EMERGENCIES CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME: ARE YOU PREPARED?

NEW CITY, NY - - September is both National Preparedness Month and Hurricane Preparedness Month. Rockland County Executive Ed Day and County Health Commissioner Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert urge residents to take action and get ready! After an emergency, basic services such as electricity, gas, water, sewage treatment, and telephones may be cut off.

As was the case with the recent Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, help will be on the scene, but they can't reach everyone right away. You and your family may need to survive on your own for several days. Being prepared means having your own food, water and other supplies to last for at least 72 hours.

"Now is a good time to review, update, or begin your personal and home emergency preparedness plans," said Dr. Ruppert.

Here are three steps you can take to help prepare yourself and your family for an emergency:

1. Put together an emergency supply kit: There are some basic items that everyone needs:

• One gallon of water per person, per day and food for you and your family for at least three days. Use food that does not need to be refrigerated or cooked such as peanut butter and ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits and vegetable.
• Special supplies you and your family need, such as: at least three day's supply of medicines or medical treatments; important documents; a copy of prescriptions, dosage and treatment information; copies of insurance cards, and information on equipment or life-saving devices you use; eyeglasses; hearing aids and batteries; wheelchair batteries; and oxygen.
• Supplies for your pet, such as pet food, water, medicines and any special supplies your pet may need.
• Battery-powered radio, flashlight, extra batteries, and first aid kit.
• NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert or sign up for the NY-ALERT system by calling 1-888-697-6972 or visiting www.nyalert.gov to receive emergency weather alerts and other emergency warnings and information sent directly to your e-mail or cell phone.

2. Make a family emergency plan: Your family may not be together when an emergency strikes, so plan ahead. Know how you will contact one another, how you will get back together, and what you will do in different situations.

3. Be informed: During an emergency, information will be available on the radio, TV, and newspapers and online at the Rockland County website www.rocklandgov.com, Facebook www.facebook.com/rocklandgov, and Twitter https://twitter.com/rocklandgov. These websites can all be accessed on your smart phone even if you lose electricity. In addition, notifications will be sent via the NY-ALERT system once you register to receive e-mails or text messages.

For more information about how to prepare for emergencies, visit the Rockland County Health Department's webpage at www.rocklandgov.com/health or call 845-364-2660. For hurricane preparedness information visit www.ready.gov/hurricanes.