Poughkeepsie, NY… Emergencies can happen with little warning, but having a plan and a few essentials ready beforehand can make a big difference in a crisis. September is Preparedness Month and the Dutchess County Department of Emergency Response (DER) and Medical Reserve Corps of Dutchess County (MRC) have partnered with local communities to host several FREE trainings across the county to help residents be ready for any kind of emergency – whether it’s building a plan to stay safe during a natural disaster, how to keep your pets safe with first aid for pets, or how to help others in an emergency as an MRC volunteer.
Citizens Preparedness Classes
Participants will learn how to prepare for a disaster or emergency of any kind and recover as quickly as possible. Each family attending will receive a free Citizens Preparedness Response Starter Kit, while supplies last.
- Tuesday, September 16: Beekman Community Center, 29 Recreation Rd, Hope. Doors open at 6:30pm, class begins at 7pm. Registration required, visit BeekmanRec.com or call 845-227-5783. View the event flyer (.pdf).
- Monday, September 29: Pine Plains Library, 7775 South Main St., Pine Plains. Class begins at 1pm. Registration required, visit gov/citizenpreparedness. View the event flyer (.pdf).
- Tuesday, October 14: Wappinger Town Hall, 20 Middlebush Rd, Wappinger. Doors open at 6:30pm, class begins at 7pm. Registration required, visit gov/citizenpreparedness. View the event flyer (.pdf).
- Tuesday, October 21: Stanford Library, 6035 Route 82, Stanford. Class begins at 6pm. Registration required, visit the Stanford Library calendar or call 845-868-1341. View the event flyer (.pdf).
Pet First Aid Training
The County’s Animal Response Team (DCART) will teach participants life-saving skills for pets, including CPR; recognizing signs of heat stroke and hypothermia; identifying gastrointestinal issues, allergies, and poisoning; and treating injuries such as burns, eye issues,
- Wednesday, October 22: John Jay High School, 2012 State Route 52, Hopewell Junction. Class starts at 7pm. Registration required, visit gov/PetFirstAid. View the event flyer (.pdf).
MRC New Member Orientation
The MRC of Dutchess County will host a New Member Orientation Training on Thursday, September 25 at 6pm at the Dept. of Emergency Response, 298 Creek Rd, Poughkeepsie. The MRC is comprised of both healthcare and non-healthcare volunteers as part of a national network of more than 200,000 volunteers dedicated to supporting public health infrastructure and disaster preparedness and response. MRC volunteers help events run smoothly, support emergency response efforts, and help staff public health events like vaccination clinics – there truly is something for everyone. The new member orientation is free, but registration is required, visit dutchessny.gov/MRCorientation.
For information and helpful tips on how to be prepared, visit dutchessny.gov/preparedness.