State Senator James Sanders Jr. (D-Rochdale Village) today joined Governor Cuomo's Office and his colleagues in government in hosting the NYS Citizen Preparedness Corps Training Program, a two-hour presentation, which gives residents the tools and resources to prepare for any type of disaster, respond accordingly and recover as quickly as possible.
“As a Marine Corps veteran, I can tell you that the better educated and equipped you are to handle an emergency situation before it happens, the greater your chance of survival,” Sanders said. “Now, we are not here today to scare anyone, we are here to learn how to be stronger as individuals and as a community, so the next time there is another Hurricane Sandy, we can be even more resilient.”
Some 75 people from the community attended the event, which was held at the Brooks Senior Center in Jamaica. Each of them received a certificate of completion and an emergency preparedness "to go" bag, containing items such as a pocket radio, duct tape, first aid kit, flashlight, batteries, a respirator, a plastic drop cloth, emergency purified drinking water, safety goggles, and a survival food pack. They were also given a pocket-sized preparedness guide.
The first part of the program focused on how to prepare for natural disasters like hurricanes, earthquakes and tornadoes; man-made disasters like terrorist attacks, transportation accidents, and structural collapses; and technological disasters like communications, transportation and nuclear plant failures.
Instructor Staff Sergeant Gaspar Terri III of the Army National Guard outlined key steps that are essential to preparation in these instances. He recommended creating a family emergency plan with your loved ones, which would include discussing the most likely type of disaster that could occur and what to do in each case, picking a place to meet either inside the home or outside in the neighborhood if something does happen, designing an escape route, and having an out-of-town point of contact, friend or relative, who can convey your whereabouts or needs to others if you are not in a position to make calls.
Terri also spoke about the types of emergency supplies one should have in a pre-packed “to go” bag, something that can be grabbed quickly and is not overly heavy. They include 7-10 days worth of water and non-perishable food; a first aid kit; money in small denominations; essential documents such as a birth certificate, social security card and passport; and protective items such as work gloves, a reflective vest, light sticks, a blanket and sleeping bag.
The most important items, Terri said, are a whistle, because when trapped a person may not be able to yell for help, and even if they can, it’s a poor idea because they will eventually become exhausted and dehydrated; and wearing closed toe shoes since one does not want risk unnecessary injury from walking over uneven ground or stepping on debris.
Instructor Senior Master Sergeant Edward C. Metcalf of the Air National Guard handled the respond and recovery portion of the training. He explained the necessary steps one should take whether they are sheltering in place or have to evacuate due to an emergency situation. He suggested maintaining communication with authorities to have the most up-to-date information, letting someone know where you are, shutting off utilities and checking on neighbors. Most importantly he said to stay calm, think clearly and wait for professional assistance if you can.
“I found it very informative,” said attendee, Joyce Robinson of Corona. “I’m glad I came out. I would definitely recommend it to my friends.
“It’s great,” said attendee, Annette Vickers of Cambria Heights. “I feel better prepared for any disaster that comes about.”
Also on hand at the event were representatives from the NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control and NYC Office of Emergency Management as well as CERT team members from Community Boards 12 and 13. We would like to thank the Brooks Senior Center for allowing the use of their space for this event. |
