ARC/GNY Prepares Lower Manhattan

This September, hundreds of Red Cross volunteers and employees saturated lower Manhattan with leaflets, fliers, e-mails and special events to help the community be better prepared to handle any emergency.

"I'd heard about the event on National Public Radio and wanted to learn more about getting prepared. During the summer blackout, all I had was a little flashlight with batteries that weren't working. The experience caused me to reassess what I had on hand," said community resident Ellyce Dipaola.

During the three days, Red Cross volunteers reached tens of thousands of people through outdoor presentations, distributed more than 2,000 safety kits and 10,000 Ready New York Guides from the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) along with Family Safety Guides from Duracell and the Red Cross. Volunteer instructors also presented the Red Cross's Preparing for the Unexpected course at 15 private locations, including workplaces and apartment complexes.

During evening rush hours, Red Cross volunteers and employees distributed 20,000 preparedness brochures to New Yorkers at lower Manhattan subway stations and ferry sites.

“I’m so glad to see the Red Cross out here helping people,” said Thomas Oriol, who attended Preparing for the Unexpected in Hanover Square.  “Training - like what the Red Cross is doing with this event - is so important because it helps you be ready if something happens.  I took time out of my lunch hour to make sure I was a part of this.”

 

The event was sponsored by:

• TD Waterhouse USA
• The New York Times Community Affairs Department
• Con Edison
• CNBC
• Duracell
• Downtown Alliance
• New York City Office of Emergency Management
• Wall Street Rising
• First Precinct Community Council

Click here for more information on Preparing for the Unexpected

 

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