New York Ag Connection - Citizen Preparedness Corps Training Returns to State Fair

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Citizen Preparedness Corps Training Returns to State Fair
New York Ag Connection - 08/16/2017

The New York State Citizen Preparedness Corps Training, a free disaster preparedness course, will return to the 2017 Great New York State Fair, Acting Fair Director Troy Waffner announced. The training sessions teach attendees how to prepare for, respond to and recover from natural and manmade disasters and emergencies. A free backpack of resources will also be provided to participants. Registration for the training sessions are now underway online on the New York State Prepare website at https://prepare.ny.gov/training-events.

Training will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. on Aug. 25, Aug. 28, and Aug. 29 in the Empire Room Restaurant on the Fairgrounds. The Monday and Tuesday trainings coincide with the Fair's Senior Citizens' Days, when senior citizens sixty years of age and older are offered free admission with ID showing their date of birth. Friday's training session has been added because of the strong demand at last year's Fair.

"We're pleased to be able to partner with the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services to make this essential training available to even more fairgoers this year," said Waffner. "Everyone should know what to do in the event of an emergency. This is very valuable training and time well spent. We encourage visitors to attend one of the three sessions."

The training kicks off National Preparedness Month, a nationwide campaign conducted annually each September to increase public awareness about emergencies with a focus on actions that can be taken before disaster strikes. This year's National Preparedness Month will focus on planning, with an overarching theme, "Disasters Don't Plan Ahead. You Can." Every week in September will focus on a different type of disaster -- flood, wildfire, hurricane, and power outages.

The Citizen Preparedness Corps training curriculum was developed by experts from the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) Offices of Emergency Management (OEM) and Fire Prevention and Control (OFPC) and is led by instructors from the New York National Guard. All training sessions are conducted in coordination with local county emergency management personnel and provide an introduction to natural or man-made disaster response.

Participants will be advised on how to properly prepare for any disaster, including developing a family emergency plan and stocking up on emergency supplies. A key component of this training is the distribution of free New York State Disaster Preparedness Kits to all participants (one per family) containing key items to assist individuals in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. The state training and kits will help New Yorkers be the most-trained and best-prepared citizens in the country.

DHSES Commissioner Roger L. Parrino, Sr. said, "Taking responsibility for preparing for a disaster is essential for individuals, businesses and communities because sometimes it may take hours and even days for help to arrive. The Citizen Preparedness Corps training is an important step to learn what to do before disaster strikes."

Division of Military and Naval Affairs General Anthony German, Adjutant General of New York, said, "Our Soldiers and Airmen are looking forward to sharing the Governor's message on the importance of emergency preparedness. The information they have to share can be critical when preparing for, dealing with, and recovering from an emergency."

Office for the Aging Acting Director Greg Olsen said, "One of the most important steps we can take to protect people is to provide them with the necessary information, resources, and tools before an emergency or disaster occurs. Citizen Preparedness Corps Training is the perfect prescription to meet that goal--it teaches residents how to assemble an emergency preparedness kit; how to create a household evacuation plan, which includes pets; and how to stay informed about your community's risk and response plans. Our experiences in New York have shown us that planning can no longer be an afterthought; it must be at the forefront for all of us."

Senior group buses and vans are welcome at the Fair on Senior Citizens' days, which attracted 160,000 people last year. There is a reception area for senior group bus and van parking, which requires a special parking permit. Please contact the Art and Home Center office at 315-487-7711 ext. 1265 to pre-register for this permit. Fairgoers can use the Fair's internal tram network, with the service running from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Some trams are handicapped-accessible. These trams travel around the perimeter road, stopping at 11 scheduled stops. All trams may be ridden free of charge thanks to a sponsorship from Chevrolet.

The New York State Fair, operated by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, runs from August 23 to September 4, 2017. The Fair's mission, reflected in its theme, "FIND YOUR GREAT," is to showcase the best of New York agriculture while providing top-quality entertainment.

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