News

NEW CITY, NY – Rockland County Executive Ed Day and County Health Commissioner Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert announce that September is National Preparedness Month and urge residents to take action and be ready! When preparing for disasters, one of the most helpful things you can do is create an emergency plan and talk about it with your family. Planning before disaster strikes can help you save precious time and money. Put together an emergency supply kit, sign up for local weather and emergency alerts, and ensure you know where the nearest shelters are and the appropriate evacuation routes/plans for specific situations.

“Emergencies happen; make sure you and your family have a plan for when disaster strikes. Having a plan can reduce stress and losses and help save lives,” said Dr. Ruppert.

Follow these four steps to help prepare yourself and your family for an emergency:

1. Put together an emergency supply kit. There are some basic items that everyone needs:

• One gallon of water per person daily for several days, for drinking and sanitation.
• Enough food for you and your family for at least three days. Use food that does not need to be refrigerated or cooked, such as peanut butter and ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits, and vegetables.
• Special supplies you and your family need, such as Infant formula, bottles, diapers, wipes, and diaper rash cream; feminine supplies and personal hygiene items; at least three day’s supply of medicines or medical treatments; masks; important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification, and bank account records saved electronically or in a waterproof, portable container; a copy of prescriptions, dosage, and treatment information; non-prescription medications such as pain relievers, anti-diarrhea medication, antacids or laxatives; eyeglasses and contact lens solution; hearing aids and batteries; wheelchair batteries; warm blankets and climate-appropriate clothing and shoes.
• Supplies for your pet, such as pet food, water, medicines, and any special supplies your pet may need.
• Battery-powered radio, flashlight, extra batteries, and first aid kit.
• NOAA Emergency Weather Alert Radio or sign up for the NY-ALERT system by visiting www.alert.ny.gov/ to receive emergency weather alerts and other emergency warnings and information sent directly to your e-mail or cell phone.

2. Make a family emergency plan:

• Your family may not be together when an emergency strikes, so plan ahead.
• Make and practice a family emergency plan for contacting family members and what you will do in different situations.

3. Personal safety:

• Have a plan for where to stay in case of an emergency.
• Know the location of the nearest shelter.
• Be prepared to take cleaning items with you like soap, hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, or general household cleaning supplies to disinfect surfaces you may need to touch regularly.
• Only use portable generators outdoors and away from windows.

4. Be informed: During an emergency, information will be available on the radio, TV, and in newspapers and the Rockland County website at www.rocklandgov.com, Facebook at www.facebook.com/rocklandgov, and Twitter at https://twitter.com/rocklandgov. These websites can all be accessed on your smartphone even if you lose electricity. In addition, notifications will be sent via the NY-ALERT system once you register to receive e-mails or text messages.

Rockland County has developed a Special Needs Registry for residents with limited mobility or special needs, which might impact a timely response during an emergency. This registry serves as a database of our most vulnerable residents and is not a guarantee of receiving services. Caretakers must consider the unique needs of these residents when creating their emergency response plans. If you believe you or someone you care for cannot independently act upon emergency protective orders, please register at https://bit.ly/AcessFunctionalNeedsRegistryRC.

“The County is ready to meet the needs of its residents during emergencies, but residents should also take the time to prepare. We all need to be prepared for the worst,” said County Executive Ed Day.

For more information about how to prepare for emergencies, visit the Rockland County Health Department’s webpage at http://rocklandgov.com/departments/health/emergency-preparedness/ and www.ready.gov or call 845-364-2660. For hurricane preparedness information, visit www.ready.gov/hurricanes.