Emergency Preparedness
Make a plan, build an emergency kit, and find trusted resources through 211 New York State.
During a disaster, 211 community resource specialists are here to help you find trusted, non-emergency support—including shelter and housing options, food and supplies, evacuation and transportation guidance, and recovery assistance.
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Call 211, text your ZIP code to 898211 for local services and updates.
Before a Disaster
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Get ready now: make a plan, build an emergency kit, take a citizen preparedness class & stay informed with alerts and updates, and connect with community groups and local organizations so you know where to turn if conditions change quickly.
Emergency Kit Basics: Home, Car & Go-Bag
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Water + food: water and non-perishable food (plus a manual can opener)
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First aid + hygiene: first aid supplies, hand sanitizer, wipes, toiletries, feminine care products
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Light + power: flashlight/headlamp, extra batteries, phone charger/power bank
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Communication: battery/hand-crank radio, printed emergency contacts
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Documents + cash: copies of IDs/insurance, some cash in small bills
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Warmth + shelter: blankets, extra clothes, rain gear
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Tools + safety: multi-tool, whistle, duct tape, basic supplies
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Medications + medical needs: prescriptions/backup meds, inhalers, EpiPens, insulin/testing supplies, glasses/contacts, basic medical device supplies
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Pet supplies (if applicable): pet food, leash/carrier, bowls, copies of vet records
STAY INFORMED AND CONNECTED
Access vital information on staying safe, mental health support, and emergency contact numbers specific to New York State.
Mental Health
Mental Health During a Disaster: Disasters and other traumatic events can push people past their usual coping skills. It’s common to feel anxious, on edge, fearful, irritable, numb, overwhelmed, or hopeless—sometimes right away, sometimes days or weeks later.
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Know the signs that it’s time to reach out: trouble sleeping, panic, constant worry, big mood changes, withdrawing from others, increased substance use, or feeling like you can’t manage daily tasks. If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or needs crisis support, call or text 988 anytime to connect with a trained counselor. If you’re struggling with disaster-related distress, you can also contact the SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990 (call or text).
SAMHSA: The Disaster Distress Helpline (DDH) is the first national hotline dedicated to providing year-round disaster crisis counseling. This toll-free, multilingual, crisis support service is available 24/7 to all residents in the U.S. and its territories who are experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters.
Disaster Distress Helpline: 1-800-985-5990
The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) oversees a large multi-faceted mental health system serving nearly 800,000 individuals each year. This includes operating 23 psychiatric centers and overseeing the Nathan S. Kline Institute and New York Psychiatric Institute. OMH regulates and certifies more than 6,500 programs operated by local governments and nonprofit agencies.
For questions about mental health services, to find a mental health service provider or to make a complaint, call OMH Customer Relations toll-free at the number above.
​Office of Mental Health: 1-800-597-8481
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline connects you to trained crisis counselors 24/7. They can help anyone thinking about suicide, struggling with substance use, experiencing a mental health crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress. You can also call, text or chat 988 if you are worried about someone you care about who may need crisis support.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
​Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence: If You are Unsafe in Your Relationship, Reach Out to an Advocate Any Time, Day or Night. Chat, text and calls are completely confidential; secure and private; staffed by professionals who can help; available 7 days/week, 24 hours per day.
Domestic Violence Call 800-942-6906,
Text 844-997-2121
Learn More
Learn more about common emergency situations and the quick, practical steps that can protect you and your home—before, during, and after an event. These guides cover what to do right away—check alerts, limit travel, and follow evacuation instructions—plus how to reduce risks at home, like preventing frozen pipes and securing heavy items, and key safety tips for power outages, flooding, and wildfire smoke. If you’re stuck in winter weather, remember: never run a car in deep snow unless the tailpipe is clear—exhaust can build up quickly and lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.​
New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES), The Red Cross, and Ready.gov provide information on how to prepare for emergency situations.
