NYC EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT KICKS OFF MOBILE OFFICE HOURS AT GANTRY PLAZA STATE PARK IN QUEENS

The program is designed to assist New Yorkers prepare for emergencies

July 16, 2021 — The New York City Emergency Management Department kicked off mobile office hours for this summer's heat and coastal storm season with an event at Gantry Plaza State Park in Queens on Thursday, July 15 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. New Yorkers were able to engage with agency representatives and discuss emergency preparedness topics such as writing an emergency plan, building a Go-Bag, learning about hurricane evacuation zones, how to register for Notify NYC, the City's official emergency alert system, and how to become a volunteer with the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).

During the event, New Yorkers learned about what precautions they can take to prepare for coastal storms and heat emergencies. Coastal storm preparedness was highlighted by the agency's Know Your Zone campaign, relaunched earlier this year to educate New Yorkers on the changes to the evacuation zones and its impact. NYC Emergency Management will host additional mobile office hours throughout the five boroughs during the summer. Mobile office hours were suspended during 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and preparedness events were held virtually.

"After more than a year apart due to the pandemic, we are excited to restart a program that allows New Yorkers to learn about how to prepare for emergencies and all the resources the City has available," said NYC Emergency Management Commissioner John Scrivani. "These events welcome the participation of elected officials, community partners and local residents to help prepare individuals, businesses, families and communities to build their network in anticipation of future emergencies. 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."

"From the stifling heat waves of the past few weeks to the recent flooding rains before and during Tropical Storm Elsa, Queens has seen first-hand how important it is to be prepared for any disaster," said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. "As we get deeper into both the hot summer months and hurricane season, we appreciate NYC Emergency Management's decision to host mobile office hours in Long Island City. We encourage all our families to learn what it truly means to be prepared."

"I was glad to see Emergency Management's mobile outreach program returning to our area this year. I encourage everyone to take these opportunities to examine their family's plan for an emergency, and to participate in planning with their neighbors, local businesses, and community groups for the future challenges that we will face together. By communicating and collaborating with one another before disasters occur, we can strengthen our neighborhoods and improve our resilience in times of crisis," said Assemblywoman Cathy Nolan.

NYC Emergency Management helps individuals, families, businesses, 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.

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MEDIA CONTACT: Tashawn Brown/Ines Bebea (718) 422-4888

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