Messaging Calendar & Toolkits

Resolve to Be Ready in 2022

Start 2022 off right with a resolution to be ready! Use this calendar for tips on how to be prepared and stay ready for emergencies all year long.

Create Your Plan

The best time to create an emergency plan is before an emergency happens. Here's what your plan should include:

• Determine two spots for every member in your home to meet after a household emergency — one right outside your home and another outside your neighborhood. Identify exit routes from both your home and your neighborhood.
• Choose emergency contacts, one local and one out of the area, so that you can communicate with others after an emergency.
• Gather supplies, both in a Go Bag for a possible evacuation and an emergency supply kit for emergencies that will require you to stay at home.
• Finally, practice your plan with all of the members of your household so that you know what to do ahead of time.

You can use the Ready New York: My Emergency Plan booklet to easily record and store this information in one convenient place, or use the Ready NYC mobile application. Visit Ready New York: Guides & Resources page to learn more and get started today!

Consider Your Needs

Some New Yorkers, including those with disabilities or access and functional needs, may need to take extra steps when developing their emergency plan. Put extra supplies in your Go Bag and emergency supply kit, such as manuals and extra batteries for any special devices you use, supplies for a service animal, and back-up medical equipment. If you use life-sustaining equipment, register with your utility provider ahead of time so you can be contacted in an emergency, such as a power outage. Learn more about ways to prepare by visiting Emergency Preparedness Tips: Disabilities, Access & Functional Needs page.

Stay Informed with Notify NYC

Staying ready means staying informed. Sign up for Notify NYC, the City's free, official emergency communications program, to stay in-the-know about emergencies and planned events in your neighborhood. Get alerts in different languages and formats. You can sign up by downloading the free app on your smartphone for the most accurate, location-based messaging, visit NYC.gov/notifynyc, call 311, or follow @NotifyNYC on Twitter to receive alerts in the format most convenient for you.

Know When to Stay or Go

Some emergencies may require you to evacuate your home quickly, and others may require you to stay at home for an extended period of time. If you must evacuate, take your Go Bag, and ask friends or relatives outside of the affected area if you are able to stay with them. Check and see if they have symptoms of COVID-19 or have people in their home at higher risk for serious illness. If they have symptoms or people at higher risk in their home, make other arrangements to stay at another location, such as a hotel or an evacuation center. If you must stay at home, hunker down with your emergency supply kit and identify a room with few doors or windows to stay in. Tune in to local radio or TV stations to find out when it is safe to leave.

Organize Your Finances

Take the time to organize your finances before a disaster. Whether you rent or own your home, understand what your insurance policy covers. Take photos of your property for insurance purposes, and make copies of important financial documents and store them somewhere safe. It's also a good idea to include cash in small bills in your emergency supplies since ATMs and credit card machines may not work or be available during emergencies.

Request an Emergency Preparedness Event

The Ready New York program is always ready to prepare New Yorkers for emergencies. Plan an event for your community, workplace, school, or house of worship. Our team of experts will come to your neighborhood with information and fun activities to prepare residents of any age for emergencies and distribute free preparedness materials. Request an event today at NYC.gov/readyny.

Keep Kids Prepared

Everyone in your family should be prepared for an emergency, even the kids. Include your children in planning for an emergency. Teach them how to get help and what to do in different situations. Practice your emergency plan together and quiz them about preparedness information. Be sure to check out Ready New York for Kids resources to help make learning about emergency preparedness fun.

Help Older Adults Prepare

May is Older Americans Month, a golden opportunity for older New Yorkers get prepared. Older adults may need extra help before, during, and after emergencies. Create an emergency support network of friends, family, and neighbors. If you receive home care, make sure your caregiver is part of that network and knows the plan in case of an emergency. Make a list of medications, and include why you take them, and their dosages, and place it in your Go Bag for easy access. Review accessible transportation options and how to exit your home safely. You can learn more about emergency preparedness for older New Yorkers at Emergency Preparedness Tips for Older Adults page.

Ready Pets & Service Animals

Pets and service animals are part of the family, so they should be included in your emergency planning. Include personalized items for your pet in your Go Bag, such as a favorite toy or treat. Arrange for family or friends outside of the affected area to shelter your pet, identify animal-friendly hotels outside of the affected area, or talk with your local veterinarian, kennel, or grooming facility to see if they can offer shelter for your pet during an emergency. Dogs and cats should wear a collar or harness, rabies tag, and identification tag at all times. You can also talk to your vet, call 311, or visit NYC.gov to learn about microchipping your pet or service animal, too. Use the Ready New York: My Pet's Emergency Plan workbook to create a comprehensive plan to prepare your pet for all types of emergencies.

Know Your Zone

Atlantic hurricane season has begun! You have the power to be prepared for coastal storms and hurricanes. Visit NYC.gov/knowyourzone to find out which hurricane evacuation zone you're located in, learn the hazards you may face, and the best ways to stay prepared. Remember: Whether you need to evacuate or ride the storm out at home, planning ahead is essential.

Plan Now for the Unexpected

No-notice events can take many forms in New York City and can affect you even if they happen in a different borough or neighborhood. The PlanNowNYC website can give you basic information and simple steps to take to be prepared and take action. Visit NYC.gov/plannow so that we can all be ready together.