Winter Weather Safety
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Check alerts/forecast
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Limit travel
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Dress in layers
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Pack warm supplies
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Charge power-bank, phone
Preventing Frozen Pipes
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Keep heat steady
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Drip faucets
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Open sink cabinets
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Insulate exposed pipes
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Know shutoff valve
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Learn More ​​
Power Outage
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Charge devices early
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Use flashlights (no candles)
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Run generator outside only
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Keep fridge/freezer closed
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Check on neighbors/pets
Earthquake Safety
Earthquake Safety
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Drop, Cover, Hold On
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Move from windows
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Secure heavy items
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Expect aftershocks
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Go to open area outside
Extreme Heat
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Drink water often
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Use A/C or cooling center
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Check on neighbors/pets
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Keep fridge closed
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Generator outside only
Wildfire Safety
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Pack a go-bag
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Clear brush/gutters
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Know evac routes
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Keep smoke outside
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Wear N95 if outdoors
Flood Safety
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Don’t drive through water
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Avoid walking in floodwater
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Move items up high
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Follow evac orders
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Stay away from power lines
Home Fires
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Install smoke alarms
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Test alarms monthly
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Keep exits clear
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Practice escape plan
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Keep extinguisher handy
Carbon Monoxide Saftey
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Install CO alarms
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Test alarms monthly
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Run generators outside
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Don’t idle cars in garages
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Get fresh air if symptoms​​
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: Seek Urgent Care
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Fainting or seizures
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Confusion or not waking
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Chest pain or trouble breathing
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Symptoms get worse indoors
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Multiple people/pets sick
Gas Leaks
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Leave if you smell gas
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Don’t use switches/flames
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Get outside (safe distance)
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Call 911/utility outside
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Don’t re-enter until cleared
Gas Leak: Seek Urgent Help
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Strong gas smell indoors
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Hissing near pipes
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Dizziness or nausea
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Dead plants/bubbles outside
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Headache or confusion
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Everyone feels sick fast
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Leave + call 911/utility
Boil Water Advisory
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Use bottled/boiled water
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Boil 1 minute (then cool)
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Use for cooking/teeth
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Avoid ice from tap water
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Follow local updates
Boil Water Advisory: Seek Urgent Care
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Bloody diarrhea or high fever
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Severe dehydration signs
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Symptoms last 2+ days
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Infant/elderly/pregnant
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Immunocompromised illness
Post Disaster & Recovery
After a disaster, a 211 Community Resource Specialist can help you find trusted, non-emergency help—fast. A trained specialist can share up-to-date local services for housing, food, clean-up help, replacing important documents, and reliable information about recovery programs.
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Since every disaster is different, the services available may change—211 can tell you what support is currently available and how to access it.
Start Here
211 Community Resource Specialists Can Help You
Find Information On:
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Housing & shelter: emergency shelter, temporary housing, rental help
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Food & essentials: food, water, diapers, dry ice, and other supplies​
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Clean-up & repairs: debris removal, mold info, home repair help
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Financial help: benefits screening, local assistance programs
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Health & counseling: crisis counseling referrals and recovery supports
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Replacing documents: ID, insurance, and vital records guidance
Long-Term Recovery:
COADs, VOADs & Disaster Case Management
COADs (Community Organizations Active in Disaster) coordinate the collective recovery activities of community partners to support survivors and communities with unmet needs related to a disaster— help like case management, home repairs, donations management, and other support after the immediate response ends and into the long-term recovery phase.
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​​COADs follow the VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster) movement’s promotion of Cooperation, Communication, Coordination, and Collaboration to more effectively deliver services to those affected by disaster.
Long-term recovery can take months or even years. Disaster Case Management supports long-term recovery and may be available from a COAD member or local community organization
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TIP: Call 211 or text your ZIP code to 898211 to get connected to local resources near you.
Three Key Numbers
Know the difference: call 911 for immediate danger or when you need police, fire, or medical responders right away; call or text 988 for a mental health crisis—including thoughts of self-harm or overwhelming emotional distress; and contact 211 for non-emergency help, like finding local services (food, housing, utilities) and trusted information and recovery resources during disasters.
Emergency Response
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Immediate danger
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Medical, fire, crime
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Dispatches responders
Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
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Emotional distress
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Mental Health struggles
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Alcohol or drug use concerns
Non-Emergency Help
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Find local services
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Food, shelter, housing
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Disaster recovery