Schuyler County Offers Free Emergency Preparedness Training

Schuyler County officials are inviting county residents to sign up for a free class to learn about preparing for emergencies. The New York Citizen Preparedness Training Program will be held at the Schuyler County Human Services

Complex, Room 120, in Montour Falls, NY, on Tuesday, December 2, at 5:00 p.m.

This program is designed for county residents who may benefit from learning more about preparing for extreme weather and other emergencies. It is offered by Schuyler County in conjunction with the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Citizens Preparedness Corps.

With severe weather events becoming more frequent and more extreme, it is more important than ever that New Yorkers are prepared for disasters. The NY Citizen Preparedness Training Program teaches residents to have the tools and resources to prepare for any type of disaster, respond accordingly, and recover as quickly as possible to normal conditions.

The training course will provide an introduction to responding to a natural or man-made disaster. Participants will be advised on how to properly prepare for any disaster, including developing a family emergency plan and stocking up on emergency supplies. Each family that attends will receive one preparedness kit.

Registration is required to attend. Residents can sign up here.

Schuyler County Attorney Urges Residents to Prepare During National Preparedness Month

Schuyler County Attorney Steven J. Getman is reminding residents that September is National Preparedness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of preparing for emergencies and disasters. This annual campaign, sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), encourages individuals, families, and communities to take proactive steps to ensure safety and resilience in the face of unexpected crises.

“Emergencies can strike without warning, whether it’s a severe storm, flood, or other disaster,” said Getman. “National Preparedness Month is an opportunity for Schuyler County residents to plan ahead, build resilience, and ensure they are ready to respond effectively. Preparedness starts at home, and by taking small steps now, we can protect ourselves, our loved ones, and our community.”

The goals of National Preparedness Month are to encourage residents to:

• Understand Risks: Learn about potential emergencies, such as winter storms, floods, or wildfires, that could impact Schuyler County.
• Make a Plan: Develop a family emergency plan to ensure everyone knows what to do and where to go in a crisis.
• Build a Kit: Assemble an emergency supply kit with essentials like food, water, and medical supplies to sustain households during an emergency.
• Get Involved: Stay informed and participate in community preparedness efforts to strengthen local resilience.

Getman offered the following practical tips to help residents prepare:

1. Create an Emergency Plan: Discuss with family members how to communicate and reunite if separated during an emergency. Identify a safe meeting place and ensure everyone knows evacuation routes.
2. Build an Emergency Kit: Stock a “go-bag” with at least three days’ worth of water, non-perishable food, medications, flashlights, batteries, and first aid supplies. Include important documents like identification and insurance papers.
3. Stay Informed: Sign up for emergency alerts at https://alert.ny.gov/ to receive real-time notifications about local emergencies, public notices, and safety updates.
4. Learn Lifesaving Skills: Take free classes, such as CPR or Stop the Bleed, offered through local organizations to be ready to assist in a crisis.
5. Prepare for Specific Needs: Account for the unique needs of children, seniors, individuals with disabilities, or pets when planning and assembling supplies.

According to Getman, Schuyler County is supported by a robust network of emergency and law enforcement services ready to assist residents during a crisis.

·         The Schuyler County Public Health Department collaborates with the Western Region Health Care Emergency Preparedness Coalition, local emergency responders, Schuyler Hospital, and the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) to plan, train, and respond to public health emergencies, such as disease outbreaks or natural disasters.

·         The Schuyler County Sheriff’s Office, led by Sheriff Kevin Rumsey, is committed to public safety and crime reduction. The Sheriff’s Office provides rapid response to emergencies, coordinates with other law enforcement agencies, and offers community outreach to promote safety.

·         The Schuyler County Emergency Management Office works closely with local, state, and federal partners to coordinate disaster response and recovery efforts.

“Preparedness is a shared responsibility,” Getman emphasized. “I encourage all Schuyler County residents to take time this September to review their emergency plans, refresh their supplies, and connect with our local services. By working together, we can build a stronger, safer community ready to face any challenge.” For more information on National Preparedness Month and how to prepare, visit www.ready.gov

 

Schuyler County announces Citizen Preparedness Training Program

From the Schuyler County Emergency Services Office:

With severe weather events becoming more frequent and more extreme, it is more important than ever that New Yorkers are prepared for disasters. The NY Citizen Preparedness Training Program teaches residents to have the tools and resources to prepare for any type of disaster, respond accordingly and recover as quickly as possible to pre-disaster conditions. This training course will provide an introduction to responding to a natural or man-made disaster. Participants will be advised on how to properly prepare for any disaster, including developing family emergency plan and stocking up on emergency supplies. Each family that attends will receive one Preparedness kit.

The event will be held Thursday, September 26, 2024, at 6:00 PM at the County’s Human Services Complex 323 Owego Street, Montour Falls, NY 14865. All participants must register in advance. To register and for additional information click here.

Town of Ovid approves Public Health Emergency Continuation of Operations Protocol

This Pandemic Plan has been developed in accordance with the amended New York State Labor Law section 27-c and New York State Education Law paragraphs k and l of subdivision 2 of section 2801-a (as amended by section 1 of part B of chapter 56 of the laws of 2016), as applicable.

