Did you know…that you can be prepared for an emergency? What is emergency preparedness? Emergency preparedness is being able to respond to an emergency in a matter of seconds. You could be directed to leave your home/apartment by an official or there could be a fire or gas leak.  There are many reasons why you have to be quick on your feet in an emergency.    Tips on how to prepare your family in an emergency:  

1. If you have to leave your home, you should have two places for your family to meet. One should be close to your home and the other should be outside of your neighborhood. Everyone in your family/household should know where these meeting places are. 
2. Inform someone outside of your household of these meeting places in case your local contacts get separated. 
3. Every member of your family and/or close friends should have an Emergency Reference Card.  You should place a copy of this card on your refrigerator, in your wallet and give a copy to the contact people listed on the card.
   1. This card should include:

                                                               i.      Contact information of family and/or friends to call in case of an emergency.                                                              ii.      Contact of a person who does not live in New York State. 

1. The address of your two meeting places. Every member of your family, including your pet, should have a backpack, also known as a “Go Bag,” with emergency items in it in case you have to leave your home. Each bag should include:

 Ø  Copies of your important papersØ  Photos of your household membersØ  List of medications that you takeØ  A copy of your emergency reference cardØ  Extra set of house and car keysØ  Battery Powered Radio and Flashlight with extra battersØ  Cash ( single dollar bills) and a Metro CardØ  Water and non-perishable foods (pop top cans of meat, fish. Breakfast bars, snack bars, energy drink, etc.Ø  Personal items that could reduce stress (books, crossword puzzles, cards)Ø  WhistleØ  Small first aid kit Now Remember Get Ready, by making a plan, Get Set, by being prepared and Go with your go bag with emergency items.  Keep in mind that 311 is a good source for information. You can also sign up for Notify NYC, which is a text based, phone and email public messaging service that can give you information. You can sign up for this by going to www.NYC.gov/notifynyc.  This article was written by Deborah Henry, a volunteer for Community Service Society/Retired Senior Volunteer Program Emergency Preparedness Speakers Bureau (EPSB).  In partnership with the American Red Cross in Greater New York,  RSVP trains volunteers to present all over the five boroughs on how to best prepare for an emergency.  If you are interested in volunteering for RSVP’s EPSB program or know of a group of people who would like to receive a presentation, please call RSVP Unit Supervisor, Bobbie Futrell at (212) 614-5386 or email BFutrell@cssny.org