TIME TO CHANGE YOUR CLOCKS AND 
CHECK YOUR EMERGENCY SUPPLY KIT

NEW CITY, NY - - Rockland County Executive Ed Day and County Health Commissioner Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert remind residents to change your clocks when Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday, November 1 and take time to check your emergency supply kit. Is it missing any items? Is anything out-of-date, leaking or damaged?

"The real life experience of Hurricane Sandy showed us how important it is to be prepared for emergencies. Natural events, like floods, or man-made events, like terrorist attacks, can happen with little or no warning; that's why having an emergency supply kit is so important," said Dr. Ruppert.

If you haven't created an emergency supply kit yet, now is the time to do it! Have at least a three-day supply of food and water stored in your home, with at least one gallon of water per person per day. Choose foods that are ready to eat such as peanut butter and ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits and vegetables. Remember your pets! They need their own food and water. Your emergency supply kit should also contain flashlights, a hand-operated can opener, a radio, batteries and copies of important documents. Depending on your family's needs, you may also need other supplies. Be prepared. Stock up on canned vegetables or batteries when there is a sale. Share "bulk" items with a friend, co-worker or neighbor, who can serve as your "preparedness buddy." Once your emergency supply kit is complete, don't be tempted to "borrow" from it the next time you run out of batteries or need beans for a recipe. Remember: your emergency supply kit is for emergencies!

Of course, you don't have to wait for the clock change to make or update your emergency supply kit. Also, don't forget to change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms when you change your clocks, check to make sure the devices are in good working order and check to make sure they are not expired.

Visit getreadyforflu.org/clocksstocks for fact sheets and checklists, games and other materials for adults and kids!

Schedule a "Get Ready Rockland" emergency preparedness presentation at your community or faith organization or place of work, by calling the Health Department at (845) 364-2526.