Protect Your Family Before, During and After a Disaster

OSWEGO COUNTY – September is National Preparedness Month

Preparing for disasters ahead of time is crucial to surviving the chaos they bring. Knowing what to do during, and immediately after, the disaster strikes is crucial to returning to pre-disaster conditions. The Oswego County Emergency Management Office (EMO) recognizes September as National Preparedness Month and offers residents emergency preparation tips.

“September is National Preparedness Month, which is an ideal time to discuss emergency plans with your family, create or update your disaster supply kits, and explore ways to assist your neighbors,” said Oswego County Emergency Management Office Director Cathleen Palmitesso. “Communities and organizations supporting local residents should collaborate now to prepare for emergencies and disasters later.”

This past summer, Oswego County experienced severe thunderstorms, two confirmed tornadoes, flooding, high wind damage, extreme heat and scattered power outages. “While our county did not suffer as much as our neighbors in Lewis, Oneida and Madison counties, some of our residents endured challenging times,” Palmitesso said.

To prepare for emergencies, residents can follow tips from Ready.Gov to put a plan together for their families. Discuss how family members will receive emergency alerts and warnings and how they will communicate with each other. Put together a disaster supplies kit with non-perishable food, energy snacks, water (one gallon per person for several days), a flashlight and extra batteries, a battery-powered or crank radio and NOAA weather radio, a first aid kit, and chargers for mobile devices.

“When creating your plan, be sure to include older adults and vulnerable individuals who may need extra assistance during an emergency,” Palmitesso said.

People should sign up for weather alert systems such as NYAlert and ensure their cell phones are registered with Oswego County’s mass notification system, Hyper-Reach. The sign-up page can be found on the county’s E-911 Communications Center’s page at www.oswegocounty.com/911.

“You should also familiarize yourself with the types of emergencies and disasters that could occur in your community,” Palmitesso continued. “While we’re used to lake effect snow, Oswego County has seen more flash flooding and high wind events in recent years, including several storms that brought high winds and power outages just last year.”

Before a storm, make sure your cell phones are charged and know the difference between a weather watch and warning.

“A watch is issued by the National Weather Service when there is potential for severe weather to develop,” Palmitesso said. “In those situations, people should be aware of weather conditions and be prepared to take action. On the other hand, a warning is issued when severe weather is occurring or imminent, and in that case, people need to take action immediately to protect lives and property.”

Once the storm hits, people should be prepared to protect themselves. “Always follow the directions of local officials, whether it’s instructions from the National Weather Service via Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) or Hyper-Reach,” Palmitesso said.

During a tornado warning, take shelter in the lowest level of your home, away from windows. In a flood, move to higher ground and comply with any evacuation orders. Do not drive through flooded roadways or around barricades because the road underneath the water may be washed out or damaged.

“After the storm, stay informed by listening to local media reports,” Palmitesso said. “Be aware of hazards. Assume all downed power lines are live and do not drive over them. Avoid driving or walking through floodwaters. Give first responders space to work.”

Following emergencies with substantial damage, New York State may request homeowners to report damage via an online survey tool.

“It’s important to note that these surveys are voluntary and do not guarantee that funding may be available,” Palmitesso said. “A homeowners’ or renters’ insurance policy may cover damages. In some cases, uninsured losses may be eligible for funding, but this hasn’t happened in Oswego County in several years. Any funding announcements would come directly from New York State.”

The Oswego County Emergency Management Office collaborates closely with other county offices, including the Health Department, Office for the Aging, the Department of Social Services and the Office of Mobility Management as well as local first responders and community agencies like the American Red Cross to help people prepare for and respond to emergencies and disasters. A Local Human Needs Group was formed this summer to facilitate collaboration among human service agencies for emergency needs.

“These agencies provide tools to help people protect themselves following an emergency and we greatly value our partnerships with them,” Palmitesso said.

For more information on planning for disasters, people can visit www.oswegocounty.com/emo or www.ready.gov, or call 315-591-9150.

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