In Case of Emergency, Read This Blog

In Case Of Emergency, Read Blog

A Citizen’s Eye View of Public Preparedness

Get Some Inexpensive Culture (& Prepare Your Family For An Emergency At Same Time) — NYC Offering Museum Discounts If You Fill Out A Family Communications Plan

September 15th, 2010 · No Comments

I’m always on the lookout for clever preparedness ideas and have found one in my own backyard.
New York City’s Office of Emergency Management (NYC-OEM) has organized an interesting partnership with several museums. Any New Yorkers who visit the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, the Museum of Art and Design, or the FDNY Fire Zone [...]

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Tags: Preparedness Ideas · Preparedness Incentives

On 9/11 Anniv., Napolitano Looks To Field Bigger “Hometown Security” Team “Whether You Are…A Businessman, A Student, Or Stay-At-Home-Parent” To Address “Even More Dynamic” Threats, But Warns “We Can’t Seal Our Country Under A Glass Dome”; Suggests Return To Civil Defense Tradition

September 11th, 2010 · 2 Comments

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano travelled to the New York City’s Emergency Operations Center in downtown Brooklyn yesterday to make a major speech to local first responders on the eve of the ninth anniversary of 9/11. I was asked by the City’s Office of Emergency Management to represent the Community Emergency Response Team [...]

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Tags: See Something/Terrorism Tips

New Ad Council/NYC PSA Asks Public Officials: “What Would ‘You’ Do In An Emergency?”

September 4th, 2010 · No Comments

The New York City’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and the Ad Council have just released a new public service announcement in which top City officials are asked, “What would you do in an emergency?”
The City Council President, Deputy Mayor, the commissioners of OEM, Fire, Health Department and Immigrant Affairs all give their quick answers in [...]

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Tags: City Preparedness · Media

On NYC’s #NPM10 Kickoff Day For CERT: Handing Out Preparedness ‘Goody Bags’, Pushing Hurricane Readiness With Earl Heading Up The Coast & Auditioning For An Emergency PSA

September 3rd, 2010 · 1 Comment

Yesterday, I participated in several Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) activities as part of New York City’s kickoff of National Preparedness Month activities.
First, I handed out preparedness ‘goody bags’ to passersby in Manhattan’s Columbus Circle after stuffing the packages with other members in an impromptu assembly line. In each bag was a READY New [...]

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Tags: CERT · Preparedness Events

Empire State Building Will Be Lit In “READY New York Yellow” To Kickoff National Preparedness Month

August 19th, 2010 · 1 Comment

You know you’ve made it in New York City when the Empire State Building’s lights promote your cause. So, maybe preparedness is catching on in the Big Apple.
The City of New York’s Office of Emergency Management must be thrilled that the Empire State Building will be lit up in “READY New York Yellow” on the [...]

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Tags: City Preparedness · Preparedness Events · Preparedness Ideas

How Do You Warn 8 Million New Yorkers A Tornado May Hit The City Any Minute? Govt. Text/E-Mail Alerts’ Strengths, Limits Highlighted Friday Night

July 26th, 2010 · 7 Comments

On Friday evening at 8:19 PM, I received the following notification (via both text and e-mail) from New York City’s NotifyNYC alert system:
“Alert issued 7/23/10 at 8:20 PM. The National Weather Service has issued a Tornado Warning until 9:00 PM for Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and the Bronx. Immediately go indoors and/or to the lowest floor [...]

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Tags: Preparedness 2.0

CERT Graduation Today For 400 Haitian Earthquake Survivors Trained In Emergency Preparedness & Response By New York City Team

June 18th, 2010 · 2 Comments

Four hundred Haitian earthquake survivors are graduating today from a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training in disaster preparedness and response. They have been trained by a delegation of New York City  CERT instructors at a ‘displaced persons’ camp.
The team has been teaching the CERT program to classes of 40 to 50 people over a 10-day [...]

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Tags: CERT · International

On Ex-Pres. Clinton’s Referral, New York City CERT Instructors Being Sent To Haiti This Week To Train Haitians In CERT Program

June 1st, 2010 · 2 Comments

New York City’s Office of Emergency Management (NYC OEM) will be sending NYC OEM Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program Staff, CERT Instructors from the Fire Department, and Department of Health and Mental Hygiene staff to train up to 400 Haitian residents in CERT. The team will leave for Haiti on June 7th. According to the [...]

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Tags: CERT · International

On Tax Day — File, Copy & Store

April 15th, 2010 · No Comments

I received an email this week from the City of New York about taxes. It wasn’t the Department of Finance reminding me to file but instead it was from the Office of Emergency Management with a reminder about making (and securing) copies:
“As the tax return filing deadline looms (this Thursday, April 15), OEM reminds New [...]

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Tags: City Preparedness · Preparedness Tips · Red Cross

What Can The Yankees Teach Fans About The Need For A Family Emergency Plan?

November 4th, 2009 · 1 Comment

New York City’s Office of Emergency Management is taking advantage of Yankee-mania here as an angle in its most recent “Tip of the Week” sent out earlier this week:
“With a 3-1 lead over the Phillies, the [UPDATE: World Champion] Yankees have been focused on driving runs home this World Series. But when the catcher is [...]

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Tags: City Preparedness · Humor · Preparedness Tips