Often by the time we are aware of an approaching storm, we have little if any time to prepare for it.

A battery-operated flashlight, a

battery-operated NOAA Weather

Radio, and extra batteries for both.

Find online or in the camping sec-

tion of many department stores.

An emergency evacuation or shel-

ter plan, with a map of your home &

for every type of emergency, routes

to safety from each room.

A list of important personal infor-

mation, including: phone numbers

of neighbors, family, and friends,

insurance and property info, phone

numbers of utility companies, and

medical information. Consider up-

loading this info in a secure “cloud”

based app. Share this list with fami-

ly members and a trusted neighbor.

A first aid kit

Essential medications

Add a 3 day supply of bottled

water and nonperishable food

1 gallon of water per person,

per day.

Personal hygiene items

Blankets or sleeping bags

An emergency kit in your car

and a full tank of gas

Talk to your family for the possi-

bility of an approaching storm

and to seek appropriate shelter

if need be. Show family mem-

bers where the emergency sup-

plies are stored, and make sure

they know how to turn off the

water, gas, and electricity in your

home. severe weather occurs,

you’ll be ready for them.

Inside this issue:

Know Your Hurricane Myths &

Facts: Not Viral Fake Forecasts

2

From the CDC: Say No to Raw

Dough

2

ASPCA’s Mobile App Lets Pet

Parents Be Prepared!

2

It’s the Most Beautiful Invention in

Public Health—Soap!

3

Classroom Supply Checklist 3

Community Spotlight:

NY Connects

4

Beyond 911: Other helpful

numbers you need to know

4

Spring Clean Up: Create a Tick –

Safe Zone to Reduce Ticks in the

Yard

4

A Note from Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin

Spring is the time of year when many things change - includ-

ing the weather. Sunny days may be

followed by a week of stormy weath-

er. Whenever warm, moist air

collides with cool, dry air, thunder-

storms can occur. Because spring

weather is so unpredictable, you

may be unprepared. And when se-

vere weather hits unexpectedly, the

risk of injury and death increases.

Planning ahead makes sense; pre-

pare for storms, floods, and torna-

does as if you know in advance they

are coming, because in the spring,

they very likely will. Advance plan-

ning requires specific safety precau-

tions. Keep an emergency kit on

hand. Some items to include are: Source: www.cdc.gov/features/springweather

Join the fight.

The Rensselaer County Heroin

Coalition dates for 2018 are:

April 11th

May 23rd

August 22nd

October 10th

November 14th

All meetings are held

10am–12pm at the

Rensselaer County Department of

Social Services Administration

127 Bloomingrove Drive

Troy NY 12180

www.rensco.com

March 2018

The Rensselaer County Preparedness Initiative

Steven F. McLaughlin ■ County Executive Maryfran Wachunas ■ Public Health Director

As your new County Executive,

I appreciate being given the opportunity

to give an introduction. I plan on provid-

ing regular updates in this newsletter.

First, I want to extend sincere thanks and

appreciation to the dedicated and

brave men and women who give so

much of their time and talent to protect the

health, well-being and quality of life for

those who live and in this great county.

Your service helps keep our county grow-

ing and I look forward to working with you

during the coming months.

Since taking office, my administration has

focused on public health. Just days after

taking office, I signed a county law that

provides new safeguard regarding

discharges of dioxane. We stand ready

to defend this law with local officials. We

have also begun discussions to determine

potential sources of water for areas af-

fected by toxic contamination in Hoosick

Falls and Petersburgh.

As Assemblyman, I was proud to lead

calls for public water and increased test-

spring is here get ready for wild weather!

ing for those affected by toxic contam-

ination in that area. As County Execu-

tive, I will work side by side with you as

health professionals to ensure families

have clean and safe drinking water.

We have also expanded our efforts

in the fight against the scourge of

heroin and opioid addiction. As

County Executive, I have partnered

with the Sheriff and District Attorney to

create and fund a part-time Opioid

Recovery Coordinator. The ORC will

work with others in county government

and the recovery community to better

reach out to those struggling with this

addiction. Too many have been lost to

this disease, and Rensselaer County is

working to do more to fight this deadly

problem. At the February monthly

meeting of the county Heroin Coalition,

I am proud to report we had record

attendance from health professionals,

addiction recovery specialists, repre-

sentatives from state and local gov-

ernments, and

residents.

