For Immediate Release
#64-18

NYC EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT BRINGS EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS TO ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITY WITH CITY COUNCIL MEMBER BEN KALLOS

Council Member Kallos hands out Go Bags to help New Yorkers prepare

September 27, 2018 — The New York City Emergency Management Department partnered with New York City Council Member Ben Kallos to host an Emergency Preparedness Night at Rockefeller University in Manhattan. Event attendees learned how to prepare for emergencies such as hurricanes, winter storms, and building evacuations, as well as how to build an emergency plan for themselves and their loved ones.

“At NYC Emergency Management, we work to prepare all New Yorkers for the unexpected,” said NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Joseph Esposito. “Thanks to partnerships with local leaders like Council Member Kallos, we bring emergency preparedness to your neighborhood.”     

"Go Bags must become a household item, so that in the event of a serious emergency, you can grab what you need and get going!” said Council Member Ben Kallos. “As New Yorkers we are tough but we should still always plan and get prepared for natural disasters that may occur. If you live in a location that previously flooded, stay up to date of the news and know your options. Thank you to all the New Yorkers who came out to prepare and to Commissioner Esposito for being on hand to provide personal training.” 

The night concluded with Council Member Kallos handing out Go Bags packed with emergency supplies like flashlights, first-aid kits, radios, and other essential items for leaving home in a hurry – giving attendees a great start to their emergency preparedness. 

• Make an emergency plan with your family to prepare for what to do, how to find each other, and how to communicate in an emergency.
  • Ask at least two people to be in your emergency support network — family members, friends, neighbors, caregivers, coworkers, or members of community groups. Pick an out-of-area friend or relative who family or friends can call during a disaster.
  • Decide where your household members will reunite after a disaster. Identify two places to meet: one near your home and another outside your immediate neighborhood. Practice using all possible exit routes from your home and neighborhood.
• Everyone in your household should have a Go Bag — a collection of things you would want if you have to leave in a hurry.  Your Go Bag should include:
  • Bottled water and nonperishable food, such as granola bars.
  • Copies of your important documents in a waterproof and portable container.
  • Cash (in small bills).
  • Flashlight, hand-crank or battery-operated AM/FM radio, and extra batteries.
  • A list of the medications each member of your household takes, why they take them, and their dosages.
  • Back-up medical equipment (e.g., glasses, batteries) and chargers.
  • Supplies for your service animal or pet (e.g., food, extra water, bowl, leash, cleaning items, vaccination records and medications).
  • Contact information for your household and members of your support network.
• Stay informed about emergency events by signing up for Notify NYC, the City’s free emergency communications program. Download the free mobile application, visit NYC.gov/NotifyNYC, call 311, or follow @NotifyNYC on Twitter.

MEDIA CONTACT: Justin Bennett/Allison Pennisi (718) 422-4888

STAY CONNECTED: Twitter: @NotifyNYC (emergency notifications); @nycemergencymgt (emergency preparedness info); Facebook: /NYCemergencymanagement