CRISIS PLANNING
Citizen Preparedness Corps educates public about disaster preparedness
BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. >> The Citizen Preparedness Corps met with members of the public at the Ballston Spa Public Library recently to go over disaster preparedness and emergency planning.
The Corps members, Sgt. First Class Nicodeme Esmel of the Army National Guard and Master Sgt. Lydia Gerardi of the Air Force National Guard, represent Team Six which covers the Capital Region.
There are nine teams in total serving all of New York State. The Citizen Preparedness Corps was created to “help individuals and families learn how to provide assistance for themselves, their families, their neighbors, and their community during a disaster.” It has been holding training sessions such as the one at the library since 2014, advising participants on how to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disaster situations.
According to the Corps’ training program, there are four stages of disaster preparedness: Prepare, Respond, Recover, and Get Involved. There are four main types of disaster scenarios: natural disasters (such as floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes), human-caused disasters (such as preventable fires and active shooters), technological disasters (such as cyber-attacks and utility failures), and biological disasters (such as pandemics and epidemics).
“During a disaster, there’s not enough first responders to help everyone at once,” Esmel explained. “If you can help yourself, it can help you survive longer. Everyone can benefit from training like this.”
“Resources become scarce in a disaster,” Gerardi added. “If you’re already prepared, you’ll have access to a supply of those resources and you’ll be ready. Knowledge is power, and knowing what to do in a disaster can save lives. If you’re prepared, you can help your family and your neighbors.”
According to the training, a large part of disaster preparedness is knowledge — knowing what to do, how to do it safely, what supplies to have on hand and how to use them, and how to report to
first responders when calling for help.
“Preparing for a disaster prevents distress, and that can save yourself and others,” Esmel explained during the training.
Esmel walked training participants through some of the knowledge required for disaster preparedness, such as having a family evacuation plan that includes details for every family member — adults, children, the elderly, and even pets. The evacuation plan should involve meeting locations, emergency contacts, and written information that can assist emergency responders.
This includes area maps that have frequently-traveled routes and landmarks labeled, and notes left in visible locations that let others know about your intended movements (eg, “we’re going to drive south on I87, here is our vehicle’s information”).
Another important part of disaster preparedness is having emergency kits put together and ready to go. Esmel covered two types of emergency kits in the training — one that stays at home and provides supplies in case of an emergency that requires sheltering in place for an extended time, and one that travels with you if you evacuate during a disaster.
The at-home emergency kit should include things like 10 gallons of water per person, shelf-stable food, a first aid kit, hygiene items, protective supplies such as reflective items that can be used to identify your location, a waterproof document holder with copies of important paperwork for each family member, a hand-crank radio, and a 10-14 day supply of medications.
The to-go emergency kit should be a smaller version of the at-home kit, containing about 10% of the amount of each item — a smaller first aid kit, individual bottles of water, a few servings of portable shelf-stable food such as energy bars, a change of clothes, and a flashlight or lantern with LED lights. The kit should be easy to carry, such as a durable backpack or shoulder bag. A similar emergency kit should also be kept in your car.
For pets, a separate emergency kit should be put together including a crate, leash, immunization records, blankets, food, water, and medications. If you can bring your pets with you when evacuating, know which emergency shelters in your area accept pets and make sure you have at bare minimum a crate, leash, and immunization records for each animal.
Emergency kit supplies can be purchased from a variety of online retailers and stores such as camping and outdoor supply stores.
During a disaster, Esmel recommends knowing how to turn off major systems and utilities in your home if they become unsafe. Never turn a utility back on until it has been tested and approved by a professional. Pay attention to boil water alerts and make sure to boil your water for two minutes after straining it through a cheesecloth or similar material.
Follow all official evacuation instructions and don’t return home until authorities say it is safe to do so. Check in with your emergency contacts to keep them up to date about your location.
After a disaster, Esmel says that documentation helps a great deal.
During your preparation stage, take photos of all major items in your home. Take photos of damage after the disaster so you can compare and assess. Contact your insurance company and be aware of what coverage you have. In New York State, flood insurance is separate from homeowner’s insurance and in many cases “water damage” excludes damage from weather. And be on the lookout for scammers.
Areas that are struck by disaster always see a spike in scam activity. If you are not sure you are talking to a legitimate emergency responder, ask to see identification and if you can, call over additional responders to verify that the individual in question is supposed to be there.
One of the best ways to assist your community in disaster preparedness is to get involved. Esmel says that volunteering for organizations like the Red Cross and donating needed supplies can make a big difference. Take first aid training courses and sign up for emergency alert systems. Follow the “See Something Say Something” system to report suspicious situations, either by calling the State’s hotline at 1-866-SAFENYS, or by using the “See Something Send Something” app, available for free for both apple and android phones.
Citizen Preparedness Corps Team Six teaches their disaster preparedness training course throughout the year around the Capital District. Keep an eye out for announcements of training sessions from community organizations like libraries and schools. You can also get more information, including a training calendar, at https://www.dhses.ny.gov/citizen-preparedness-corps.
Sign up for the State’s alert system at https://alert. ny.gov/. Visit https://www. dhses.ny.gov/ or www.prepare.ny.gov for additional information.