The county is

joining in the

United to

Fight It cam-

paign with

schools in the county to raise aware-

ness about the dangers of heroin and

opioid addiction, and expect to fur-

ther expand efforts in the coming

months.

We have also worked to strengthen

partnerships with others in the health

care community. I also toured Sa-

maritan Hospital and was impressed

by the new and expanded emergen-

cy room and ICU.

Rensselaer County is a place of

great natural beauty, history and

opportunity. Working together, we

can make our county healthier and

safer for all.

2

Page 2 The Rensselaer County Preparedness Initiative

Sources: FEMA, http://m.fema.gov/before-hurricane Ready.gov, http://www.ready.gov/hurricanes

National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/C6.html

America's PrepareAthon!, http://community.fema.gov/hazard/hurricane/be-smart

Keep your eyes out for fake forecasts. Potential-

ly catastrophic events, understandably, make

people want to share information they think

might be helpful to others. But they can also be

platforms for opportunists—or for the spread of

old-fashioned honest mistakes. From photo-

shopped or mislabeled pictures to generally

false information, it’s important to keep track of

what’s actually true in case of a crisis. Note: A

NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric) fore-

cast only goes out 5 days. The National Weather

Service has consistent official updates on

storms, which can be tracked: Hurricanes.gov.

Stay informed from reliable sources.

When preparing for a hurricane, it is easy to find

yourself turning to popular myths to protect your

loved ones and your property. For example, you

may have heard that:

Myth #1 - Taping a big “X” on your windows will

prevent them from breaking.

Fact: Actually, that “X” will do little to protect

your windows from being shattered by the wind

or flying debris. Instead, you should install per-

manent storm shutters or board up your win-

dows with marine plywood that has been cut to

fit them

Myth #2 – You only need to protect the windows

facing the water.

Fact: Hurricane-force winds can turn landscap-

ing materials and other outdoor items into pro-

jectiles that can break windows on any side of

your home. All windows and glass doors should

be secured to guard against high winds and

flying objects.

Myth #3 – If you lean against a window or

door, you can keep it from blowing inward

Fact: You are putting yourself in danger if

you remain in front of windows and doors.

Instead, you should:

Stay away from windows and glass doors. Close all interior doors and brace external

doors before the storm Take refuge in a small interior room,

closet or hallway on the lowest level

Myth #4 – Open windows to alleviate pres-

sure.

Fact: This myth is based on the misconcep-

tion that pressure can build up in your home

during a storm to the point of caus-

ing complete structural failure. According to

(NOAA) National Oceanic & Atmospheric

Administration, no house is built airtight and

an over-pressurization to this degree is not

possible. Opening windows presents the

danger of flying objects entering your home.

Therefore, all windows should be closed and

shuttered during a hurricane.

Myth #5 – The biggest myth is that “It will

not happen here”.

Fact: Each year, heavy rains, strong winds,

floods and coastal storm surges from tropi-

cal storms and hurricanes affect much of

the United States, including both coastal

and inland areas. Although all of us hope

we will not be affected by a hurricane, it is

always safer for you, your family and busi-

ness to be prepared.

Know Your Hurricane Myths & Facts: Not Viral Fake Forecasts

Want a powerful and potentially lifesaving

resource to share with adopters

and your community? The

ASPCA’s Pet Safety App for Lost

Pets, Disaster Prep and Emergency Alerts

is a must-have for pet owners. Also, if a pet

goes missing, the app also has a missing

pet recovery tool, including step-by-step

instructions on how to search for a lost ani-

mal in a variety of circumstances.

This free app shows pet parents exactly

what to do in case of a natural disaster. It

also allows pet owners to store vital medical

records, and provides information on mak-

ing life-saving decisions during natural

disasters.

With a few swipes, you can:

Access critical advice on what to do with

your pet before, during & after a major

storm, even if there’s no data connectivity.

Store and manage your pet’s critical health

records.

Receive a personalized missing pet recovery

kit, including step-by-step instructions on

how to search for a lost animal in a variety

of circumstances.

Build a lost pet digital flyer that can be

shared instantly on your social media

channels.

Get the latest and most relevant news

about pets and animal welfare.

ASPCA’s Mobile App Lets Pet Parents Be Prepared!

