NEW YORK, Sept. 5, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Thirty five percent
of New Yorkers do not feel prepared for an emergency, such as a
natural disaster, fire, power outage or act of terrorism according
to a 2013 survey conducted by the New York City Office of Emergency
Management (OEM). September is National Preparedness Month (NPM)
and a new public service advertising (PSA) campaign is launching
today to encourage New York
families to create an emergency plan. The PSAs were distributed to
media outlets throughout the New York
City area and will be running in donated time and space.
To view the multimedia assets associated with this release,
please
click: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7314951-oem-fema-and-ad-council-psas-encourage-new-york-city-families-emergency-preparedness-plan/
OEM Commissioner Joseph J.
Esposito and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Administrator Craig Fugate kicked
off NPM today at an event in Manhattan's Herald Square. They were joined by
FEMA Region 2 Administrator Jerome
Hatfield, Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer, and American Red Cross Greater
NY Region CEO Josh Lockwood.
Throughout the month of September, the New York City Citizen
Corps has planned activities including fairs, demonstrations, and
preparedness presentations at locations across the city. OEM is
also hosting a collection drive through September 30th to help NYC residents
prepare for emergencies with donated Go Bags (a collection of
supplies that may be needed during an evacuation packed in an
easy-to-carry container). New Yorkers can donate items including
LED flashlights, first-aid kits, plastic rain ponchos, hand
sanitizer, whistles, and small battery-operated radios. The items
will be added to donated bags, and the completed Go Bags be
distributed to NYC families in need during the month of October.
For more information about National Preparedness Month events in
NYC, visit NYC.gov/NPM.
"New York City is home to more
than 8 million people, and it's important for everyone to know what
they should do in case a disaster strikes," said Mayor Bill de Blasio. "We have seen with recent
events like Hurricane Sandy and the East Harlem building explosion
and collapse that New York City is
vulnerable to emergencies, and it's important that we protect
ourselves and our loved ones from the unexpected by being prepared.
I am committed to keeping New York
City safe, and I encourage all New Yorkers to make an
emergency plan with their families."
"It is the mission of the New York City Office of Emergency
Management to ensure we are equipping the city's residents and
their families with the information and the tools they need to
prepare themselves before an emergency occurs," said Commissioner
Esposito. "Families need to discuss their emergency plans together,
and to think through the necessary steps to take during and after
an emergency."
"The first step to preparing for disasters is simple and it's
free – talk to your family and make a plan," said Craig Fugate, FEMA administrator. "Do you know
how you'll reunite and communicate with your family during an
emergency? Through our continued partnership with the Ad Council,
this year's campaign illustrates how making a plan can keep
families together and safe during a disaster."
"If there's one thing New Yorkers should have learned from the
disasters that have hit us over the years, it's this: you need to
have a plan and be ready," said Manhattan Borough President Gale A.
Brewer "That's why I'm glad that OEM and the New York City Citizen
Corps Council is getting the word out, starting here in
Manhattan and at sessions across
the city."
"Providing humanitarian relief following anywhere between five
and 25 disasters every day here in Greater NY, we at the Red Cross
know all too well the impact local disasters can have on our
communities," said Josh Lockwood,
CEO, American Red Cross Greater NY Region. "We are proud to team up
with partners like NYC OEM, FEMA and
local elected officials to provide more New Yorkers with the
necessary tools to minimize the effects of these emergencies.
Whether we are teaching these skills in-person, sharing
preparedness resources via social media, or promoting one of our
free digital apps; we strive to empower as many New Yorkers as
possible to prepare for future disasters."
In addition to today's Herald Square kick-off event, volunteers
from the New York City Citizen Corps are stationed at four other
sites around the city today to distribute literature and remind
their fellow New Yorkers of the importance of preparing for
emergencies. Volunteers will hand out literature from 6 AM to 6 PM. Additional locations include:
- Bronx: Fordham Plaza
- Brooklyn: Borough
Hall
- Queens: Jamaica Center
- Staten Island: Staten
Island Ferry Terminal
The new Ready campaign, created pro bono by New York-based advertising agency Deutsch
Inc., includes English and Spanish-language localized TV and radio
PSAs. The new ads take a more serious approach to illustrate the
importance of knowing where to meet your family in the event of an
emergency. The TV spots depict the aftermath of a disaster and show
two families: one family who have all found each other safely at a
shelter they earlier designated as their meeting place, and one set
of parents who are frantically searching for their son. Through
these PSAs, families are faced with the harsh reality of what can
happen when you don't have an emergency plan in place before a
disaster or emergency strikes. The PSAs direct audiences to call
311 or visit NYC.gov/readyny, where New Yorkers can find a host of
preparedness resources, including 11 Ready New York guides in 13
languages and audio format.
"The survey from NYC OEM shows
that New Yorkers need to prioritize discussions about potential
emergencies, both natural and man-made, including anything from
fires, floods and building collapses to hurricanes or terrorist
attacks. These conversations are critical and can have a
significant impact on your family's safety in the event of a
disaster," said Peggy Conlon,
President and CEO of the Ad Council. "The Ready New York campaign
continues to raise awareness among New Yorkers about the importance
of preparedness and gives families the tools need to prepare for
and respond to emergency situations."
The Office of Emergency Management
The New York City
Office of Emergency Management (OEM) plans and prepares for
emergencies, educates the public about preparedness, coordinates
emergency response and recovery, and collects and disseminates
emergency information. To accomplish this mission, OEM maintains a
disciplined unit of emergency management personnel, including
responders, planners, watch commanders, and administrative and
support staff, to identify and respond to various hazards.
Residents can stay in touch with OEM via Facebook, Twitter,
Instagram, and the agency's website, NYC.gov/oem. They can also
follow Commissioner Esposito on Twitter: @joeesponyc. New
Yorkers can also sign up for Notify NYC, the City's free source for
emergency information, by calling 311 or visiting
NYC.gov/notifynyc.
The Ad Council
The Ad Council (http://www.adcouncil.org/) is a private, non-profit
organization that marshals talent from the advertising and
communications industries, the facilities of the media, and the
resources of the business and non-profit communities to produce,
distribute and promote public service campaigns on behalf of
non-profit organizations and government agencies. The Ad Council
addresses issue areas such as improving the quality of life for
children, preventive health, education, community well-being,
environmental preservation and strengthening families.
Deutsch Inc.
Deutsch Inc. (www.deutschinc.com) is a group of hardworking,
independent-minded, passionate problem solvers with an insatiable
culture that like to build brands and make businesses grow through
creativity. A full-service, integrated advertising and digital
agency headquartered in New York
City, Deutsch crafts a best-in-class array of marketing
programs and works with clients, including Johnson & Johnson,
PNC Bank, Jagermeister, Microsoft, DIRECTV and Novartis
Worldwide.
STAY
CONNECTED:
Twitter: @NotifyNYC (emergency notifications), @nycoem (emergency
preparedness info)
Instagram: @nycoem
Facebook: /NYCemergencymanagement
To view the multimedia assets associated with this release,
please click:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7314951-oem-fema-and-ad-council-psas-encourage-new-york-city-families-emergency-preparedness-plan/
SOURCE Ad Council