Disasters Can Strike Any Time In Livingston: Here’s How To Be Ready, Officials Say

LIVINGSTON, NJ — The Livingston Township Council recently issued a proclamation declaring September as "National Preparedness Month."

The council passed its proclamation on Aug. 11 to encourage members of the community to become more aware of both the importance of being prepared for emergencies – and the planning resources that are available.

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The council proclamation was done in conjunction with National Preparedness Month is a nationwide coordinated effort that encourages people to learn more about ways to prepare for all types of emergencies, including health emergencies like a pandemic, natural disasters like flooding, severe power outages, or potential terrorist attacks.

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"The events we've all experienced in the past few years have been sobering reminders that emergency situations can occur at any time, and that their effects can be devastating," Township Manager Barry Lewis Jr. said.

"While many disasters are out of our control, we can all take steps to create an emergency plan and be as prepared as possible for the unimaginable moment when something does happen," Lewis said.

"You don't want to wait for the lights to go out or the water to rise before you start thinking about what to do," Mayor Shawn Klein agreed.

"The time to make a plan is now when things are calm," he said.

Klein recommended that Livingston residents sit down with your families, "talk it through" and make a plan that works for them.

"It doesn't have to be complicated — just sensible," the mayor suggested. "Being prepared ahead of time can make all the difference when an emergency hits."

Here is some helpful advice, Livingston township officials said:

Ready Campaign - Disability and Disaster Preparedness

Disasters can have a bigger impact on people with disabilities. By creating a disaster preparedness plan, practicing it regularly, and keeping an emergency supply kit, caregivers can help build disaster resilience for their care recipient.

Know the risks. The first step is to identify risks the person in your care is most likely to face and barriers to taking safety actions. By understanding risks and barriers, caregivers can identify and address gaps that impact emergency preparedness for the person in their care. Consider these questions:

·How does my care recipient best understand and respond to information? How does this change in stressful or unfamiliar situations?

• Do we need assistive technology to meet daily activity needs?
• How do I inform first responders or emergency response personnel about the communication needs of my care recipient?

Plan for your care recipient's needs. Know what to do if resources become limited or unavailable:

• Keep a list of names and phone numbers of doctors, pharmacists, and family members and others who support you.
• Write down and keep the web address and passwords for any health portals needed for communication with healthcare providers.
• Make sure your care recipient wears medical alert tags or bracelets (full name, contact number for family member/caregiver, and allergies).

Check your emergency kit. In addition to having basic survival supplies such as food and water, a caregiver's emergency kit should provide for their care recipient's individual needs:

• Keep extra sets of batteries if medical or other assistive devices need batteries.
• Have at least a 3-day supply of medicine. If medications need to be kept cold, have a cooler and ice packs available.
• Take pictures of settings on medical devices or equipment in case they need to be reset after a loss of electrical power.

Emergency & Police Alerts

Livingston urges all residents to register for the township's Rave Alert Emergency Notification System. Visit livingstonnj.org/RaveAlert to sign up. If you're already registered, sign in and make sure your contact information is up to date.

"Signing up for the Township's emergency alerts is one of the easiest and smartest things you can do to keep your family informed," Klein said. "In an emergency, you'll get the updates and instructions you need straight from us — no guessing, no misinformation. It's a simple step that can make a big difference."

Many public utilities and agencies have improved their methods of communication. Residents can download apps and sign up for programs through their utility or other service companies. Parents of school-aged children should be sure to sign up for Livingston school district updates.

Additional Resources

The Livingston Office of Emergency Management and Livingston Health Department maintain a list of homebound residents who may need assistance evacuating their homes in the event of an emergency. Interested residents should fill out the form at livingstonnj.org/Homebound. Residents may also access additional planning resources at livingstonnj.org/EmergencyResources.

Residents can stay up to date on official information and events by following the town's social media accounts. Follow the town on Facebook and Instagram at Livingston Township, NJ and on X (Twitter) @Livingston_NJ.

Livingston's website offers information and links to helpful resources for families, parents, children, and businesses at livingstonnj.org/BePrepared.

For more information about National Preparedness Month, visit ready.gov/September or call 1-800-BE-READY (1-800-237-3239).

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