Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone today announced the launch of the new Suffolk County Citizens Preparedness Academy Suitable for People with Differing Abilities, a three-week program designed to educate all residents including those with differing abilities on various preparedness measures in the event of an emergency or large-scale natural disaster. The program was developed by the Suffolk County Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services (FRES) and is free of cost to attendees.
The Preparedness Academy is a six-session program that focuses the various measures of emergencies, including awareness, preparedness, response and recovery.
The curriculum was designed by Suffolk County FRES, with guidance from various non-for-profit organizations and mental health professionals to address the needs of all residents, including those who have conditions related to neurodiversity, such as autism, ADHD, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.
“We never know when or where a disaster might strike, that is why it is so critical to ensure the proper precautions are in place ahead of time,” said Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone. “Our new Citizens Preparedness Academy curriculum will be inclusive for all residents and will provide the necessary information so we can all be prepared and remain safe in a crisis.”
“The Suffolk County Citizens Preparedness Academy was created to empower all Suffolk County residents with the knowledge on how to be prepared for a multitude of emergencies or natural disasters,” said Suffolk County FRES Commissioner Patrick Beckley. “As we’ve seen with recent extreme weather events or the rapid events leading to the COVID-19 pandemic, emergencies or crises can take place at any time. At the Office of the Emergency Management, we feel it is our duty to provide an opportunity to educate our residents on these matters in an innovative and inclusive manner.”
The first Citizens Preparedness Academy is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, July 12 and last for a duration of three weeks. The course will be held twice per week (Tuesdays and Thursdays) at the Islip Town Firefighters Museum in Central Islip, and commence on Thursday, July 28. Those who complete the course will receive a certificate of achievement.
Each session will last approximately 40-50 minutes and will feature interactive presentations and activities related to preparedness, including basic first aid instruction, building a preparedness kit, evacuation preparedness, situational awareness, the creation of a family emergency plan and more. Guest speakers from various first responders and emergency preparedness experts will also be included.
Those who are interested in signing up for the course are encouraged to register at the following link, https://www.
Additional Citizen Preparedness Academy sessions will be scheduled throughout the year.
The Suffolk County Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services (FRES) is committed to serving both the 1.5 million residents of Suffolk County and the more than 11,000 emergency responders who are dedicated to saving lives and protecting property.