Archive: News

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced more than 300,000 New Yorkers have received training through the Citizen Preparedness Corps. Established in 2014 under the leadership of Cuomo, the Citizen's Preparedness Corps provides the tools and resources necessary for preparing New Yorkers for any type of disaster so they respond accordingly and recover as quickly as possible to pre-disaster conditions.

"Through this comprehensive training, New Yorkers across the state can learn to respond effectively in a crisis," Cuomo said. "No one can predict when the next disaster may happen, but with this training, we can ensure families and communities are prepared for any emergency."

"Thanks to our innovative Citizen Preparedness Corps, hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers are ready to help their communities respond when disaster hits," said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul. "Once again, we are leading the nation with this essential training program, and we look forward to continued milestones as more and more of our citizens step up to participate."

Trainings are conducted by the New York National Guard, working with experts from the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services' Office of Emergency Management and Office of Fire Prevention and Control. Volunteers from the American Red Cross also teach courses.

A session scheduled for Lansing was canceled at the last minute because too few people signed up.

During each class, New Yorkers are taught an all-hazards approach to preparedness, giving them skills that can be utilized in any life-threatening situation, as opposed to developing individualized plans for each type of disaster or emergency. This includes information on how to develop family emergency plans and the importance of stocking up on emergency supplies. Additionally, trainers supply information on what organizations can provide additional support; how to register for NY-Alert, the free statewide emergency alert system; and how to be aware of notifications from such sources as the Emergency ALERT System. Participants are also encouraged to get more involved in existing community-based emergency activities that may be organized through local schools, businesses or community-based organizations.

In recent years, the program has been further adapted to include training on the "See Something, Say Something" mantra, as well as an active shooter/active violence component which focuses on situational awareness and incorporates the "Run, Hide, Fight" concept for active shooter training.

v15i26