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 hosts Rabies Clinic September 18

The next Schuyler County Rabies clinic will be: Thursday, September, 2025 from 6 PM to 7:30 PM at the at the Shared Services Building, 910 S Decatur Street in Watkins Glen.

Clinics are free, but donations are accepted.

It is New York State law that all dogs, cats, and domestic ferrets be vaccinated against rabies after they reach the age of 4 months. Animals must remain up to date on rabies vaccination at all times.

Rabies is a serious virus of all mammals with no known cure. It causes neurological degeneration that ultimately leads to the death of the infected person or animal. Luckily, Rabies can be prevented with vaccination.

For more information, click here.

Schuyler County hosts Rabies Clinic May 17th

The next Schuyler County Rabies clinic will be: Saturday, May 17, 2025 10:00 am – 11:00 am, at the Reading Town Barn, Reading Center, New York.

Clinics are free, but donations are accepted.

It is New York State law that all dogs, cats, and domestic ferrets be vaccinated against rabies after they reach the age of 4 months. Animals must remain up to date on rabies vaccination at all times.

Rabies is a serious virus of all mammals with no known cure. It causes neurological degeneration that ultimately leads to the death of the infected person or animal. Luckily, Rabies can be prevented with vaccination.

For more information, click here.

Schuyler County rabies clinic to be held September 19

Schuyler County Public Health will be holding a Rabies Clinic on Thursday, September 19th from 6 PM to 7:30 PM.

6:00 pm-6:45 pm: Cat and ferrets only

6:45 pm-7:30 pm: Dogs, cats, and ferrets

The clinic will be held at the Shared Services Building (910 S Decatur Street in Watkins Glen).

More information can be found here.

Schuyler County Collaborates on Survey to Identify Gaps in Healthcare Access

© Copyright 2024, Finger Lakes Daily News by FLX Local Media:

Eight Public Health departments in the Finger Lakes have collaborated to create a survey hoping to understand what it’s like to find medical, dental, vision, hearing, mental health, and addiction care in rural communities. The survey was released on Monday.

The development of the survey this spring and summer was a collaborative effort led by the Pivotal Public Health Partnership. It is a precursor to the region’s Community Health Assessment (CHA) process which will begin in earnest later this year and continue through 2025.

Participating Health Departments include Yates, Schuyler, Ontario, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne, Livingston, and Chemung counties.

The survey can be found here.

Schuyler County hosts rabies clinic

The next Schuyler County Rabies clinic will be: Saturday, February 24, 2024 10:00 am - 12:00 pm, at the Shared Services Building 910 S. Decatur Street, Watkins Glen, NY.

Clinics are free, but donations are accepted.

It is New York State law that all dogs, cats, and domestic ferrets be vaccinated against rabies after they reach the age of 4 months. Animals must remain up to date on rabies vaccination at all times.

Other clinics are scheduled for later in 2024.

For more information, click here.

Schuyler County: Drug Take Back Day is October 28 at the Odessa and Tyrone Fire Departments

COVID testing site opens in Watkins Glen

New York State will open a COVID-19 test site beginning tomorrow (December 29) at 10:00 am in Watkins Glen State Park. The site will operate Monday – Saturday from 10am to 6pm. An advertising flyer is below for your reference.

Schuyler County announces rabies clinic for cats and ferrets

Please see attached the flyer for our next rabies clinic being held September 1st from 6-7 pm at the Shared Services Building in Watkins Glen. The clinic is for cats and ferrets only. Registration is required by August 28th.

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Interim Guidance on Requiring Face Coverings for Employees Interacting with the Public During the COVID-19 Outbreak

New York State Executive Order 202.16, issued on April 12, 2020, provides the following directive:

For all essential businesses or entities, any employees who are present in the workplace shall be provided and shall wear face coverings when in direct contact with customers or members of the public. Businesses must provide, at their expense, such face coverings for their employees. This provision may be enforced by local governments or local law enforcement as if it were an order pursuant to section 12 or 12 -b of the Public Health Law. This requirement shall be effective Wednesday April 15 at 8 pm. 

Under this order, essential businesses, as well as state and local government agencies and authorities, must procure, fashion, or otherwise obtain face coverings and provide such coverings to employees who directly interact with the public during the course of their work at no-cost to the employee.

For additional information, employers can visit the New York State Coronavirus (COVID-19) Website or  the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Coronavirus (COVID-19) Website.

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Schuyler County officials make request to visitors during COVID-19 crisis: Stay home, keep everyone safe

As part of the effort to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus, Schuyler County officials are asking potential visitors to the county to follow state and federal instructions and stay home until our nation defeats the pandemic.  

