Government

State offers new emergency preparedness program for county residents

TROY GUSTAVSON FILE PHOTO | Rabbit Lane in East Marion was among the streets hit hardest by Hurricane Sandy on the North Fork.
TROY GUSTAVSON FILE PHOTO | Rabbit Lane in East Marion was among the streets hit hardest by Hurricane Sandy on the North Fork. The state is offering a new program to teach residents how to prepare for emergencies.

In an effort to educate the public about how to best prepare for emergencies, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has launched a new program to inform and supply residents with tools they need to prepare for any type of disaster.

The program, called New York State Citizen Preparedness Corps, also plans to teach residents how to recover soon after a disaster.

The governor’s office is hosting its first Citizen Preparedness Training program lead by the state’s National Guard for county residents on Saturday, Feb. 1.

The event will be held from noon to 2 p.m. at Farmingdale State College. All participants must register in advance through NY Prepare’s website.

Experts from the Division of Homeland Security, Emergency Services’ Office of Emergency Management and Office of Fire Prevention and Control, as well as local county emergency management personnel, will be on hand to share information.

The goal is to prepare families and residents with tips on how to make it on their own for at least 7 to 10 days — and maybe longer, according to the governor’s website.

Each family participating will receive a free Citizen Preparedness Corps Response Starter Kit, which contains key items to assist individuals in the immediate aftermath of a disaster, such as light sticks, a first-aid kit, AM/FM pocket radio with batteries, and an emergency blanket, according to website.

For more information about the program, read the brochure below.

Citizen Preparedness Training Brochure