18 THE QUEENS COURIER • SEPTEMBER 6, 2018 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
How to Prepare for the Unexpected
Especially for older adults, emergencies
can lead to life threatening circumstances
with impacts larger than the emergency itself.
Darkness, cold, and hunger are more difficult for
older adults to combat, but emergency kits can
help mitigate many of these conditions. Ideally,
you should have an emergency kit in every place
where you regularly spend time. This could be
your home, office, or your local senior center. The
basics of an emergency kit are bottled water and
nonperishable foods, a flashlight, cash in small
bills, and copies of important documents, however
you should make modifications based on your
health and personal needs. Including a 7-day
supply of your medications in your emergency
kit could save your life. If you use a wheelchair
or scooter, you should also include an aerosol
tire repair kit and backup batteries. You can find
a complete emergency checklist at: https://www1.
nyc.gov/site/em/ready/gather-supplies.page
Take your shower singing
to the next level!
Join OSQ and make beautiful Choral Music!
We will be preparing Part I of Handel’s “Messiah,”
La!��������
Christmas carols and Chanukah favorites.
Rehearsals start Monday, September 10!
New Yorkers can handle almost anything,
but when it comes to emergencies, it serves
everyone to be prepared. September is National
Preparedness Month and we encourage all New
Yorkers, especially vulnerable, older adults, to
have an emergency plan ready.
You can begin to prepare for emergencies
with the following three steps. First, assemble
your personal emergency kit. Be sure to
include a 7-day supply of any medicine and
equipment you rely on. Next, think through
your emergency plan for various situations; a
power outage, snowstorm, or earthquake all
demand unique responses. Finally, sit down
and communicate your emergency plan with
your loved ones, friends, and neighbors. The
more people who are informed, the better. If
you form an emergency support system before
a disaster happens, you will be better equipped
to handle it.
David Close
Artistic Director & Conductor
The Oratorio Society of Queens welcomes
singers to become members of our
community chorus and experience
the JOY of choral singing.
drops by Vecteezy, tub by colourbox
Auditions are
Monday, Sept 10 and Sept 17 at 7:00 pm.
Reservations required.
Call (718) 279-3006
www.QueensOratorio.org
Don’t forget about your furry best friend.
Making a preparedness plan for your pets
can save their lives during an emergency. It is
best to include your pet’s emergency supplies
in your emergency kit. You should include
a photograph of you and your pet together,
in case you are separated, a 3-day supply of
food and water, and a 7-day supply of any
medications that your pet takes.
The City’s emergency information
system, Notify NYC, can help you find out
about emergencies in New York as soon as
they happen. You can receive emergency
alerts via email, text message, tweet or phone
call. You can register for Notify NYC online:
www.a858-nycnotify.nyc.gov or by calling
311 and asking to register for “Notify NYC.”
If you rely on life-sustaining equipment that
requires electricity, you should register with
your utility company to be registered as a
“life-sustaining equipment customer.” In the
event of a power outage, your residence will
flagged for first-response. You can also visit
your local senior center to
Talk to your vulnerable loved ones, friends,
and neighbors about the importance of creating
their own preparedness plans. Especially
if someone is disabled or homebound, it is
important to identify someone who will assist
him or her during emergencies, if needed. If
there is a power outage and there is no cell
phone or landline service, having a plan in
place can save a life.
All senior centers, NORCS and casemanagement
agencies funded by the
Department for the Aging are required to
have emergency plans in place. Emergency
planning workshops are offered at senior
centers, NORCS, churches and other local
organizations. Anything you can do to
prepare ahead of time for emergencies will
alleviate stress and panic to help keep you
safe. The Department for the Aging’s Bureau of
Emergency Preparedness and the City’s Office
of Emergency Management are here to help all
older New Yorkers prepare for emergencies.
Visit our website for more information: https://
www1.nyc.gov/site/dfta/services/emergencypreparedness.
page
DONNA CORRADO,
Commissioner of the City’s
Department for the Aging
/emergency-preparedness.page
/www.QueensOratorio.org
/www.a858-nycnotify.nyc.gov
/www1
/emergency-preparedness.page
/emergency-preparedness.page
/emergency-preparedness.page