While Schuyler County welcomes its seasonal residents and visitors, Governor Andrew Cuomo has issued a State of Emergency and Schuyler County has done the same.   

This has been done to protect both county residents and potential travelers during this unsettling and frightening time.

Schuyler County Legislature and other officials. 

In normal times, Schuyler County emergency services and medical facilities are capable of providing excellent care, officials noted.  However, because Schuyler County is rural and has a population of approximately 18,000 people, its emergency and medical communities are limited in their ability to serve a large number of patients.   Statewide, reports have surfaced that hospitals near New York City are already reaching capacity and workers on the frontlines are falling ill.

There is currently no travel ban in New York State, nor is there a state requirement that individuals coming back into the state or between counties within the state be quarantined for fourteen days.    

However, travel between communities has been flagged as a factor in spreading the virus.  For example, the state has seen reports of New York City residents retreating to their second homes in the Hamptons, stressing local hospitals and preventing local businesses from providing necessary goods and services.

On Tuesday (March 24) the White House urged anyone who has been in New York City to self-quarantine for 14 days to stop the spread of the coronavirus, which has become widespread in the city.  

Deborah Minor, Public Health Director

In response to federal and state action, county officials will continue to focus efforts on decreasing population density, which has been proven to slow the spread of the virus.  

Schuyler County Public Health Director Deborah Minor alerted any visitor to follow the same precautions set forth for all community members:

·      Stay home as much as possible.

·   If you must go out into our community, practice social distancing by maintaining six feet from one another.

·  If you are ill, isolate yourself and call your healthcare provider.

·      Wash your hands often.

·      If you have symptoms, such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath, seek testing.

Legislature Chairman Carl Blowers thanked county employees for their efforts in fighting the virus and members of the public for their understanding.

“Together we will get through this and protect those at highest risk for serious illness.  Thank you for your understanding in these unusual times.”

COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) Positive Test Update from Schuyler County Public Health

Schuyler County Public Health is notifying the community that a Schuyler County resident has tested positive for COVID-19, the novel coronavirus. The individual is currently being isolated and monitored by Schuyler County Public Health. Public Health staff are currently identifying close contacts of the confirmed case and any exposure risks. Individuals with exposure risk are currently being quarantined and monitored for symptoms.

“We have prepared for COVID-19 to arrive in Schuyler County” said Deborah Minor, Public Health Director.“We ask that people please stay home as much as possible and limit contact with others. We need to slow down how quickly the virus spreads in the community. This will help make sure our hospitals don’t get overwhelmed by too many sick people at once.”

COVID-19 symptoms include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. If you develop these symptoms, immediately call your healthcare provider for instructions.

Schuyler County Public Health recommends community members take the following actions to protect themselves, their family, and the overall community from COVID-19:

• Stay home and practice social distancing, only leave your home for absolute necessities. Consider getting items like prescriptions mailed to your home.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.  

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces such as faucet handles and doorknobs.

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. If you don’t have a tissue available, cough or sneeze into your elbow.

• Stay home when you are sick, except to get medical care.

• Do not return to work or school until you have been fever-free for 24 hours.

• Monitor and treat any mild symptoms at home with over-the-counter medicine as appropriate. If you have a fever, cough, or shortness of breath, call your health care provider for instructions.

For current and accurate information, visit the CDC website at https://www.cdc.gov/ or the New York State Health Department (NYSDOH) website at https://www.health.ny.gov/. Members of the public can also call the NYSDOH 24/7 hotline if they have general questions about COVID-19. The hotline number is 1-888-364-3065.

For more information, visit Schuyler County Public Health online at www.schuylercounty.us/publichealth or follow Schuyler County Public Health on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Schuyler and Yates Counties to Share Public Health Director, Expand Shared Services

In a move towards continued cost savings and increased efficiency, Schuyler and Yates counties have adopted resolutions authorizing the sharing of a Public Health Director between the two counties.

At their respective meetings on Monday, August 13, county legislators voted to authorize an Intermunicipal Agreement (IMA) permitting the consolidation of this position within the two counties.

The aim of the project is to work collaboratively while maintaining two distinctive health departments with shared leadership and integrated service delivery. Both departments will be governed by their respective legislatures and/or boards of health.

Yates Chairman Doug Paddock commented “As we continue to seek efficiencies for our residents and taxpayers, this most recent move exemplifies the commitment of both counties towards improving service delivery while lowering costs.”

Schuyler Chairman Dennis Fagan added, “While we continue to struggle with unfunded mandates and their associated escalating costs, it is great to be able to partner with our neighbors to the north, to achieve real savings for our residents.” 

Both Chairs expressed their appreciation to County Attorneys Steven Getman (Schuyler) and Scott Falvey (Yates) for their efforts in crafting an IMA that both Legislatures agreed upon.

