Emergency Preparedness Program
Our Mission
The Seneca County Health Department’s Public Health Preparedness Program coordinates the Department’s preparation and response to a large-scale public health emergency and smaller-scale communicable disease events in order to protect the health and safety of residents in Seneca County.
Examples of a large-scale public health emergency may include the following:
- Communicable disease outbreak (hepatitis A, measles, a new strain of influenza)
- Natural disaster (severe weather resulting in power outages, flooding resulting in contaminated public or private water supplies and household mold issues)
- Bioterrorism incident (anthrax, plague, smallpox)
- Radiological disaster (dirty bomb, nuclear power plant accident) Chemical disaster (train derailment, tractor trailer accident)
How We Accomplish our Preparation and Response Efforts
- Developing collaborative partnerships with state and local government officials, hospitals, community- based organizations, and volunteers.
- Developing plans and providing training.
- Conducting drills and exercises of our preparedness plans. Continually updating those plans with our partners.
- We utilize the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) planning cycle to plan, design, execute, evaluate, and improve emergency plans.
Climate Change in Seneca County
- Climate change is a result of the human impact on the environment. Human activities like deforestation and the burning of fossil fuels results in increased greenhouse gases that cause warmer temperatures and weather pattern changes.
- Extreme weather in Seneca County is expected to increase due to climate change. This can include:
- Extreme heat events
- Flash flooding
- Increased precipitation
- Droughts
- Poor air quality
- Air pollution, food insecurity, and diseases are some of the health factors that are on the rise due to climate change.
Things You Can Do to Prepare for an Emergency
1. Make an Emergency Plan
There are many reasons to prepare for an emergency. Most Americans do not have supplies set aside or plans in place to protect their own or their family’s health and safety. It is never too late to prepare for an emergency. You can take actions, make healthy choices, and find resources to help you prepare.
Learn how to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies then share what you’ve learned with others to help build more resilient communities.
2. Build a Preparedness Kit
There are many ways to build an emergency kit and there are thousands of how-to videos, however, make sure your kit is built for you and your needs. Use the following resources to help you construct your personal emergency supplies.
3. Consider Some Commonsense Training
Take a first aid and CPR class. You can get more information about training from your local American Red Cross chapter. Getting certified protects you under Good Samaritan laws if you have to give first aid.
4. Learn About Disasters That Could Affect You
5. Sign Up For New York’s NY-Alert System
Click here to register with New York’s NY-Alert system at NY Alert | NY Alert or text “Seneca” to 3-3-3-1-1-1.
Click here for a tutorial on how to register
After completing the simple registration, you will begin receiving real-time critical information and emergency alerts on what is happening in our area.
NY-Alert contains critical, emergency-related information including instructions and recommendations in real-time by emergency personnel. Information may include severe weather warnings, significant highway closures, hazardous material spills and other emergency conditions.
All areas of New York State are included in the system, and you can decide which area you would like to receive alerts about. NY-Alert is free, and messages can be received by phone, email, text and fax.
Click here to register with the Seneca County Hyper-Reach system at Hyper-Reach Seneca County
As part of National Preparedness, the Seneca County Office of Emergency Management and the E- 911 Center is encouraging Seneca County residents to register their mobile telephones to receive emergency alerts from the 911 Center.
The 911 Center will use the “Hyper-Reach” emergency telephone notification system. Hyper-Reach allows the 911 Center to quickly send a recorded message to telephones in specific areas and alert residents to any emergency situations that may require immediate action. The system is designed to deliver more than 5,000 calls per hour and has been successfully used on a number of occasions for incidents such as hazardous chemical releases, missing persons and barricaded persons. The “Hyper-Reach” message delivers critical information to residents and provides guidance on what precautions need to be taken by residents during and after an incident.
6. Additional Information and Other Things to Consider
Caring for Your Pets During an Emergency
Many pet owners consider their pets to be as much a part of their family as a human member. Have you prepared to protect your pet(s) in the event of a major disaster or emergency? How Will You Provide for Your Pet in the Event of a Natural Disaster or an Emergency?
Most disasters strike with little, or no warning and emergencies come in many different forms. Each can require an overnight stay away from home or even a long-term absence. Plan ahead to ensure the safety and well-being of your family and pets. Follow the link below to learn how you can keep your pets safe during an emergency.
Persons with Disabilities, or Who Have Access and Functional Needs
Disability intersects every demographic group—there are people with disabilities of all ages, races, genders or national origin.
We also know that disabilities can impact a person in a variety of ways—both visible and invisible. For people with disabilities and their families, it is important to consider individual circumstances and needs to effectively prepare for emergencies and disasters. Find out what you can do to prepare if you or someone you know has a disability by clicking on the link below.
Older Adults and Caregivers
Natural disasters can be incredibly traumatizing for older individuals. Older people are sometimes more frail and less mobile, making it a challenge for them to respond quickly. They may not always have the help they need to escape a danger zone.
The good news is that there are plenty of things you can do to prepare yourself for emergencies if you are an older adult. If you are a caretaker or family member of an older adult, you can also take safety measures. This link below will take you to a guide that covers the common types of emergencies to be aware of, tips for helping older adults evacuate, and a checklist of items to bring.
Helpful Links & Resources
