Red Cross, Congresswoman Clarke Team up to Help Get Brooklyn Residents More Prepared

L to R: John Waldman (American Red Cross), Zellnor Myrie, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, Assemblywoman Diana Richardson, Alex Poku (American Red Cross)

The American Red Cross teamed up with Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke this last Sunday, October 28, 2018 in Crown Heights to provide emergency preparedness training to local residents at the Shalom Senior Center. Also supporting the event are NY State Assembly Members Jaime Williams and Diana Richardson.

“The American Red Cross urges everyone to make sure they are prepared for a disaster and not wait until an emergency occurs and it’s too late,” said Josh Lockwood, Regional CEO, American Red Cross in Greater NY. “Thank you to Congresswoman Clarke and NY State Assembly Members Williams and Richardson, for their commitment to helping keep NYers safe and prepared.”

“Far too many families don’t have emergency plans. Prior to Hurricane Sandy, many Brooklyn residents never imagined we would see a storm of that magnitude. However, emergencies come in many forms, from hurricanes, to blackouts, to home fires – and no community is exempt. Central Brooklyn neighborhoods are filled with old, historic buildings which are more susceptible to disasters due to poor ventilation and lack of emergency access points among other things. American Red Cross’ emergency preparedness training will equip families with knowledge to plan, respond, and recover from potential disasters. I encourage everyone to engage in this important conversation.”

The event is part of the Citizen Preparedness Training, a partnership between the Red Cross and New York State providing free emergency preparedness education. The presentation titled, Prepare, Respond, Recover: What to do When Disaster Strikes, is taught by experienced Red Cross instructors and gives a comprehensive overview on how to prepare for natural and man-made disasters and how to respond to and recover from them. It also provides information on types of common disasters, ways to prepare as an individual, family and community member, what to do when disaster strikes and what actions you can take afterwards to aid in your recovery.

Established in 2014, Citizen Preparedness Corps has empowered more than 60,000 NYC residents with emergency preparedness skills and resources. The partnership with Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke represents an ongoing commitment by the U.S. House of Representatives to emergency preparedness.

To learn more about the Red Cross Citizen Preparedness Training, click here.

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.