June 26, 2019 — The New York City Emergency Management Department’s mobile office made its second stop of the season in Queens on Wednesday, June 26. NYC Emergency Management staff members, along with representatives from City agencies and partner organizations, visited Diversity Plaza in Queens from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. The event offered city agencies the opportunity to engage with faith-based organizations and residents to discuss emergency preparedness, coordination, and planning and provide information on resources and services available to the public. During the event, residents learned about steps that they could take to prepare for coastal storms and heat emergencies. The mobile hours at Diversity Plaza focused on the City’s partnership with faith-based organizations in helping communities prepare for emergencies. The agency will host mobile office hours throughout the five boroughs during the heat and coastal storm season. Each mobile office event will highlight a specific theme related to emergency preparedness, response, and recovery.

“It’s important that communities have a plan in the event of an emergency. Building partnerships with faith-based organizations is essential to emergency planning because many have established relationships with community organizations and residents,” NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Joseph Esposito said. “As we continue into heat and coastal storm season, New Yorkers should be prepared for the hazards they may face and work with their community to develop a comprehensive plan.”

“FEMA’s goal is to help individuals, communities and other organizations understand their risk and the available options to best manage those risks,” Regional Administrator of FEMA Region II Thomas Von Essen said. “Every segment of our society, from individual to government, industry to faith-based communities, must be encouraged and empowered with the information to prepare for the potential impacts of future disasters.”

NYC Emergency Management partnered with the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), FDNY, NYC Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA), New York Disaster Interfaith Services (NYDIS), and The American Red Cross. During the event, DEP staff distributed information regarding water conservation and set up portable NYC Water on the Go fountains, while FDNY representatives shared information on how New Yorkers can protect their homes from a fire. NYC Emergency Management staff members were also on hand distributing a range of emergency preparedness materials and sharing tips with New Yorkers on how to prepare for their unique needs. 

“The summer season can bring many hazards, from heat waves to hurricanes, which can threaten the health of our families and our borough. But by planning ahead, we can mitigate the risks posed by severe weather or other emergencies,” Queens Borough President Melinda Katz said. “The services offered by New York City Emergency Management help to save lives and protect property, and Queens’ residents should take advantage of the agency’s mobile office hours to stay informed and get prepared.”

“NYC Emergency Management’s Mobile Office Hours will help my constituents devise an action plan in the case of an emergency,” NYC Council Member Daniel Dromm said.  “I’m pleased that NYC Emergency Management will activate the vast networks our houses of worship have developed within our communities over the years in an effort to reach as many people as possible.  Because emergency preparedness helps save lives, I thank Commissioner Esposito and his entire staff for prioritizing this important work.” 

NYC Emergency Management helps community and faith-based organizations build capacity within their community to prepare for, respond to, and recover from an emergency. This includes training classes and events, preparedness and emergency information, preparedness resources for disability, access and functional needs populations, and connecting established community networks to the City’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) during a disaster. To learn more on how to prepare communities for emergencies visit, https://www1.nyc.gov/site/em/ready/community-preparedness.page. 

NYC Emergency Management’s mobile office hours are an annual outreach initiative that engages the public by bringing emergency preparedness to their communities. New Yorkers are encouraged to stop by to learn how to prepare for any emergency, including steps to make a plan, gather supplies, and stay informed. Residents also learned how to join their local Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), a program consisting of more than 50 teams and 1,200 active volunteers dedicated to helping their communities during emergencies. This is the second mobile office hour event since NYC Emergency Management kicked off the 2019 Atlantic Hurricane season at Midland Beach on Staten Island on May 31, 2019. 

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MEDIA CONTACT:           Tashawn Brown/Omar Bourne (718) 422-4888

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