Download it for

iPhone or Android

at www.ASPCAapp.com

With popular flavors like

Cookie Dough Ice Cream

and even a new store in

the mall, it’s easy to

assume raw cookie dough

is ok to eat. According to

the CDC, reports of

sickness from consuming raw dough products saw

an increase in 2016. Here is why: Flour hasn’t

been treated to kill germs like E. coli., & harmful

germs can contaminate grain while it’s still in the

field or at other steps as flour is produced. You

should never taste or eat raw dough or batter—

whether made from recalled flour or any other

flour. Do not let children play with or eat raw

dough, including dough for crafts. Check for

any recalled flour products in your home and

throw them away.

In addition, raw eggs used in the dough or batter

may be contaminated with Salmonella can make

you sick. Cookie dough ice cream & like products

sold in stores has been treated to kill harmful

bacteria.

Recent news from the CDC... Say No to Raw Dough!

www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/aspca-mobile-app

If a hurricane is coming, you may hear an

order to evacuate . Never ignore an order

to evacuate. Even sturdy, well-built hous-

es may not hold up against a hurricane.

Staying home to protect your

property is not worth

risking your health

and safety.

You may also hear an

order to stay at home.

Sometimes, staying at

home is safer than

leaving. Either way, stay prepared!

www.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/evacuate.html

3

A Simple But Lifesaving Habit

That Can Prevent Disease

The next time you think of a gift

for a new mom and her family,

don't look far: buy her soap. It's

the most beautiful invention in

public health. For cost-effective

prevention against sickness, it’s

hard to beat soapy hand-

washing, which cuts down risk

of pneumonia, diarrhea, cholera

and worse.

Children pick up disease in the

place that's supposed to love

them and protect them the

most, in their homes. Think

about where you learned to

wash your hands. Did you learn

to wash your hands at home?

Did you learn to wash your

hands in school? Diarrhea and

pneumonia are among the top

two killers of children under

five, and what we can do to

prevent these diseases isn't

some smart, new technological

innovations. It's one of the

world's oldest inventions: a bar

of soap. Washing hands with

soap, a habit we all take for

teeism due to infection by

19.8% among 16 elementary

schools and 6,000 students.

Government is doing what they

can, especially in terms of the

pandemics and epidemics

such as cholera, or Ebola. The

Lifebuoy soap brand was

launched in 1894 in Victorian

England to actually combat chol-

era. A hundred and eighteen

years later, the advice is exactly

the same. This simple, cheap,

powerful disease-fighting inter-

vention: Wash your hands.

Think about the last time you

met someone or said hello - did

you shake their hand? They

looked nice. Did you know that

the person whose hands you just

shook maybe didn't wash their

hands when they were coming

out of the bathroom?

A 2013 study done by Michigan

State University shows that actu-

ally 15% of men don't wash their

hands at all when they come out

of the toilet, compared with 7%

of women. When they did wash

granted, can reduce diarrhea by

half, can reduce respiratory infec-

tions by one third. Handwashing

with soap can have an impact on

reducing flu, SARS, and most re-

cently in the case of cholera and

Ebola outbreak. Handwashing with

soap keeps kids in school. It stops

babies from dying. Handwashing

with soap is one of the most cost-

effective ways of saving lives.

According to the CDC, It is estimat-

ed that washing hands with soap

and water could:

Reduce diarrheal disease-

associated deaths by up to 50%.

A large percentage of foodborne

disease outbreaks are spread by

contaminated hands. Appropriate

hand washing practices can re-

duce the risk of foodborne illness

and other infections.

Handwashing can reduce the risk

of respiratory infections by 16 -

33%.

The use of an alcohol gel hand

sanitizer in the classroom provid-

ed an overall reduction in absen-

Page 3

their hands, only 50 percent of men

used soap, compared with 78 per-

cent of women. So, we don't do it

when we've got fully functioning bath-

rooms, running water, and soap

available - why not? What is it? Stud-

ies also found people were less likely

to wash their hands if the sink was

dirty, or in the latter part of the day.

But, people were more likely to wash

their hands if a sign encouraging

them to do so was present.

For no cost handwashing reminder

stickers mailed to you please contact

us at 518-270-2638 or email us at

jlee@rensco.com.

To learn more visit the Global Hand-

washing Partnership to and, well, go

wash your hands!

