By Ted Halpin
With single-digit temperatures, the image of being without electrical power for a long period of time is unimaginable. Dec. 28’s power outage across the northern portion of Madison County was a frank reminder of the need for emergency preparedness.
Emergency preparedness is serious business when we are facing such brutal weather conditions. Here is how to be better prepared:
- gov/power-outagesprovides a great list of steps to take before, during and after a power outage.
- Be informed. Enrolling in emergency alerts is important. To receive emergency messages in Madison County, enroll in NYAlert at nyalert.gov/enroll. Additionally, following our Emergency Management Office on Twitter will provide you will local updates at twitter.com/MadisonCoNY_EM.
- Check on family, friends and neighbors. Ensure that your family members and others are as prepared for emergencies as you are. Check on them when disasters are looming.
- Have a kit. gov/build-a-kit provides a great guide for building a kit based on your needs.
- Have a plan. Be sure to have a plan as to how to communicate and reunite with family members. Remember that cell phones can be rendered unusable in disaster conditions. Have a plan to reunify locally and share this plan with an out-of-town family member. gov/make-a-planis a great place to start to make a plan.
- Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Madison County Emergency Management provides free 10-year smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms to those in need. Email us at EM@madisoncounty.ny.govfor more information.
Our County Emergency Management website has additional information for you to prepare, respond and recover from a disaster at madisoncounty.ny.gov/em.
Editor’s note: Ted Halpin is director of Madison County’s Office of Emergency Management.