For Immediate Release
#42-15

NEW YORK CITY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PRESENTS READY NEW YORK SENIOR CENTER OF THE YEAR AWARD TO UNITED NEIGHBORHOOD SENIOR CENTER IN BROOKLYN

November 6, 2015—The New York City Emergency Management Department and the Department for the Aging (DFTA) today presented the third Ready New York Senior Center of the Year Award to Grisel Amador, Director of the United Neighborhood Senior Center, for the center’s ongoing commitment to preparing its members for emergencies. As a part of United Neighborhood Senior Center’s emergency preparedness program, members receive regular preparedness presentations, and are reminded to pack a Go Bag with basic supplies, medical information and contact names and numbers. Ms. Amador has shown dedication to emergency preparedness through her extensive work in the community. She has partnered with local hospitals and pharmacies to provide free flu shots for seniors, worked with the local community board, police precinct and the Lions Club to distributed preparedness materials at community fairs, and compiled an emergency stockpile of supplies including water, blankets, toiletries, and radios to distribute to residents during an emergency. The senior center also works with the local Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) to conduct monthly fire drills for seniors.

"Grisel has done an exceptional job of engaging her community in helping to prepare older New Yorkers for emergencies through her partnerships with local businesses, hospitals, pharmacies and social clubs. Her dynamic approach to senior preparedness is a model that I hope all senior centers will follow," said NYCEM Commissioner Joseph Esposito. "I also want to thank the Department for the Aging for their partnership and dedication to educating their seniors about the importance of emergency preparedness."

"I would like to thank Commissioner Esposito and everyone at New York City Emergency Management for raising awareness of what to do when seniors are faced with an emergency," said DFTA Commissioner Donna Corrado. "I would also like to thank this year’s winner of the 'Ready New York Senior Center of the Year Award' - the United Senior Neighborhood Center in Sunset Park. The center and its director Grisel Amador have empowered seniors with important instructions that will ensure their safety in the event of an emergency. In addition, seniors at the Center, are now equipped with "Go Bags" which contain important medication information, emergency contact numbers, basic supplies, and more."

New York City Emergency Management and the Department for the Aging have developed innovative methods to teach older New Yorkers about preparedness. NYC Emergency Management social media experts have taught seniors how to use the City’s latest tech resourced to stay informed before, during, and after an emergency. Seniors have learned how to sign up for Notify NYC, the City’s official, free emergency public messaging system, and have also received one-on-one tech training on the Ready NYC app, which allows New Yorkers to store important preparedness information, including emergency contacts, health information, and supply checklists for a Go Bag, on their smartphones and tablets. During this past year, New York City Emergency Management has visited close to 100 senior centers and given preparedness presentations to more than 3,200 older New Yorkers. NYC Emergency Management has also distributed more than 170,000 copies of My Emergency Plan throughout the five boroughs. The My Emergency plan guide was created in collaboration with the Department for the Aging and other partners specifically for the City’s older residents.

About the Ready New York Program

The Ready New York program outlines three important strategies to preparing for emergencies:

• Get Ready: Make a Plan – Have at least two phone numbers – one local and one out-of- state number – which you can call in an emergency and practice the plan with adults in your home.
• Get Set: Prepare a Stay at Home Kit – During emergencies that require you to stay at home, it is important to have extra food and water for everyone in the house and a battery-operated radio for news updates.
• Get Ready to Go: Pack a Go Bag – During emergencies that require you to leave your home, have a Go Bag with emergency supplies.

This year’s award ceremony was held at the United Neighborhood Senior Center in Sunset Park. The Medical Reserve Corps was also on hand to provide free blood pressure screenings, and NYC Emergency Management staffers distributed emergency preparedness materials. New York City Management Commissioner Joseph Esposito was joined by Donna Corrado, Commissioner for the Department for the Aging, to present this year’s award.

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MEDIA CONTACT: Nancy Greco Silvestri/Omar Bourne (NYCEM) (718) 422-4888

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