GENESEO, N.Y., Sept. 13, 2023 —The Livingston County Board of Supervisors has proclaimed September as National Preparedness Month throughout the County. National Preparedness Month is observed around the country each September to raise awareness and provide educational resources about the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies that could happen at any time.
This year’s theme, “Take Control in 1, 2, 3,” focuses on preparing older adults for disasters, specifically older adults from communities that are disproportionally impacted by all-hazard events, which continue to threaten the nation. Older adults often face greater risks when it comes to the multitude of extreme weather events and emergencies, especially if they are living alone, are low-income, have a disability or live in rural areas.
Officials from the County’s Department of Health and Office of Emergency Management are encouraging residents to make a plan to prepare for potential disasters starting with a simple emergency preparedness checklist. The checklist can be used to create a disaster supplies kit for the home - a collection of basic items a household may need in the event of an emergency.
“Don’t forget to maintain your kit so it’s ready when needed: replace expired items and update the kit as your family needs change,” said Public Health Director, Jennifer Rodriguez. “Since you do not know where you will be when an emergency occurs, prepare an emergency supply kit for your car, too.”
“Discussing a range of possible disaster scenarios with family members and what to do in each situation is also an important step,” said Office of Emergency Management Director Andrew Brodell. “Make sure your family has a plan and practices it often,” he continued. “There’s a certain level of chaos that often accompanies emergencies, so having that plan in place that you’ve already carried out before can be key to surviving a potentially life-threatening situation.”
For more information on how to properly prepare for an emergency including putting together an emergency response kit, contact the Livingston County Department of Health at (585) 243-7524 or Office of Emergency Management at (585) 243-7160.
Are you interested in helping Livingston County residents during a wide-spread emergency situation? Learn more about how to get involved by becoming a Livingston County Volunteer.
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About Livingston County:
Founded in 1821, Livingston County, N.Y., is home to more than 61,000 residents in 17 towns located across 631 square miles of the Finger Lakes region.