Every September, National Preparedness Month serves as a reminder that resilience isn’t a one-time box to check. The campaign, led by Ready.gov, encourages people to ask: If disaster struck tomorrow, would I be ready? For households, that might mean creating a plan, stocking an emergency kit, or reviewing evacuation routes.
But preparedness doesn’t stop at America’s front doors. For its government agencies, public safety organizations, and critical infrastructure providers, readiness carries a broader meaning. Communities depend on these organizations to restore order, provide aid, and safeguard lives. That responsibility demands not only resources, but also practice—and practice is what keeps perishable skills sharp.
Organizational Preparedness: Beyond the Basics
Preparedness at the organizational level isn’t just about storing supplies. It’s about ensuring continuity when disruption hits.
Key elements include:
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COOP and COG Planning
Continuity of Operations (COOP) and Continuity of Government (COG) plans are foundational. They ensure that essential functions continue even under extreme stress. FEMA’s guidance helps agencies refine these plans. Some strategies may include mobile operations assets to add flexibility and redundancy to critical functions. -
Training and Exercising
Skills fade without use. Routine drills and exercises sharpen response capabilities and reveal vulnerabilities before they become failures. Does everyone in your organization understand their role in an emergency? Do they know how to operate mobile assets safely? (See our article: Ready, Steady, Go: Mobile Command Center Readiness). -
Verifying and Updating Backup Systems
IT networks, satellite communications, and redundant systems should be tested regularly. A system that “should work” isn’t good enough—it has to prove it can. A steady cycle of inventory and function checks is a low-cost way to keep systems reliable. -
Vehicle and Trailer Maintenance
From mobile command centers to support trailers, readiness goes beyond being “road worthy.” These assets must be “mission ready,” and that takes regular function checks and test drives.
Don’t Let Equipment Gather Dust
One of the most common pitfalls in organizational preparedness is allowing equipment to sit unused on shelves or in storage bays. Having the right gear isn’t the same as keeping it ready to go. In fact, inactivity can be as damaging as overuse.
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For IT Departments: Run updates on cached computers and emergency networks. Connect systems periodically to confirm functionality. Test backup power and connectivity under real-world conditions. Update IT systems in mobile operations assets.
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For Radio System Administrators: Update and validate channel plans to meet current interoperability standards. Rotate, charge, and test batteries regularly. Exercise radios during training to confirm performance across agencies.
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For Fleet Managers: Preventive maintenance should be based on time, not just mileage. Vehicles that sit idle degrade in ways that aren’t obvious. Regularly put miles on fleet vehicles and trailers to circulate fluids, charge batteries, and spot issues. Check consumables: How old is the fuel in storage tanks? How much life remains in tires exposed to weather?
Routine checks like these may seem mundane, but in an actual emergency, they form the backbone of reliability. Nomad Total Command™ (NTC) strengthens this process by giving agencies real-time oversight of mobile assets. With NTC, leaders can monitor status, track usage, and schedule preventive care—turning maintenance from guesswork into science. In other words, it keeps readiness from quietly expiring.
Staying Ready is a Recurring Task
Preparedness is never “done.” It’s a living practice that has to be renewed. Some agencies manage this process internally with disciplined maintenance and audits. Others lean on external partners for structured check-ins and lifecycle care, such as Nomad’s Command Check™ and Command Care™ services, which ensure mission-critical assets don’t turn into mission-limiting liabilities.
Whether handled in-house or supported by a trusted provider, these programs give leaders confidence that when systems are activated, they’ll work without delay.
A Final Word on Preparedness
National Preparedness Month is about more than awareness; it’s about action. For families, that’s making a plan and stocking supplies. For organizations, it’s exercising systems, maintaining equipment, and validating continuity plans.
“Preparedness is the shared responsibility of our entire nation… Preparing individuals, families, components and installations for disasters and emergencies … ensures the strength of our workforce and our ability to continue to safeguard U.S. security.” – Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work
Preparedness is like a muscle. Without regular use, it weakens. Equipment that sits idle, systems that go untested, or plans that gather dust all lose effectiveness. When the call comes, no one will care what’s on paper or in storage. They’ll expect it to work, seamlessly and immediately.
That’s where Nomad comes in. With Command Check, Command Care, and Nomad Total Command, agencies get structured programs and real-time oversight that keep assets sharp and mission ready. In short, Nomad helps ensure your fleet never loses its edge.