Somerset County Encourages Residents to Prioritize Safety Plans

(For Immediate Release – Somerset County): Emergencies can arise unexpectedly, but being prepared can make all the difference to you, your family, and friends.

In honor of National Preparedness Month in September, the Somerset County Board of County Commissioners and the Somerset County Public Health & Safety Department are encouraging residents to prioritize their emergency preparedness strategies.

“Planning ahead is the key to safety,” said Somerset County Commissioner Elizabeth Graner, liaison to Somerset County Public Health & Safety. “By thinking through the challenges and taking steps to prepare now, it will help you feel more in control when you’re faced with an emergency situation.”

To assist residents and enhance public safety, the Somerset County Office of Emergency Management, Somerset County Department of Health, and the Somerset County 911 Communications Center have jointly compiled a comprehensive list of actionable measures to consider before, during, and after an emergency.

BEFORE AN EMERGENCY

Somerset County advises residents to make an emergency plan, sign up for alerts, and pack a to-go kit.

“We will never stop disasters, but we can arm ourselves with knowledge,” said Lisa Werner, director of the Somerset County Office of Emergency Management. “In our experience, most people do not do the basics to prepare themselves, like sign up for county and municipal emergency alerts, and have an emergency plan. The mindset of ‘it won’t happen to me’ is dangerous. Being prepared saves lives.”

Make a Plan: An emergency plan should include communication strategies, emergency contacts, an out-of-town contact that family can call, a designated safe meeting location outside of the neighborhood for larger disasters, and a plan for pets.

Residents with disabilities or access and functional needs can choose to sign up for Register Ready, New Jersey’s Special Needs Registry for disasters. The information will only be used by first responders to better plan and serve them during an emergency response.

Somerset County 911 Communications wants all residents to know that they can create a profile with Smart911. Residents can choose what details to share, including information about their home, vehicle, and emergency contacts. 911 dispatchers will only use this information to help Police, Fire, and EMS locate and help you during an emergency.

Pack a To-Go Kit: A pre-packed kit of emergency supplies can be useful at home or conveniently taken on the go if you must leave suddenly.

“Severe weather can happen at any time, but you can prepare for it by taking simple steps to protect your family’s health,” said Himanshi Bhatt, director of the Somerset County Department of Health. “One important thing that residents can do is prepare a to-go kit.”

A basic list of emergency supplies includes:

• Ready-to-eat food – a three days’ supply is recommended.
• Non-electric can opener and utensils.
• Water – a three days’ supply is recommended; three gallons of water per family member.
• Battery-operated Radio and extra batteries.
• Flashlight and extra batteries.
• Prescription and nonprescription medication.
• Cash or travelers checks.
• Personal toiletries.
• First aid kit.
• Special needs supplies for infants, older adults, or people with disabilities.
• Cell phone, a pre-charged backup battery, and charging cords.

Sign up for Alerts: Find out which mass notification system your municipality uses to issue emergency alerts and subscribe to it. To sign up for Somerset County emergency alerts, visit: https://www.somersetcountynj.gov/about/emergency-alerts.

DURING A DISASTER

Stay informed: Check for emergency alerts, monitor local government social media sites, and review your town’s website for news. Listen to local news stations and weather updates.

Power outage? Contact your utility to notify them and to learn about area repair schedules. Try to keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed to prevent food from spoiling. Operate generators safely to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Only use generators outdoors and at least 20 feet away from your home. CDC Generator Safety Fact Sheet.

911 Communications: Call 911 in life-threatening situations like medical emergencies, fires, crimes in progress, etc.

“In the midst of a crisis, when every second counts, it can be difficult to think clearly,” said Kristen Christiansen, deputy director of Somerset County 911 Communications. “We ask residents to do your best to stay calm and answer the dispatcher’s questions so we can get help to you as quickly as possible.”

“Residents can also help first responders by only calling or texting 911 in life-threatening emergencies,” said Christiansen. “For example, do not call 911 to report a power outage, ask for traffic updates, or to get general information.”

AFTER AN EMERGENCY

Stay Informed: Continue to stay informed to learn about health and safety alerts and available community resources.

Food Safety: When in doubt, throw it out! Throw away any perishable food in your refrigerator after 4 hours without power. Throw out any food that has an unusual odor, color, or texture. CDC: Eat Safe Food after a Power Outage.

Medication Safety: Consult your doctor or pharmacist if you are concerned about medications having been spoiled.

BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER EMERGENCY RESOURCES:

• CDC Food Safety: www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/pdfs/eat_safe-r5-infographic2-h.pdf
• CDC Generator Safety Fact Sheet: https://www.cdc.gov/carbon-monoxide/factsheets/generator-safety-fact-sheet.html
• New Jersey Office of Emergency Management (NJOEM) emergency plans and kits: https://nj.gov/njoem/plan-prepare/your-kit-plan.shtml
• Ready.gov guidelines for emergency kits: https://www.ready.gov/kit
• NJOEM Prepare for Floods: https://nj.gov/njoem/plan-prepare/floods.shtml
• NJOEM Staying Informed: https://nj.gov/njoem/plan-prepare/staying-informed.shtml
• NJOEM Don’t forget pets: https://nj.gov/njoem/plan-prepare/pets.shtml
• NJ Special Needs Registry: https://nj.gov/njoem/plan-prepare/access-functional-needs.shtml
• Smart911: https://www.smart911.com/
• Somerset County Animal Response Team
• Somerset County Emergency Alerts: https://www.somersetcountynj.gov/about/emergency-alerts

To learn more about Somerset County, register for free email alerts at somersetcountynj.gov/subscribe or follow us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and YouTube.

About Somerset County

The County of Somerset is committed to excellence and innovation in public service, promoting the well-being of all residents and communities by providing effective, efficient, and responsive leadership.

About Somerset County Emergency Management

The Somerset County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) works closely with municipal, state, and federal agencies to coordinate emergency planning, response and recovery programs. It encompasses the Emergency Services Training Academy, Emergency Medical Services Coordination, Animal Response Team, Community Emergency Response Team, Fire Coordination, Hazardous Materials Response Team, Incident Support Team, and Rescue Task Force.

About Somerset County Department of Health

The Somerset County Department of Health (SCDOH) promotes, protects, and enhances the health of our community through public health leadership, proactive planning and partnerships, and the advancement of public health services with health equity. SCDOH provides and supports essential public health services to our contracted communities, as well as services throughout the County and the region. SCDOH is the lead agency responsible for countywide Public Health emergency planning and response activities.

About Somerset County 911 Communications Center

The Somerset County 911 Communications Center directs and coordinates the emergency and non-emergency communication of the County Next Generation 911 Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) for 50+ agencies in Somerset and Middlesex Counties to provide emergency medical, police and fire dispatch.

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