This slide show offers a few ideas how an academically curated and co-created Knowledge Network for Emergency Preparedness and Response could foster collaboration across sectors, disciplines, and professions to sustain an ongoing community readiness to respond more effectively in times of crisis.

We suggest that an agency, like the CDC, could sponsor a prize each year for the ‘Most Prepared Community’ to incentivize health communication students and faculty to participate in annual intercollegiate competitions.