NYC CERT Newsletter | Issue 85 | 08/13/2022

This weekly newsletter should provide you with helpful information that you can share and discuss with your community members.

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National Preparedness Month

Each September serves as a reminder to take action to prepare, now and throughout the year, for the types of emergencies that could affect us where we live, work, learn, and worship.

With all of the challenges New Yorkers have faced, the 2022 theme of National Preparedness Month is: "A Lasting Legacy." The life you’ve built is worth protecting. Prepare for disasters to create a lasting legacy for you and your family.

In the coming weeks, NYC Emeregncy Management will be sharing more details on planning for the month including the release of an updated National Preparedness Month Toolkit for tips and information you can share with your family and community.

As NYC CERT volunteers, your CERT Divisions should be planning to participate in or host a preparedness event in September. Please let us know how we can help!

Find more information as it is released on our website: nyc.gov/nationalpreparednessmonth

NYC CERT ID Renewal and Distribution

As we continue to receive updates about newly compliant members, rosters are being updated and new IDs may be produced. Leadership can arrange pick-up of new IDs with Denise Esposito at desposito@oem.nyc.gov. Please contact your leadership to inquire about the status of your ID.

Leadership may designate a rep from the division to pick up at NYCEM if they are not able to.

CERT Recruitment Flyer

Below is a link to the CERT Recruitment flyer, which can be downloaded and printed for use at any preparedness events that CERT members are staffing. Our best recruitment resource is still our CERT members, themselves. When the public sees you out at preparedness events and deployments, it sparks their interest.

The flyer provides the link to apply for NYC CERT and can be used with or without the CERT palm card. Thank you for your support in growing CERT membership!

Click Here to Download the NYC CERT Recruitment Flyer

Quiz of the Week

Thank you to all who participated in last week's Quiz of the Week. The correct answer is: C) Team Teacher.

Team Teachers co-present the Ready New York presentation with other trained staff at community events throughout the city. Team Teachers are encouraged to promote the Ready New York and NYC CERT programs as well as get organizations to schedule preparedness events in their community. Other roles that a trained Ready NY Presenter may be designated to serve in are: Outreach Specialist, Solo Presenter and Ready NY Liaison (division election).

More information on this can be found on page 23 of the NYC CERT SOPs.

Active Shooter Training Preparedness

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Region 2 (New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands) invites local Colleges and Universities to join a two-hour security webinar to enhance awareness of and response to an active shooter event.

Tuesday, August 16, 2022 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Eventbrite

MONDAY RADIO ROLL CALL

Borough Channel:

CERT BK

Call Scenario:

Is your division radio being rotated? How often?

8/15 Responding Borough:

Queens

Documents to Review:

Citywide Radio Drill Refresher

Call signs per Radio

Each week we will have a survey with questions that relates back to lessons learned during NYC CERT training or your experience as a member. The answer will be revealed in the following week's newsletter. Good Luck!

Click Here!

The NYC CERT Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) provides guidance and outlines policies and procedures for you and your team to follow.

NYC CERT Division maps are available (pdf format) to support recruitment and preparedness planning in your community.

Brooklyn - Bronx - Manhattan - Queens - Staten Island

View the NYC CERT Event Calendar to see upcoming training, meetings, and planned deployments.

After you participate, be sure to Submit Your Volunteer Hours!

For more questions on how to submit your service hours you can view the Hours Submission FAQs.

If your division is hosting or participating in an upcoming event, please complete the Event Request form to have your opportunity published through Eventbrite.com for members to register.

Your NYC CERT Ready New York Liaison can submit a Ready New York Material Request for upcoming events.

Get Notified with New York City's official source for information about emergency alerts and important city services. Download the free Notify NYC mobile app, available for iOS and Android.

VOLUNTEER ACTIVITY

NYC CERT was in attendance for a recent Storm Preparedness Conference with NYC Emergebcy Management First Deputy Commissioner Christina Farrell and Senator Jessica Ramos.

Brooklyn Division 5 CERT members staffed an event in Brooklyn at NYCHA's Warbasse Houses with NYCEM staff and Councilmember Kagan on Wednesday, August 10th, to present on emergency preparedness and the role NYC CERT serves in the community. Ready New York preparedness literature was also distributed to attending residents.

Download NYC CERT Background for use during CERT meetings and training in a virtual environment (e.g. Microsoft Teams, Zoom, etc.)

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

NYC CERT CALENDAR

NYC Parks: Rockaway Beach Support

CERT volunteers are expected to be posted on the boardwalk assisting visitors to the open beach areas together with NYC Parks staff.

NYC Parks Support Rockaway Beach Registration, Multiple Dates | Eventbrite

Virtual Reality Simulation: Hurricanes and Rip Currents

Please join us in-person at NYC Emergebcy Management on August 16 from 11:00 AM to 2:00 AM for an immersive experience using a virtual reality simulator showing you the effects of Hurricanes and Rip Currents.

VR Simulation: Hurricane and Rip Currents Registration

Tue, Aug 16, 2022 at 11:00 AM | Eventbrite

Report your Volunteer Hours

Search for Buddy Check Event

Buddy Check

As we close out a long year of volunteering to support your community and head into a new year with new challenges, please take some time to support one another. The best way to do that is by performing buddy checks.

What is a buddy check?

Taking the time to check on family and friends, especially those unable to leave their home for any reason. You might be surprised by the impact you'll have on those who you connect with.

Are you interested in becoming a mentor to new NYC CERT members?

All Volunteer leadership should be encouraging active members to serve in a mentor role in order to support both their growth as leaders and provide new opportunities for newer members to become more engaged.

Complete the NYC CERT Mentor Program form to let us know if you'd like to be a mentor or mentee.

Complete the Matching Questionnaire to help pair the mentor to a mentee. Both forms must be filled out to participate in the program.

TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

CLICK HERE to register for the newest Ready Up NYC webinar on Thursday, August 18 at 1:00 PM.

NYC CERT online platform includes online courses to support volunteer growth.

Schedule free Fire Safety training for your Division at

FDNY Smart Fire Safety.

FEMA Region 2 (R2) Webinar Catalog includes all recorded webinars.

COVID-19 Community Conversations: Mental Health, Equity and Resilience *Updated Links

DOHMH is offering free virtual training to community groups. There are two options, a 1-hour informational virtual presentation and a 3-hour interactive training (available in English, Spanish, Cantonese, and Mandarin).

THINGS TO KNOW

NYCEM's YouTube page

NYC CERT recruitment video

2021 National Volunteer Week video

Resolve to Be Ready Calendar

Regular reminders in simple steps that can help you work preparedness into your busy schedule.

Listen to the NEW episodes of NYCEM's two podcasts, Prep Talk (SoundCloud, iTunes & Spreaker) and ¡Prepárate! on SoundCloud.

KNOW YOUR ZONE is your destination for everything you need to know about hurricanes in New York City.

You'll find information about the city's hurricane evacuation zones, the hazards you may face from a hurricane, and what to do to prepare.

NYC Emergency Management | NYC.gov/emergencymanagement

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