In Case Of Emergency, Help NYC OEM Choose Community Safe Spaces

When a disaster strikes, community shelters and other safe spaces are the first place where many of us go for supplies and other resources. Now, the New York City Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is asking us to help choose where those resource centers should be.

Specifically, managers and directors of community organizations such as churches are asked to fill out a survey detailing what their space can offer the community.

NYC Emergency Management knows that using known community spaces is critical to assisting residents during emergency and non-emergency times.

Providing information on a community space does not guarantee that it will be used in an emergency. However, given the ever-changing needs of emergencies, having the information already available to the City increases the ability to get a site up and running.

We would also consider using these spaces for non-emergency events, such as Community Emergency Response Training [or] Ready New York training classes, awards ceremonies or National Preparedness Month events.

Given the details required, it is best if someone familiar with the technical details of the space completes the survey. We also require 24/7/365 points of contact and expect those identified to be the ones who could confirm NYC Emergency Management’s use of the space.

Here’s the survey again: http://www.nyc.gov/html/oem/html/get_involved/cc_community_space.shtml. Questions can be sent to intergov@oem.nyc.gov.