The New York State Citizen Preparedness Corps program is now offering online training to residents, according to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul.
The new online training, offered in English and with subtitles in 12 other languages, is focused on preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters and other emergency situations that could be experienced in the state. Thus far, the program has provided training and resources to more than 359,000 New Yorkers.
“By adding an online component to the Citizen Preparedness Corps program, we are bringing critical, life-saving information to a wider audience and ensuring that New Yorkers will be ready to respond to the disasters that may come our way,” Governor Hochul said. “My top priority is to keep New Yorkers safe and that means giving them the tools they need to be the best-prepared citizens in the country.”
The Citizen Preparedness Corps was established in 2014 and is led by experts from the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, the New York National Guard, and the American Red Cross.
“Our number one job is to keep the public safe and the Citizen’s Preparedness Corps plays a crucial role in those efforts,” New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray said. “Already, more than 350,000 New Yorkers have received this training, and with the launch of this new, online multi-lingual initiative, we are helping ensure all New Yorkers – no matter what language they speak – have access to critical preparedness information.”
According to a press release, the CPC training course teaches New Yorkers “an all-hazards approach to preparedness, giving them skills that can be utilized in life-threatening situations, information on how to develop family emergency plans and the importance of stocking up on emergency supplies, and details on receiving notifications from sources such as the Emergency Alert System.”
“Since 2014, the Soldiers and Airmen of the New York National Guard have been proud of the role they play in educating New Yorkers on how to cope with disasters and then recover from them,” Adjutant General of New York State Major General Ray Shields said. “We are happy to see that this training is now reaching a larger on-line audience.”
