HUD, NYC and Citizen Corps Council Kick Off National Preparedness Month

(l-r) NYC OEM (Office of Emergency Management) Commissioner Joseph Bruno and HUD's Henry Comas, Regional Disaster Liaison

On Thursday, September 6, HUD Region II, the New York City Office of Emergency Management (OEM), the New York City Citizen Corps Council, as well as a host of volunteers, kicked-off National Preparedness Month in Manhattan at City Hall Park in lower Manhattan.

National Preparedness Month is an annual, nationwide effort sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to encourage individuals to take steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses, and schools. This marks the ninth annual National Preparedness Month (NPM) and this year's slogan is: "Pledge to Prepare, Awareness to Action."

Henry Comas, Regional Disaster Liaison, was on hand providing information on HUD Disaster Resources and HUD's role with federal and state agencies to help implement disaster recovery assistance under the National Response Framework.

"The New York office is ready to work with our city and state partners to help encourage New Yorkers to prepare for emergencies and facilitate disaster assistance," said Comas. "We provide a variety of Disaster resources through our Mortgage Insurance for Disaster Victims (Section 203(h)), Disaster Assistance Housing Vouchers Program, and our Disaster Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG)."

From 8 a.m. until 6 p.m., OEM staff and a host of volunteers from partner organizations gave out pocket-sized New York guides, pens, and other preparedness items at sites throughout the five boroughs. Volunteers were dressed in yellow and black shirts and also offered tips, answers questions, and provide emergency preparedness literature to commuters throughout the day at various commuter locations. In addition, the American Red Cross raffled off Go Bags at each location.

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