September 29, 2020

STATE DIVISION OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY SERVICES UNVEILS NEW ONLINE CITIZEN PREPAREDNESS TRAINING COURSE

Free, Online Course with Updated Content Available Here

 New Training Topics Include Active Shooter Survival and Cyber-Related Attacks

As National Preparedness Month comes to a close, the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services is announcing a new, online Citizen Preparedness Corps Training Course which covers a wide range of important safety and preparedness topics, as well as provides New Yorkers with the guidance they need to prepare for any type of natural or human-caused disaster. Since its creation by Governor Cuomo in 2014, more than 300,000 New Yorkers have received Citizen’s Preparedness Corps training, primarily through in-person training sessions, which have been suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This new 24-minute online training not only gives New Yorkers the ability to still access this critical information, but has also been updated with new topics including how to respond to an active shooter, as well as information on cyber security.

“Since 2014, more than 300,000 New Yorkers have taken New York’s Citizen Preparedness Corps training in order to better protect the safety of their family and community when disaster strikes,” said New York State Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Patrick A. Murphy. “Unfortunately, COVID-19 has put in-person trainings on hold, however potential hazards like severe weather still loom large. It’s simple: The more prepared you are, the better your chances are of surviving a disaster and this new online training will give you the foundation you need to keep your family and community safe.”

During a live presentation of a Citizen’s Preparedness Training Course, participants are instructed on how to plan and stock supplies for potential disasters, how to respond to or avoid an emergency using basic survival techniques, and how to recover as quickly as possible to pre-disaster conditions. Courses have been presented at locations throughout the state by the New York National Guard, the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services' Office of Emergency Management and Office of Fire Prevention and Control, and the American Red Cross.

The new online training offers New Yorkers a condensed version of what they would have learned in typical course. Topics include how to develop a family emergency plan, how to prepare your family and home for a potential emergency such as fire, what to do in specific situations such as active shooter, and covers evacuation or sheltering-in-place due to a life-threatening event, and much more.  The training also discusses what to do when returning home after an emergency including re-entry procedures, checking for and documenting damage safely, addressing emotional and other personal needs in the aftermath of a catastrophic event, and being wary of post-disaster scams.

Currently, an English version of the training is available online. Versions featuring Bengali, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Korean, Russian, Spanish and Yiddish subtitles will be made available online in the coming weeks.  Individuals must create an NY.GOV ID in order to complete the training.  If you need an NY.GOV ID, click here.  More information can be found at http://www.dhses.ny.gov/aware-prepare.

Launched in 2004, National Preparedness Month is recognized by FEMA each September as a way of promoting both family and community disaster planning now, as well as throughout the year. The 2020 theme is: "Disasters Don't Wait. Make Your Plan Today." For more information, please visit https://www.ready.gov/september.

About the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services

The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services provides 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 Division's Facebook, follow @NYSDHSES on Twitter and Instagram, or visit dhses.ny.gov.

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