academy, participants were entered into raffles for more emergency preparedness supplies, including a generator.