Make sure everyone is counted in the Census
Starting in March the U.S. Census Bureau will start sending invitations for households to fill out the Census. It only takes a few minutes to complete, but the benefits for our community will last for the next 10 years!Data from the Census informs decisions about how the federal government distributes billions of dollars in funding each year. That funding supports our local hospitals, fire departments, schools, roads, and other resources.
Many 911 emergency systems are based on maps developed for the last census. Census information helps health providers predict the spread of disease through communities with children or elderly people. When floods, tornadoes or earthquakes hit, the census tells rescuers how many people need their help.
Census data also affects your representation within your city, state, and federal governments. The City clerk uses census data to make sure each of Colorado Springs' six districts has equal representation in City Council. They approve how your tax dollars are spent by the city, establish city tax rates, and set policies, pass ordinances and resolutions to govern the city. Census data is also used to reapportion the House of Representatives, determining how many seats each state gets.
Prepare your neighborhood for an emergency
Did you know that many people who think they are prepared for an emergency aren't as ready as they believe? Consider this:
- 40% of survey respondents did not have household emergency plan
- 80% had not conducted home evacuation drills
- nearly 60% did not know their community's evacuation routes
- Nearly 20% of survey respondents reported having a disability that would affect their capacity to respond to an emergency situation but only one in four had made arrangements to help them respond safely in during an emergency*
Our first responders do a great job of keeping us safe during and emergency, but they can't do it alone. We all need to do our part to keep our families, neighborhoods, schools, and businesses safe. You can help your community be better prepared for a disaster by setting up communications trees, emergency plans, shared resources, and plan an event to train together!
Helpful preparedness links
- Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) trains volunteers to prepare for the types of disasters that their community may face.
- Every community has voluntary organizations that work during disasters. Find what organizations are active in your community.
- If you have a disability, plan ahead for accessible transportation that you may need for evacuation or getting to a medical clinic.
*Information from ready.gov
Become a community volunteer
There are LOTS of ways to volunteer and get involved in your community. Here are a few examples:
- Volunteers help protect our waterways. Examples are the Adopt-a-Waterway program, Creek Week cleanups, Trash Mobs, and more, help keep our waterways healthy.
- Public safety volunteers in our CAPS program partner with Colorado Springs Police and Fire departments, and the Office of Emergency Management.
- Let's not forget our parks volunteer opportunities! There are opportunities for everything from coaching youth sports, to park cleanups, to helping out in one of our community centers.
- Does your neighborhood need some sprucing up? Find out how you can partner with Neighborhood Services to organize a neighborhood cleanup event!
- Boards, commissions, and committees. Think 2C road paving oversight, public art, parks, transportation, planning, stormwater oversight. All these groups and many more need volunteers to sit on their boards, committees and commissions.