The agreement, which now goes to the NYS Department of Health for approval, is in response to the announced retirement of Schuyler Public Health Director Marcia Kasprzyk, and the desire to further collaboration between each county. 

According to Schuyler County Administrator Tim O’Hearn while the combined savings approach $100,000 annually, the move will actually provide increased levels of service as each county shares departmental resources. 

By combining some resources, functions, and staff in their health departments, the two counties provide services that enhance their role as public health facilitators and educators in their respective communities, including:

• ·        Public health education
• ·        Emergency preparedness
• ·        Childhood Early Intervention Programs
• ·        Residential sanitary inspections
• ·        Flu clinics
• ·        Rabies clinics

O’Hearn stated “I commend both Marcia and Deb for their initiative in bringing this recommendation to their respective Legislatures. It is not often in government that such a collaborative and non-parochial approach to administration is achieved and this is a testament to their professionalism and dedication to public health!”

This is the latest shared service initiative between Yates and Schuyler, who currently share a Director of Weights and Measures and Code Enforcement responsibilities.

Both Counties have long recognized that inter-municipal cooperation can help local governments increase effectiveness and efficiency in the delivery of services and is encouraged by the New York State legislature via broad statutory authority.  Here, the counties are taking advantage of legislation passed in 2011 that allows up to three county public health offices in counties with a combined population of less than 150,000 to share staff and services under the management of one public health director.

A County Health Department's mission is to protect and promote the health of its residents through prevention, science and the assurance of quality health care delivery.

Schuyler County launches its Community Health Survey

Schuyler County Public Health and partners are doing a Community Health Survey with the intent of completing a new Community Health Assessment and Community Health Improvement Plan by the end of December 2019.

The link to the online survey will be active for the next 4-6 weeks and Schuyler County encourages all to please complete it.

The same survey will be offered in each of the nine Finger Lakes Counties (Schuyler, Yates, Steuben, Chemung, Seneca, Ontario, Wayne, Livingston and Monroe). The coordinated effort is with the Public Health Department in each county and with Common Ground Health (the Regional Health Systems Agency).

Participants who provide their name and phone number or email address will be entered into a drawing for a $500 grocery or gasoline gift card.

For more information, click here.

Schuyler County hosts Rabies Clinic February 6

Watkins Glen—Schuyler County officials will be hosting a rabies clinic on February 6 at the Shared Services Building, 910 S. Decatur Street, Watkins Glen, New York. The clinic will run from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm in the evening.

Vaccination is free of charge, but donations are appreciated.

Rabies is a serious virus of all mammals with no known cure. It causes neurological degeneration that ultimately leads to the death of the infected person or animal. Luckily, Rabies can be prevented with vaccination, and New York State requires by law the compulsory vaccination of all domestic dogs, cats and ferrets for the safety of the public. Compliance with Rabies Vaccination Laws is monitored by the New York State Department Of Health.

For more information, click here.

Schuyler County Coalition on Underage Drinking and Drugs: Annual Meeting November 6

Schuyler County Prescription drug take back day Saturday

Schuyler County law enforcement agencies will take part in the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s national prescription drug take back day Saturday.

Collections will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Drugs can be taken to the Tyrone Fire Station, 3600 State Route 226, or the Odessa Fire Station, 300 E. Main St.

Residents are encouraged to turn in expired and unused prescription medications for proper disposal.

For more information, click here.

Schuyler County Public Health Open House April 6

Celebrating National Public Health Week:

Schuyler County hosts Rabies Clinic February 7

Watkins Glen—Schuyler County officials will be hosting a rabies clinic on February 7 at the Shared Services Building, 910 S. Decatur Street, Watkins Glen, New York. The clinic will run from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm in the evening.

Vaccination is free of charge, but donations are appreciated.

Rabies is a serious virus of all mammals with no known cure. It causes neurological degeneration that ultimately leads to the death of the infected person or animal. Luckily, Rabies can be prevented with vaccination, and New York State requires by law the compulsory vaccination of all domestic dogs, cats and ferrets for the safety of the public. Compliance with Rabies Vaccination Laws is monitored by the New York State Department Of Health.

For more information, click here.

Schuyler County forum to address underage drinking

The Schuyler County Coalition on Underage Drinking and Drugs (SCCUDD) will host a community forum in light of Alcohol Awareness Month at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday (April 19) in the Watkins Glen Elementary School auditorium.

Attendees will hear from county teens and learn about underage drinking consequences, prevention and the legal consequences of providing youth with alcohol. Attendees will also be able to try on impairment awareness goggles to see how alcohol can impair their ability to do simple tasks at the beginning of the forum.

For more information, click here.