If you’re looking to reduce your risk for hazards this year, look no further. In the latest “Prep Talk” episode, special guests Heather Roiter and Melissa Umberger provide expert perspective on how New York City works to reduce the impacts of natural and man-made hazards, ranging from winter weather and hurricanes to cyber threats and chemical releases. The guests discuss the new 2019 Hazard Mitigation Plan website, developed to represent the City’s plan for accessing hazards that pose a risk to its people and infrastructure, and strategies for reducing the impacts of emergency events. The guests also offer tips on how listeners can take steps to reduce the impact of everyday risks.

Read full transcript: https://on.nyc.gov/preptalk24

It is not too late to make a New Year’s resolution to be more prepared. That is the message the New York City Emergency Management Department wants New Yorkers to know. In the latest “Prep Talk” episode, special guest Katelyn James provides an expert perspective about how individuals can practice preparedness in 2019. James discusses NYC Emergency Management’s “Resolve to Be Ready” calendar, an interactive tool filled with simple tips that can help people work preparedness into their busy schedules. For more information on how you can “Resolve to Be Ready” in 2019, visit NYC.gov/EmergencyManagement, and subscribe to the NYC Emergency Management YouTube channel to stay prepared for emergencies.

Read full transcript: on.nyc.gov/preptalk23

It is always good to be a good neighbor. To ensure that New Yorkers are prepared for the winter season, New York Cares and New York City Emergency Management partnered to release a new Public Service Announcement (PSA) about how New Yorkers can donate coats to people in need. In the latest episode, “Prep Talk” hosts chat with Gary Bagley, executive director at New York Cares, and Herman Schaffer, assistant commissioner for community outreach and NYC Emergency Management to discuss the new initiative. Tune in to find out how you can get involved to help someone this winter season.

Read full transcript: on.nyc.gov/preptalk22

It’s always good to have a backup plan. In the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” hosts Omar Bourne and Allison Pennisi discuss the City’s Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) with Tony Marzuillo, director of COOP at NYC Emergency Management. Established as a mayoral executive order in 2007, the order requires each City agency to have a comprehensive COOP plan in place to ensure that agency staff can continue to deliver essential services to the public in the event of an emergency.

Read full transcript: on.nyc.gov/preptalk21

“Honor. Rewarding. Privilege.” These are the words members of New York Task Force 1 (NY-TF1) use to describe their work with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Urban Search & Rescue (US&R) team. On the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” hosts Omar Bourne and Allison Pennisi sit down with three members of NY-TF1 to discuss their September deployment to North Carolina in support of Hurricane Florence relief efforts. You will hear first-hand accounts of the team’s rescues and experience on the ground, along with their motivation to answer the call. The episode features NYPD Emergency Services Unit (ESU) Captain Tom Traynor, FDNY Battalion Chief Bill Reddan, and NYC Emergency Management Assistant Commissioner John Grimm. NY-TF1 rescued 128 people and 61 animals while providing aid for close to two weeks. The New York City Emergency Management Department sponsors the US&R NY-TF1 team, which is made up of specially trained personnel from FDNY and NYPD.

Read full transcript: on.nyc.gov/preptalk20

In the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” hosts Omar Bourne and Allison Pennisi highlight the work of NYC Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteers as the program celebrates its 15th anniversary. Bourne and Pennisi chat with Christina Farrell, deputy commissioner of external affairs at NYC Emergency Management, FDNY Deputy Chief Jim Brosi, and NYPD Inspector Phylis Byrne. The special guests discuss CERT training, CERT volunteers’ roles in helping first responders during emergencies, and the importance of helping the community through volunteering.

Read full transcript: https://on.nyc.gov/preptalk19

Coordination is the heartbeat of emergency management. That is the message emergency management leaders emphasized on the latest episode of “Prep Talk”. Hosts sat down with Barb Graff, director of the Seattle Office of Emergency Management, Thomas Sivak, deputy director for the City of Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications, and Joseph Esposito, commissioner of NYC Emergency Management, to discuss the importance of information sharing on the heels of the Big City Emergency Manager’s fall conference here in New York City. The episode’s special guests talked about the role emergency management plays in emergency preparedness education, in addition to disaster response and recovery, and emerging threats emergency managers may face. Find out what keeps these emergency managers up at night, and learn why emergency management is becoming a growing field.

Read full transcript: https://on.nyc.gov/preptalk18

The New York City Emergency Management Department and the FDNY remind you to “stand by your pan.” In honor of FDNY Fire Prevention Week, October 9 through 14, “Prep Talk” hosts sat down with FDNY’s Director of Community engagement Fabricio Caro, and FDNY Lieutenant Michael Kozo, to talk about the importance of educating New Yorkers about fire safety and prevention. In this episode, Lt. Kozo and Mr. Caro discuss FDNY’s range of programs to help people become “FDNY Smart,” from frequently changing batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, to standing by your pan while cooking, and closing the door in the event of a fire.

Read full transcript: https://on.nyc.gov/preptalk17

Emergency management is made possible through coordination. In the latest “Prep Talk” episode, the New York City Emergency Management Department sat down with Michael Devulpillieres, communications officer for the American Red Cross’ Greater New York chapter. Topics discussed include NYC Emergency Management’s longstanding partnership with American Red Cross Greater New York ― working together before, during, and after emergencies ― as well as the American Red Cross Greater New York’s range of programs and services, including preparedness initiatives like “Sound the Alarm” and The Pillowcase Project, emergency response, and volunteer opportunities.

Read full transcript: https://on.nyc.gov/preptalk16

September is National Preparedness Month, and the New York City Emergency Management Department wants New Yorkers to take the opportunity to get prepared. In recognition of National Preparedness Month, “Prep Talk” hosts sat down with Iskra Killgore, director of community engagement and language access at NYC Emergency Management, to discuss the importance of preparing New Yorkers before emergencies, along with a number of preparedness events planned throughout the city during the month.

Read full transcript: https://on.nyc.gov/preptalk15