Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today proclaimed May 24 to May 30, 2015 as Hurricane Preparedness Week in New York State, encouraging New Yorkers to prepare for dangerous storms as hurricane season begins.

Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) Commissioner John P. Melville said, “As Hurricane Irene, Tropical Storm Lee, and Superstorm Sandy showed us, there isn’t a single area of New York State that will never have to think about hurricanes and other instances severe weather. Being pro-active now can save lives in the future, especially when extremely dangerous storms like hurricanes hit. If New Yorkers take any message away from our efforts this week, I hope it is this: don’t chance it, and don’t wait to become prepared. Talk to your family, your neighbors, and community leaders, and have the tools and supplies you need to keep yourself and others safe.”

Hurricane season in the Atlantic starts at the end of Hurricane Preparedness Week on June 1, and ends November 30. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) cautions that hurricane force winds can reach more than 180 miles per hour, and that the storms can produce hazards like storm surge flooding, inland flooding from heavy rains, destructive winds, tornadoes, and high surf and rip currents. It is not just areas on the ocean that should be prepared: hurricanes can also cause deadly flooding hundreds of miles inland. 

There are many ways New Yorkers and their families can prepare for hurricanes and other disasters, which can minimize potential damage and loss of life if storms strike.

·         Learn about preparedness. The DHSES website includes a comprehensive list of ways to be prepared.

·         Make a family emergency plan. Remember, too, that your family may not be together when a disaster strikes. Do you have a place to meet? How will you get to a safe place? Who outside of your immediate family can you contact to let them know if you are evacuating or if you are safe? Visit the Citizen Preparedness Corps website for steps that families can take to create a household plan. Don’t forget to plan, too, for your pets.

·         Build an emergency kit, or “go kit.” New Yorkers should have some basic supplies on hand in the event of a disaster or emergency. Visit the Citizen Preparedness Corps website to learn which items to include in a go kit.

·         Sign up for NY-Alert at nyalert.gov. NY-Alert is the state’s free, all-hazards notification system that provides up-to-date, critical, emergency-related information via the web, email, or smartphones.

·         Sign up for a Citizen Preparedness Corps training course. New York State offers in-person and online training sessions to give residents the tools and resources to prepare for any type of disaster, to respond accordingly, and to recover and quickly as possible.

·         Review your homeowner's insurance policy and make a list of the contents of your home. Take the time to ask questions and talk to your insurance agent about your policy so you understand what help you have available ahead of time.

·         Store emergency phone numbers and information in the cell phones of each of the members of your family.

·         Know the difference between a hurricane watch and a hurricane warning. A “watch” means that hurricane conditions may threaten an area within 24 to 36 hours. A “warning” is issued when actions to protect yourself and your property should begin immediately.

·         Don’t forget to learn about what you should do after the hurricane passes.

About DHSES
The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) and its four offices -- Counter Terrorism, Emergency Management, Fire Prevention and Control, and Interoperable and Emergency Communications -- provide leadership, coordination and support for efforts to prevent, protect against, prepare for, respond to, and recover from terrorism and other man-made and natural disasters, threats, fires and other emergencies. For more information, visit the DHSES Facebook page, follow @NYSDHSES on Twitter, or visit dhses.ny.gov.