Sources: http://msutoday.msu.edu/_/pdf/assets/2013/hand-washing-study.pdf Sources: http://msutoday.msu.edu/news/2013/eww-only-5-percent-wash-hands-correctly/

An easy, effective, and affordable “do-it-yourself vaccine”

that prevents infections and saves lives.

It’s the Most Beautiful Invention in Public Health—Soap!

As your new County Executive, I appreciate being given the opportunity to

Classroom Supply Checklist School staff members may not view themselves as first responders, but when an incident occurs, they’re the first people able to take steps

to prevent or mitigate a threat. With the proper supplies, training and policies in place, staff members are empowered to take crucial steps

to respond to an emergency.

FEMA created an emergency kit checklist for classrooms.

That is listed below:

Clipboard with:

List of classroom students (and photo)

List of students with special needs & description of needs (i.e. medical issues, prescription medicines, dietary needs)

List of emergency procedures, including social media

Whistle & hat (or other identifier) for teacher

First aid supplies

First aid instruction manual

Medical gloves

Food

Water

The Department of Homeland Security recommends, and in some cases requires, all school management and incident response personnel

take NIMS, ICS, and NRF training courses. You can also use FEMA’s site to learn how to respond to specific emergencies like hurricanes.

Staying prepared is the best way to stay safe!

Battery-powered flashlight

Batteries

Blankets

Bucket

Work gloves

Breathing masks

Sanitary items (towelettes & toilet paper)

Plastic sheeting

Duct tape

Can opener

Hard candies

Student activities

https://www.campussafetymagazine.com/emergency/school-emergency-kit-checklist https://training.fema.gov/programs/emischool/el361toolkit/siteindex.htm#item10

4

Get help with your long term services and supports needs.

Ned Pattison Government Building

1600 Seventh Ave

2nd Floor

Troy, NY 12180

Phone: 518-270-2797

Fax: 518-270-2638

E-mail: JLee@Rensco.com

Rensselaer County Department of Health

Any questions or suggestions please send me an

email! JLee@rensco.com or give me a call at

518-270-2797.

Thank you,

Jennifer

Are You Ready, Rensselaer County?

Get a kit, make a plan, stay informed.

Contact your NY Connects

office: Tammy Childrose

518-270-2767

For people of all ages, any disability, and caregivers.

NY Connects can work with anyone who needs information on long

term services and supports - children or adults with

disabilities, older adults, family members and caregivers, friends

or neighbors, veterans, and helping professionals.

NY Connects can help you... Find care and support • Remain independent • Find transportation • Un-

derstand care options • Learn about supports in caregiving •

Find supported employment programs • Get answers about Medicare Ap-

ply for Medicaid and other benefits.

Connect to long term services and supports in your community Personal care services • Education and counseling • Health & wellness

Behavioral health supports and services • Intellectual/developmental

disability supports and services.

Visit us at

www.renco.com/publichealth.asp

Beyond 911: Other helpful numbers you need to know

211 - Public, health, and community services. www.211neny.org

411 - Directory assistance www.411.com

511 - Road and traffic conditions, weather, ridesharing, airport information. www.511ny.org

611 - From a mobile phone, connects to your service provider. On a landline, often tells you the number you are calling from.

711 - Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) for the speech and hearing impaired. http://www.nyrelay.com/blank-1

811 - Call before you dig number arranges for utilities to be located and marked. www.digsafelynewyork.com

911 - Emergency response. www.911.gov

of Rensselaer County (800) 342-9871 518-270-2767

Visit our website: www.nyconnects.ny.gov

Spring Clean Up: Create a Tick –Safe Zone to Reduce Ticks in the Yard

Source: www.cdc.gov/ticks/avoid/in_the_yard.html

Simple landscaping techniques can help reduce tick populations

Stack wood neatly and in a dry area (also discourages rodents).

Mow the lawn frequently.

Keep playgrounds, decks, and pati-os away from trees.

Fences discourage unwelcome ani-mals (such as deer & raccoons) from entering your yard.

Remove old furniture, mattresses, or trash from the yard!

The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station has developed a comprehensive Tick Management Handbook[PDF – 8.53 MB] for preventing tick bites. Here are some simple landscaping tech-niques that can help reduce tick popula-tions:

Remove leaf litter.

Clear tall grasses & brush around homes and at the edge of lawns.

Place a 3-ft wide barrier of wood chips or gravel between lawns and wooded areas to restrict tick migration into recreational areas.

8 chemical free ways to keep it safe