Emergency Preparedness & Response

Program Overview

The Cayuga County Health Department provides education for community members on how to prepare and respond to emergencies that could happen locally. We work collaboratively with local and regional organizations to test our agency responses to different emergencies, such as:

• Biological
• Chemical
• Natural Disasters
• Nuclear Defense
• Pandemic Illnesses
• Radiological

Are You & Your Family Prepared for an Emergency?

Many people are concerned about the possibility of a public health emergency such as a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or disease outbreak. You can take steps now to help you prepare for an emergency and cope if an emergency happens.

Step Number 1 - Get a Kit

If a disaster strikes your community, you might not have access to food, water, or electricity for some time. By putting together a kit together now you will be prepared should something happen. You never know where you will be when an emergency occurs so be prepared by having kits at home, at work and in your vehicle. For a complete listing of suggested supplies to include in your kit visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.

Step Number 2 - Make a Plan

If something were to happen, how would you and your family contact one another, how would you get to a safe place, and what would you do in different emergency situations? Planning what to do before a disaster strikes provides the best protection for you and your family. For suggestions on how to Make a Plan visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.

Step Number 3 - Be Informed

In an emergency, staying informed is very important. The Cayuga County Health Department would post any urgent information on our homepage and send press releases to local media outlets. We also use social media in an effort to communicate with the public. The Cayuga County Emergency Management Office also is a great resource.

New York State has set up the NY Alert notification system in an effort to keep New Yorkers informed. Signing up for NY Alert is free. By signing up for NY-Alert, you can receive warnings and emergency information via the web, your cell phone, email and other technologies. When you sign up you will select specific geographic areas and the kind of information that you would like to receive notifications on.