09/09/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/09/2024 12:18
State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, New York National Guard and American Red Cross Provide Citizen Preparedness Training Programs
September National Preparedness Month Theme is "Start a Conversation"
New Yorkers Encouraged to Attend a Citizen Preparedness Corps Course and Sign Up for NY-Alert, the State's Free Emergency Alert System
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that more than 400,000 New Yorkers have completed the State's Citizen Preparedness Corps (CPC) training program which is provided by the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, the New York National Guard and the American Red Cross. The announcement was made as part of National Preparedness Month which is held every September. This year's Preparedness Month theme is "Start a Conversation" which was developed to encourage residents to talk about steps to take to protect themselves and their families. Governor Hochul encouraged New Yorkers to learn more about what they can do before an emergency to stay safe and help others.
"Public safety is my number one priority, and with extreme weather events happening more frequently than ever, it's important for New Yorkers to have a plan for what to do if an emergency occurs," Governor Hochul said. "I encourage families to sit down and discuss best practices for responding to emergencies, and I promise that we will make every State resource available when it comes to responding and recovering from crises."
CPC trainings are free and held in-person throughout the state. New Yorkers can find a local training and enroll online at https://www.dhses.ny.gov/citizen-preparedness-training-calendar. For those unable to attend in person, courses are also available online in English and with subtitles in 12 additional languages, including Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, English, French, Haitian Creole, Italian, Korean, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Urdu and Yiddish.
The New York State Citizen Preparedness Corps (CPC) was established to train everyday New Yorkers how to prepare for emergencies and disasters, respond immediately and recover as quickly as possible to pre-disaster conditions.
New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray said, "This month, I encourage New Yorkers to take some time to make an emergency plan that takes the needs of all your family members into account including children, older adults, those with special needs, and your pets. When disaster strikes, having a plan can help ensure the safety of your loved ones."
Adjutant General of the New York National Guard Major General Ray Shields said, "The men and women of the New York National Guard are proud of the part they have played in educating our neighbors and fellow New Yorkers in how to prepare for emergencies. These trainings help people prepare to cope with emergencies that can occur at any time. Since 2014 we have instructed hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers on how to be more resilient and prepared for emergencies"
American Red Cross in Eastern New York CEO Kevin Coffey said, "Disasters can happen at any time, often without warning, changing lives forever in just minutes. Whether it's a fire in someone's home or a storm that destroys an entire town, the best defense during an emergency is to be prepared, and that's true for both our individual families and our entire community. During National Preparedness Month, it's the ideal time to get your household ready by making a plan to stay safe, gathering important supplies and knowing how you'll stay connected. You can also help your community be better prepared for disasters by giving blood, taking a class or putting on a red vest to become a volunteer."
National Preparedness Month serves as a yearly reminder that preparing for emergencies and disasters can help keep people and their communities safe. This year's "Start a Conversation" theme embraces the idea that taking time to prepare when no threats are imminent, makes it easier to build a plan at your own pace. When deciding on a time to have a conversation about emergency preparedness it's important to think about:
Some items to consider when talking about preparedness:
Create a Family Emergency Plan
Prepare an Emergency Kit
Stay Connected and Get Involved
For more information on what you can do to prepare for an emergency, go to https://www.dhses.ny.gov/safety-and-prevention.
About the State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services
The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) provides leadership, coordination, and support to prevent, protect against, prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate disasters and other emergencies. For more information, follow @NYSDHSES on Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly known as Twitter) or visit dhses.ny.gov.