Auburn Hills Gets Ready: Disaster Preparedness Starts Here!

The Auburn Hills Senior Services Department is excited to announce that we have been selected as an AARP 2026 Community Challenge grant recipient. This year, only 750 communities were chosen from 5,100 applications submitted from across all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. We’re incredibly proud to have Auburn Hills recognized for this investment in our community!

So, what does the grant mean for Auburn Hills residents? It’s all about being prepared, staying safe, and looking out for one another. This grant is helping the community prepare in two important ways: free disaster preparedness classes and the Safe Address Program, which provides free address signs to residents.

The Auburn Hills Police and Fire Departments are hosting free disaster preparedness classes at the Auburn Hills Community Center. Each class focuses on practical information and resources that can help residents feel more prepared for an emergency.

There are two classes remaining:

• September 15: Shelter-in-Place Preparedness
  Ten shelter-in-place kits will be raffled off during the class!
• October 21: Fire Safety & Evacuation
  Ten emergency “to-go” kits will be raffled off during the class!

Can’t make it in person? The classes will also be available on the City website and through social media.

A big thank you to the Auburn Hills Police and Fire Departments for sharing their expertise and helping our community prepare for the unexpected.

The second part of the grant is the Safe Address Program. In an emergency, every second counts. If your address is difficult to see, it can make your home harder to locate and slow emergency response times. That’s where the Safe Address Program comes in!

While supplies last, Auburn Hills residents can stop by the Auburn Hills Community Center and pick up a FREE reflective address sign for their home or mailbox. Each kit includes a green address sign, silver reflective stick-on numbers, and instructions. For residents 60 and older, individuals with physical challenges, or active military personnel, assistance is available through the SHARP program.

The program is already underway, and residents are taking advantage of this simple way to make their homes easier to spot. Those bright green reflective signs are already popping up around Auburn Hills!

About the AARP Community Challenge

These grants are part of AARP’s broader Livable Communities initiative, which helps neighborhoods, towns, cities, and counties across the country become great places for people of all ages. AARP believes communities should offer:

• Safe, walkable streets
• Affordable and accessible housing and transportation options
• Access to essential services
• Opportunities for residents to engage and participate fully in community life

To explore all 750 projects funded this year – or to view an interactive map of current and past Community Challenge projects – visit AARP.org/CommunityChallenge. Learn more about AARP’s nationwide Livable Communities work at AARP.org/Livable.

Jackie Monroy Krieg, MPH, Director of Senior Services