SWAN LAKE, NY – Tornadoes, floods, heatwaves, power outages. Fifty-one Sullivan County residents gathered recently to learn how to deal with them all.

Officials from the National Guard and the NYS Office of Emergency Management taught the New York State Citizen Preparedness Class at the Sullivan County Emergency Services Training Center. Key takeaways included:

Create an emergency plan for your family, including essential contact information, a designated meeting place, and a list of medications (with a 7 to 10-day supply). Verify emergency plans at your workplace, school, daycare center, and other frequented locations.

Build an emergency survival kit. Emergencies can disrupt utilities. Assemble a kit to sustain you for 7 to 10 days. Include medical supplies, non-perishable food, hygiene items, and essential tools. Don’t forget to store water.

Stay informed. Monitor news updates, especially for weather-related emergencies. Sign up for NY-Alert at www.alert.ny.gov to receive local, county, and state alerts.

Assess your home for safety hazards, attend basic first aid classes, learn how to shut off utilities, and consider joining local emergency services. Look out for your neighbors—they might need assistance.

The class also covered topics such as when to call 911, post-emergency actions, pet care during disasters, essential documents (wills, deeds, contacts), and the importance of readily available cash and water. Attendees received backpacks stocked with basic emergency supplies to kickstart their personal preparedness efforts.

Jack Halchak, Chief Deputy Fire Coordinator for Sullivan County, said the class empowers people to prepare for unforeseen emergencies.