Beat the Heat Without Breaking a Sweat

There is no cure for the summertime blues, but you can beat the heat. Stay in a cool place as much as possible, drink plenty of fluids, and wear lightweight, light-colored, loose clothing that covers your skin. Check on your neighbors virtually or over the phone during a heat wave to make sure they are staying cool, especially if they are older adults, young children, or people with disabilities or access and functional needs. Never leave children, pets, or those who require special care in a parked car during periods of intense summer heat. Visit NYC.gov/beattheheat or call 311 for more helpful tips to keep you safe and cool all summer long.

Power Up

With power outages more common during the summer months, take steps to conserve energy on hot, humid days. Turn off lights in rooms once you leave them. Only use your air conditioning while you are home and need it. Use a timer or smart thermostat to so you can adjust your home's temperature whether you are home or away. If a power outage does occur, stay at home if you can. Keep your refrigerator closed to preserve perishable food, and keep your cell phone charged to check updates and communicate with your emergency contacts.

Share Your Space

If you own or manage a large space somewhere in the city, you can put it to good use and help your community. The Share Your Space Survey identifies spaces that can support the City's emergency operations and community outreach events. For example, during extreme heat, your space could be used as a cooling center for those without access to air conditioning. Visit NYC.gov/shareyourspacesurvey to learn more and fill out the survey.

Mind Over Matter: Take Care of Your Mental Health

Emergencies can affect our mental health. NYC Well is a great resource for someone to talk to about stress, depression, anxiety, or drug and alcohol use. Call, text, or send an instant message to NYC Well for 24/7 access to counselors who will provide coping and wellness tips. Visit NYC.gov/nycwell to learn more.

National Preparedness Month

Let's get pumped up about preparedness this month! National Preparedness Month is a great time to take steps to prepare for the types of emergencies that can affect us wherever we live, work, learn, or worship. Visit NYC.gov/npm to find out where and when NYC Emergency Management and its partners will host preparedness events for New Yorkers, their communities, and their businesses.

Lend a Helping Hand

Volunteering is a simple and effective way to help out your community before, during, and after emergencies. You can join the New York City Community Emergency Response Team (NYC CERT) program to undergo training that will equip you with basic response skills for fire safety, light search and rescue, community disaster support, disaster medical operations, and traffic control. Once you are trained and join the team, you will assist when emergencies affect your neighborhood. Visit NYC.gov/cert learn more.

Be Cyber Aware

October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. It is more important than ever to do some emergency planning in the virtual world just as we do in the real world. Make sure that all of your software is up-to-date and use strong, unique passwords for all of your online logins. Also, use two-factor authentication whenever you can to keep all of your personal information secure. Beware of any suspicious links, especially when shopping or viewing financial details.

Protect Your Property

Severe weather can significantly affect your property, so take steps to protect it. 

• Tie down or anchor outdoor items, such as patio furniture so that gusts of wind cannot blow them away. 
• If you're looking for a way to keep your property and community clean, clear out gutters and repair any leaks to prevent water damage from heavy rainfall or large accumulations of snow. 
• Clear catch basins to prevent large-scale flooding from rain, and be sure your snow removal equipment is ready before winter begins. If you live in a high-rise building, make sure your windows are closed during a storm, and stay away from windows in case they break or shatter. 
• If you live in a basement apartment, be prepared to take shelter above ground, as basements are especially vulnerable to flooding.

Gear Up for Winter

Winter is coming soon, which means the potential for frigid cold and heavy snow. Make sure your emergency plan is winterized before the season begins. Add items like a blanket, warm socks, and gloves, to your Go Bag to help you keep warm. In your emergency supply kit, add items to keep you comfortable and warm for up to seven days, and include a battery-powered radio to monitor weather conditions even if you lose power. Winterize your car by packing blankets, sleeping bags, and newspapers for insulation in your trunk. Include extra warming clothes, a spare tire, and a sack of sand or kitty litter to gain traction under wheels if you get stuck.

Get "Fired Up" About Preparedness

Fires are more common at this time of year as we stay warm and celebrate the holidays with cooking, lights, and candles. Be ready to evacuate your home in the event of a fire. Know two ways out in case one way is blocked by flames and practice evacuating. Learn whether your building is fireproof or not so that you know what to do. If a fire does break out and you must evacuate, leave quickly, meet with the other members of your household at your designated meeting place, and call 911.

Prepare Your Business & Community

Emergencies can happen anywhere at any time, so it is important to stay prepared in all aspects of life, including in your business or organization. When organizations do not prepare ahead of time, disasters are more deeply felt. Once your household emergency plan is set and practiced, it is time to bring what you've learned to the whole community for free!

• If you own or run a business, join Partners in Preparedness, a free program that provides resources to support organizations in preparing their employees, services, and facilities for emergencies. You can become a Partner in Preparedness to gain access to free preparedness information, real-time emergency alerts and more.
• Emergencies affect every community differently, but you can help your community be prepared and resilient. You can use the NYC Emergency Management's Community Emergency Planning Toolkit to create an emergency plan for your community.

Give Back

In the holiday spirit? Give back to those affected by disasters by making a donation.

• Making a financial contribution to a volunteer agency involved in disaster relief is the best way of helping people in need after a disaster.
• Before donating any goods, including food or clothing, wait for instructions from local officials or check with a specific organization. Unneeded items overwhelm the recovery effort and may go to waste.
• Donating blood is a great way to contribute to the emergency preparedness of the City as a whole. One pint of donated blood can save up to three lives, and one out of every three people will need a life-saving transfusion at some point in their lifetimes.

Visit the Help Now website for tips and information about how to help those affected by disasters.