Adults and children learn to be ready before, during and after a disaster
As Hurricane Dorian heads to the US Coastline, we are all reminded on how important it is to take all of the precautionary measures to keep our families safe in the event of an emergency. From floods to high winds; power outages to house fires, emergencies can happen at any moment and residents must be prepared year-round.
September is National Preparedness Month and BeReadyLI.org, a collaboration between United Way, PSEG Long Island and 2-1-1 Long Island, has worked to help tens of thousands of Long Islanders prepare before, during and after disasters by encouraging families to take simple steps that help ensure their safety – before emergency strikes.
Long Island has experienced a variety of disasters throughout the years – the Pine Barrens Blaze, the Blizzard of ’96, Hurricane Irene and one of our area’s most devastating…Superstorm Sandy. The tragic aftermath of this historic storm highlighted the need for greater community guidance in the area of disaster preparedness. Long Island was the most populated area of New York in Sandy’s path, 95,534 homes were damaged – and in some cases, totally lost.
United Way’s 2-1-1 Long Island, a comprehensive resource database, bolsters local disaster efforts of organizations like the American Red Cross on Long Island, the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island and Island Harvest by helping to mobilize and assist disaster-affected families, as well as inform residents on how to help their neighbors by enlisting as a volunteer. Expanding on those services, BeReadyLI.org enhances access to Long Islanders with timely and accurate information to improve emergency readiness, as well as recovery resources including transportation updates, town and village contact information and government websites.
“Long Island is subject to a host of weather conditions that could be cause for concern. While the region is most susceptible to hurricanes, heat waves and thunderstorms, families should also be prepared for emergencies such as house fires and power outages,” said Theresa A. Regnante, President and CEO of United Way of Long Island. “BeReadyLI has information for emergencies that families need in order to be prepared, including how to create a family disaster plan and what to pack in an emergency supply kit.”
“The safety of our customers and employees is PSEG Long Island’s top priority. That is why our partnership with BeReadyLI.org is so important,” said Daniel Eichhorn, president and COO, PSEG Long Island. “We urge families to take a serious look at their preparedness plans to ensure they are ready to handle any situation. If your family needs to start a preparedness plan, now is the right time to visit BeReadlyLI.org and get helpful information.”
In an effort to educate family members of all ages, BeReadyLI offers a Children’s Workshop, an interactive lesson offered to students in preschool through second grade teaching them the basics of emergency preparedness in a fun and approachable way. The BeReadyLI Children’s Workshop has educated more than 30,000 young children on how to recognize an emergency and who can help them.
Children are sent home with an activity booklet and flyer so that their caregivers can continue educating the entire family about the importance of preparedness.
BeReadyLI encourages everyone to take the first step in protecting themselves. Take the Pledge to be Prepared, test your preparedness knowledge by taking the Quiz, and learn more on how you can prepare for an emergency - visit BeReadyLI.org or 211li.org.
For more information on the BeReadyLI Children’s Workshop, and how to request it at your school, visit bereadyli.org/bereadyli-childrens-workshop.
About PSEG Long Island
PSEG Long Island operates the Long Island Power Authority’s transmission and distribution system under a 12-year contract. PSEG Long Island is a subsidiary of Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated (NYSE:PEG), a publicly traded diversified energy company with annual revenues of $9.1 billion.
About 2-1-1 Long Island
2-1-1 Long Island, a project of United Way of Long Island and Middle Country Public Library, is an easy to remember telephone number to connect to a 24/7 call center staffed by Certified Call Specialists who confidentially analyze each caller’s needs and provide referrals to an inventory of 10,000+ unique community resources. Since 2010, 2-1-1 Long Island has received more than 75,000 calls, with nearly 1 million visitors to 211LongIsland.com. 2-1-1 Long Island is a comprehensive model in which several organizations work together to improve the well-being of individuals, families, and communities.