Be Prepared For Emergencies, Livingston Officials Say (Here’s How)

LIVINGSTON, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of the Township of Livingston. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.

The Livingston Township Council issued a Proclamation on Monday, Aug. 26 declaring September as National Preparedness Month. Council members hope this will 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.

National Preparedness Month is a nationwide coordinated effort that encourages Americans to learn more about ways to prepare for all types of emergencies, from health emergencies like the COVID pandemic, to natural disasters like flooding or power outages, to potential terrorist actions or attacks.

“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,” stated Township Manager Barry Lewis Jr. “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.”

Livingston is proud to again participate in celebrating September as National Preparedness Month. The annual Ready Campaign, run each September by the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), reminds citizens that anything can happen ‒ anytime, anywhere ‒ so it is essential to be prepared.

“The best time to plan for an emergency is now — not when the power is already out and floodwaters are flowing up the front lawn,” stated Mayor Al Anthony. “Making a plan in advance lets you stay calm and think more clearly when you need to take action. By recognizing National Preparedness Month, the Township is reminding all community members to take the time now to calmly and sensibly make a workable plan with and for their families.”

“Proactively preparing for emergencies can help reduce stress and confusion, and will help you and your family make clear decisions during an emergency. Please don’t wait until an emergency is happening to start planning,” stated the mayor. “With this Proclamation, we remind all community members to take the time to make a sensible plan with their families.”

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).
• 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.

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:

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.

“Registering for the Township’s Emergency Alerts is a great first step to make sure that you and your family members will receive important official updates, instructions, and safety information directly from the Township in the event of an emergency,” stated the Mayor.

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. Additional links there provide access to more valuable information and resources.

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

Don’t forget to visit the Patch Livingston Facebook page. Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here.