The plan was developed based on best practices and guidance available largely as a result of the COVID19 Pandemic. The plan is intended to provide ongoing guidance for the current pandemic as well as future guidance for any other infectious disease outbreaks requiring a state and/or county emergency declaration.

No content of this plan is intended to impede, infringe, diminish, or impair the rights of us or town valued employees under any law, rule, regulation, or collectively negotiated agreement, or the rights and benefits which accrue to employees through collective bargaining agreements, or otherwise diminish the integrity of the existing collective bargaining relationship. The Town currently has no collective bargaining agreements.

This plan has been approved in accordance with requirements applicable to the agency, jurisdiction, authority, or district, as represented by the signature of the authorized individual below. The undersigned attests that this plan has been approved and represents the most current version. All previous versions are obsolete.

As the authorized official of the Town of Ovid...this Pandemic Plan has been developed, approved, and placed in full effect in accordance with S8617B/A10832 which amends New York State Labor Law section 27-c and New York State Education Law paragraphs k and l of subdivision 2 of section 2801-a (as amended by section 1 of part B of chapter 56 of the laws of 2016), as applicable, to address public health emergency planning requirements.

BY RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN BOARD, TOWN OF OVID, COUNTY OF SENECA, STATE OF NEW YORK, ON THE 10th DAY OF March, 2021.

Town of Ovid, New York CONTINUATION OF OPERATIONS PROTOCOL by Steven Getman on Scribd

Ovid Town officials look at emergency signage procedures

© Copyright 2016, Ithaca Times:

The village of Ovid may be getting on the house numbers bandwagon a little, but not too late. Dr. David Dresser came to the Feb. 10 Ovid town board meeting with a plan to help the village get house number signs at reduced cost.

The town of Ovid has just finished wrapping up its house numbers program, providing green number signs that will be visible at night to emergency responders. Dresser said that in talks with Ovid village mayor David Terry, he had come up with a plan to obtain similar signs for village residents. The village would be posting a notice to residents in local newspapers, to the effect that they can get number signs for $20.25 by leaving their name, number, street address, and phone number at the village office. Village personnel will be erecting the signs.

Al Deming put in that he had talked with Mayor Terry, too, and “he doesn't think there's going to be a huge influx” of people wanting signs.

Ovid town attorney Steven Getman said he had some concerns about the process of paying for the signs, since the plan is for the town to order them (to take advantage of the bulk discount attached to buying all those town signs) and the village to pay the town back. “What if someone doesn't pay? It's a financial obligation created for the town by the village,” said Getman.

After some back and forth Getman said he would be satisfied by a Memorandum of Understanding from the village that detailed the terms of the deal. Deming said there should be a time limit on the whole process; at this time, the plan is to ask residents to get their orders in by March 15. Regarding the town of Ovid signs, a lingering issue is that some residents removed the signs posted for their properties. Borst said he had communicated with the new sheriff, who is extremely busy and responded via voice mail; “He believed the enforcement should be done by our code enforcement officer. We don't have a code enforcement officer... It didn't sound like the Sheriff's real interested in this.”

Officer Leon Anderson, Interlaken Police Chief and School Resource Officer for South Seneca, had offered to do it, but attorney Getman said it would be outside his jurisdiction. Getman suggested that supervisor Prouty schedule a meeting with the sheriff and find out once and for all “what the sheriff will or won't do.”

John Hubbard returned to a pet peeve, which is the cost of the signs for owners of trailer parks. Although the signs for the trailer numbers are smaller and cheaper, the cost is borne by the property owner- the owner of the park. Hubbard's opinion is that the cost, around $1000, for a certain trailer park owner, is “unfair.”

Getman reminded him that charging everyone else in town for house number signs while giving them to the trailer park owner for free isn't legal: “The law says, they've got to pay for them.” The town can't make a gift of services or goods to an individual, said Getman.

Public Hearing On Proposed Local Law No. 1 of the year 2015 Town of Ovid, New York.

The Ovid Town Board will hold a public hearing on the following proposed Local Law at the Ovid Firehouse, 2136 Brown St Ovid, NY 14521, at 7:00 p.m. on the 10 day of May, 2015: Proposed Local Law No. 1 of the year 2015, Town of Ovid, New York, “A local law enacting the Town of Ovid Building, Structure, Property Emergency Numbering Ordinance.”

The purpose of this ordinance is to promote public safety through the provision of a uniform system of road signage for residences and other buildings in the Town of Ovid, outside the Village of Ovid, in order to increase the speed in which firefighting, law enforcement, and emergency medical services are able to effectively and efficiently locate properties.

New York's expanded "move over" law takes effect January 1

Starting on January 1, New York's "Move Over" will expand to include tow trucks.

The current law fines drivers in New York if they don't move into another lane for police and ambulance vehicles on the road.

The new law will mean that anytime drivers see an emergency vehicle or tow truck with lights flashing, they must move to the other lane.

State officials say the expanded law will make it safer for people who respond and assist on accident scenes or for disabled vehicles.

Violators can receive two points on their license and up to a 150-dollar fine if they don't follow the new law.