Press Release

#14-25

 

NYC EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT’S LATEST PREP TALK PODCAST HIGHLIGHTS DAY OF ACTION TO HELP NEW YORKERS PREPARE FOR EXTREME HEAT DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS 

 

Prep Talk {Click here to listen to episode 97} 

May 15, 2025 – With the summer months just a few weeks away, it’s a great time for New Yorkers to restock on sunblock, dust-off the air-conditioner and learn how to recognize the symptoms for heatstroke. On the latest episode of New York City Emergency Management's Prep Talk podcast, Deputy Commissioner of Community Engagement Herman Schaffer, and Human Services Specialist Jocelyn Rajaballey discuss the Cooling Center Program, extreme heat, and the importance of community groups to provide support during emergencies. 

“This year we are hosting a day of action with our Strengthening Communities Networks to reach New Yorkers who are most at risk during extreme heat,” said NYCEM Deputy Commissioner Herman Schaffer. “Our goal is for these networks use their close connections with their community to teach those who are vulnerable on what to do and where to go to during the summer. This day of action will serve both as an educational campaign on the dangers of heat and a way to practice how NYCEM will communicate with and support our communities during emergencies.”

“In addition to making a plan and learning how to find cooling options, we also want to spread the word to New Yorkers on how we run the Cooling Center Program,” said Human Services Specialist Jocelyn Rajaballey. “Our program also relies on collaboration from community groups, our partners and every day New Yorkers. Education is really the key, as NYCEM opens cooling centers whenever the heat index is 95 degrees or above for two days or more, or for any day that it is 100 degrees or more. The criteria is based on information from the health department, and we want to empower New Yorkers to take care of their health.”

For more information on summer cooling options please visit: nyc.gov/beattheheat

You can listen to Prep Talk on SoundCloud.

Profile

Herman Schaffer is the Deputy Commissioner for the Community Engagement Bureau at New York City Emergency Management. In this role, he oversees the agency’s community-based programs and initiatives, which focus on enhancing and promoting emergency planning, preparedness, and resiliency. Prior to joining NYC Emergency Management in 2005, Mr. Schaffer was a case manager with Safe Horizon, connecting victims of the September 11th attacks with local and federal resources to assist with their recovery. He also served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Zambia where he helped rural communities develop clean water and hygiene education programs.

Jocelyn Rajaballey is a Human Services Specialist at New York City Emergency Management. As the coordinator of the City’s Cooling Center program, she works with public and private partners to prepare for and protect New Yorkers during extreme heat emergencies. She also manages the NYC Advance Warning System, which provides emergency communications and resources to organizations serving people with disabilities and/or access and functional needs (DAFN). Jocelyn joined NYCEM in 2023 as a Community Engagement AmeriCorps member and began her current role in 2024. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Urban Health Geography from the CUNY Baccalaureate for Unique and Interdisciplinary Studies.

  

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