Stop Kidding Around, Get Prepared

Preparing for emergencies is a serious matter, but that doesn't mean it can't be fun. In this last week of National Preparedness Month, OEM encourages kids to prepare, and have fun while doing it. Ready New York for Kids has two tracks — one for elementary students and one for teenagers. Both offer games, checklists, and suggested teacher activities to help children get ready for the unexpected. Whether kids are at home, in school, or at play, they should know how to react when an emergency strikes. And remember, we're all kids at heart. Attend the Ready New York for Kids event on Saturday, September 27 Download Ready New York for Kids See OEM's Tip of the Week on the website

Seniority Makes Preparing a Priority

During this third week of National Preparedness Month, OEM encourages older adults to prepare for emergencies. Seniors should consider their specific needs when developing emergency plans. Take the first step toward creating a plan: establish a support network. This network should include a neighbor, friend, family member, and/or caregiver who can keep extra copies of plan information like numbers of healthcare providers and locations of meeting spots. This week, OEM gears up to introduce its revised Ready New York guide for seniors and people with disabilities. Talk to your favorite seniors about preparing for emergencies. Get a sneak peek of the guide (in PDF) See OEM's Tip of the Week on the website

Prepare in Many Languages

As National Preparedness Month in NYC continues, OEM reminds New Yorkers that its Ready New York preparedness guides are available in up to 14 lanugages. If you have non-English speaking friends, family, or neighbors, help them prepare for emergencies with a guide in their native language. Find a preparedness guide in your language See OEM's Tip of the Week on the website

September is National Preparedness Month

On Thursday, September 4, OEM and members of the Citizen Corps Council will kickoff National Preparedness Month by giving away preparedness guides and 1,000 Go Bags filled with emergency supplies. Stop by participating sites for your chance to win. Learn more about National Preparedness Month See OEM's Tip of the Week on the website

Buy All Your Supplies At One Time

It's time for school again and as parents and kids shop for supplies, OEM reminds New Yorkers to pick up some emergency supplies, like extra batteries for radios and flashlights. Also, old backpacks make great Go Bags. Visit OEM's website to find out how to pack them for an emergency. Learn more about what goes in a Go Bag Download a copy of Ready New York for Kids Read OEM's Tip of the Week on the website

A CERT Yourself

New York City Community Emergency Response Teams are community groups that undergo 11 weeks of training in basic emergency response, light search and rescue, first aid, and emergency preparedness. A new training cycle starts at the beginning of September. Call the CERT hotline at 718-422-8585 or e-mail CERT program managers to get involved. There are teams forming and training available for the following communities: The Bronx - Mott Haven, Port Morris, Melrose, Hunts Point, Longwood, Morrisania, Crotona Park, Claremont Village, Concourse Village, Woodstock, Edenwald, Wakefield, Williamsbridge, Woodlawn, Fishbay, Eastchester, Olinville, Baychester, Norwood, University Heights, Jerome Park, Bedford Park, Fordham, Kingsbridge Heights Brooklyn - East New York, Cypress Hills, Highland Park, New Lots, City Line, Starrett City, and other neighborhoods Manhattan Queens Learn more about CERT online Download a copy of the CERT brochure (in PDF) Read OEM's Tip of the Week on the website

No Lights? No Problem

In light of the five-year anniversary of the 2003 blackout, OEM encourages New Yorkers to be prepared for power outages. There are basic steps everyone can take to prepare for loss of power. Know your power provider and have the phone number handy in case you need to report an outage. Always keep a flashlight, water, and nonperishable foods in your home. Practice energy conservation by using the air conditioner only when you are home or by running your dishwasher late at night or early in the morning. Learn more about power outages Read about food safety during outages See OEM's Tip of the Week on the website

Say "NNO" to Crime

Get to know your local police precinct this Tuesday, August 5, at National Night Out (NNO) Against Crime. Sponsored by the NYC Police Department (NYPD) and the National Association of Town Watch, National Night Out is a crime prevention campaign designed to raise crime and drug prevention awareness and strengthen community relations. The NYPD will host events all night throughout the five boroughs. Call 311 or view the National Night Out schedule online to find out more about your local precinct and what's happening in your neighborhood. Learn more about National Night Out Read NYPD's crime prevention tips Read OEM's Tip of the Week on the website

Hurricane Season Arrives in NYC

Although hurricanes are uncommon in New York City, they are most likely to occur between August and October. Experts predict an active hurricane season in 2008 with 15 named storms. Hurricane Dolly, the fourth named storm of the season, formed more than a month earlier than 2007's fourth named storm. New York City's densely populated coastlines and complex infrastructure make it the second most vulnerable U.S. city to hurricane damage. Do you have a plan if a hurricane hits? Start by using OEM's Hurricane Zone Finder to determine if you live in a hurricane evacuation zone. Learn more about hurricanes on OEM's website Download Ready New York: Hurricanes and New York City See OEM's Tip of the Week on the website

Raise Your Ozone Awareness

Anyone who spends time outdoors in the summer may be affected by high ozone levels, particularly children, outdoor workers, people exercising, and those with pre-existing respiratory conditions. To avoid ozone-related breathing problems, people should limit outdoor activity, especially during afternoon and early evening hours. OEM reminds New Yorkers to heed air quality warnings. Help reduce ozone levels by: Avoiding driving, especially on hot summer days. Use mass transit, walk, or carpool instead. Being careful not to spill gasoline and fill your gas tank during the cooler evening hours. Keeping your car properly tuned and maintained. Sealing containers of household cleaners, solvents, and chemicals to prevent evaporation of chemicals that can contribute to ozone formation. Learn more about ozone and your health See OEM's Tip of the Week on the website

Don't Let Water Break You

New York City experiences more than 600 water main breaks every year. Most breaks are minor, but they can lead to flooding in basements or low-drainage areas. Protect your important documents and records by storing them in waterproof bags or safes. If you see water coming up from the ground or roadway, or you suspect a water main break, call 311 to reach the Department of Environmental Protection. Learn more about water main breaks See OEM's Tip of the Week on the website

Cap Your Way to a Refreshing Spray Shower

With hot and humid weather in the forecast this week, many New Yorkers will be tempted to cool off in a fire hydrant spray shower. Opening fire hydrants without spray caps (also called sprinkler caps) wastes 1000 gallons of water per minute and can hamper firefighters' ability to fight fires. So if you plan to use a hydrant to stay cool, be sure to use a spray cap. Contact your local firehouse to obtain one (call 311 to locate your nearest firehouse). Learn more about spray caps See OEM's Tip of the Week on the website