THREE STEPS TO PREPARE FOR HURRICANES

This week is Hurricane Preparedness Week and OEM reminds New Yorkers that the best way to weather these massive storms is to prepare for the specific hazards they bring: storm surge, high winds, and flooding. Storm surge: Storm surge may flood coastal areas. Find out if you live in a hurricane evacuation zone. High winds: Secure your patio furniture before a storm, especially umbrellas. These objects may become dangerous projectiles. Flooding: Contact your insurance provider to determine if you need extra coverage. Flood damage is not included in many basic homeowners' policies. Learn more about hurricanes and New York City Learn more about Hurricane Preparedness Week See OEM's Tip of the Week on the website

NYC GeoTagged Crime Reports

Described on Thrillist daily email (with their rather sarcastic tone)

http://www.thrillist.com/archives/2008/05/spotcrime_nyc_new_york_services.html

HOARD A CORD IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

For most people, telephones with cords are a thing of the past. But if the power goes out, you'll wish you had that cord. Cordless phones—and even phones connected to VoIP services or fiber-optic networks—may not work if you lose electrical power. Keep a phone with a cord that does not require electricity in your Emergency Supply Kit. Learn more about what to keep in your Emergency Supply Kit See OEM's Tip of the Week on the website

AVOID HIDE AND SEEK BY CHOOSING A PLACE TO MEET

Reuniting with family and friends may be difficult during an emergency if you haven't chosen a place to meet ahead of time. Identify two safe places to meet: one outside of your neighborhood in case an incident like a storm or building collapse prevents you from returning home, and one right outside your home in case you need to leave quickly due to an emergency like a fire or a gas leak. Learn more about how to create a household disaster plan See OEM's Tip of the Week on the website

SMOTHER YOUR MOTHER IN PREPAREDNESS

This Sunday is Mother's Day, and OEM encourages you to use a few minutes of your special day with mom to fill out an emergency reference card. If you've already got a complete one, check with your loved ones to make sure the information is up to date. This year, help your mom get all her ducks in a row — keep your family's emergency contact information in one place. Learn more about Ready New York Learn about emergency preparedness for parents and families See OEM's Tip of the Week on the website

Be Severely Aware of Weather Hazards

Spring is upon us and with it comes severe weather, like tornadoes, flooding, and thunderstorms. Appropriately, this week is Severe Weather Awareness Week in New York. Every year, New York experiences severe weather. Last August, a thunderstorm spawned a tornado that blasted through nine miles of Brooklyn. Trees snapped and fell to the ground, roofs peeled off buildings, and cars were destroyed. Extreme flooding throughout the city also stranded commuters. Take some time this week to learn to prepare for weather emergencies. Learn more about severe weather in NYC Read about the August 2007 tornado Read OEM Tip of the Week online

Fight back against identity theft: Just Shred It!

April 24, 2008

Fight back against identity theft: Just Shred It! Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the country. To protect New Yorkers from identity thieves, City agencies have teamed up with industrial shredding companies and Staples to launch Shred Fest NYC, the City's first-ever free shredding event to increase public awareness of identity theft prevention and remind New Yorkers about the importance of shredding documents that contain personal identifying information before throwing them away. Start collecting those personal documents you no longer need-but that identity thieves can steal from your trash-and shred them, for free, at Shred Fest on Sunday, April 27 from 10 AM to 4 PM. Document shredding is one of the most important ways you can protect yourself from identify theft. All documents are shredded in trucks mounted with industrial shredding equipment that allow for you to view your document being shredded. Fifty paper shredders will be given away free, donated by Staples at 11 convenient locations throughout the five boroughs. For more information, call 311 or visit http://www.nyc.gov/

PLANT A TREE AND REDUCE YOUR FLOOD RISK

Celebrate Earth Day this week by planting a tree. In addition to helping slow climate change and improve air quality, trees absorb stormwater, which helps to reduce flooding. Get more information about tree planting through the City's MillionTreesNYC project, which offers NYC residents free street trees and promotes urban forest expansion. Learn more about flooding in NYC Learn more about the benefits of planting trees from NYC Parks & Recreation Read OEM Tip of the Week online

UPDATE YOUR SAFE PLACE

During the Cold War era, New York City designated thousands of buildings in the metropolitan area as fallout shelters in preparation for a nuclear attack. As international relations calmed and public anxiety shifted, the City abandoned this sheltering system. Today, many of these buildings still have the fallout shelter emblem on their walls. Do not be misled by these signs. The historic fallout shelters are no longer maintained by City officials or stocked with emergency supplies. New York City has updated its sheltering plan. In case of an emergency evacuation, tune into local media and follow instructions. Take a battery-operated AM/FM radio and extra batteries with you to receive updates. Learn more about sheltering during an emergency Read OEM Tip of the Week online

RECORD YOUR RETURN

Taxes are due in a week and OEM reminds New Yorkers to make extra copies of their returns to assist them in an emergency. After a disaster, insurance providers may request up to three years of tax returns in support of a claim. Store an extra copy of your tax returns in your Emergency Financial First Aid Kit while finances are still fresh on your mind. Read more financial preparedness tips Read OEM Tip of the Week online

Sign Up for Notify NYC

OEM and the NYC Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications (DoITT) are testing an emergency messaging system for four sections of the City: lower Manhattan, the Rockaways, southwest Staten Island, and the northeast Bronx. Anyone can sign up to receive e-mail updates on emergency activity in any or all of these pilot areas. You may also be able to receive information via recorded voice and text messages. Visit Notify NYC online See OEM's Tip of the Week on the website

MAKE SURE YOUR NOSE KNOWS

Many New York City residences use natural gas to fuel stoves and furnaces. Because natural gas is odorless, distributors add mercaptan to gas so people can identify it. Mercaptan smells like sulfur, or rotten eggs, and residents should train themselves to recognize the odor so they can evacuate immediately if there is a leak. Learn more about natural gas safety Download Con Edison's Gas Safety brochure in (PDF) See OEM's Tip of the Week on the website