Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz and the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) recently announced five special training sessions will be held later this month for local residents to learn how to properly prepare for any type of disaster.

The New York Citizen Preparedness Training Program will provide attendees the knowledge and tools to prepare for emergencies and disasters, respond accordingly, and recover as quickly as possible to pre-disaster conditions. New York National Guard troops, working with experts from the DHSES along with local emergency management personnel, will hold classes across the state, including the five sessions scheduled in Erie County.

“This program will cover a broad range of emergency preparedness topics and provide guidance on how to develop a family emergency plan, what emergency supplies should be acquired prior to a disaster and other important tips and reminders,” said Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz. “Following the two intense winter weather events we experienced last year, these training sessions should be something that residents of Erie County consider attending. The information that will be provided will prove to be invaluable should an emergency situation or disaster strike our region in the future.”

“Buffalo & Erie County Public Libraries are pleased to provide the space needed for these special training sessions,” said Library Director John Spears. “We believe in the importance of helping to build and continuing to strengthen our community and utilizing our facilities in urban, suburban, and rural neighborhoods provides convenient and accessible locations for our patrons to learn more about severe weather events and how to be prepared for a wide variety of disasters.”

All participants will receive a training certificate and a wallet-sized “Z-Card” listing specific emergency preparedness information. Each household represented will also be eligible to bring home one “Preparedness Kit” bookbag full of emergency supplies.

Details on the local training events are as follows:

Saturday, May 20

10:30am to 12:30pm

Grand Island Memorial Library

1715 Bedell Road, Grand Island

Sunday, May 21

1pm to 3pm

Buffalo & Erie County Central Public Library

1 Lafayette Square, Buffalo

Tuesday, May 23

5pm to 7pm

Town of Collins Public Library

2341 Main St., Collins

Wednesday, May 24

5:30pm to 7:30pm

Frank E. Merriweather Jr. Branch Library

1324 Jefferson Ave., Buffalo

Saturday, May 27

11am to 1pm

Lancaster Public Library

5466 Broadway, Lancaster

All participants must register in advance.

For information on how to register, visit www.dhses.ny.gov

For more information:

About the New York State Citizen Preparedness Corps, visit www.prepare.ny.gov

About the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library System, visit www.buffalolib.org