As the number of natural disasters rises across the nation, the Department of Homeland Security wants Americans to be prepared for when a disaster strikes, no matter where you live.

“This is really the nerve center of how we monitor what’s happening out there,” said New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray, as she passed through a non-activated Emergency Operation Center on Thursday.

When activated, multiple state agencies and other organizations huddle together in the logistical operations space, making calls on distributing resources and coordinating communication with the press and New Yorkers.

Although the space was quiet, the state’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services was busy keeping an eye on Hurricane Lee.

“We’ve been hosting coordination calls, both with state agencies but also with Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester counties and New York City,” Bray said.

The impacts are expected to be minimal, but it’s all in the name of preparedness during what happens to be National Preparedness Month.

“We all need to prepare for a worst-case scenario,” Bray said.

The country recently experienced its 23rd billion-dollar disaster of the year, a record.

“I think Americans and New Yorkers are all feeling something has changed,” Bray said. “We’re all watching really extreme weather and other extreme events play out across the country and across the globe, really.”

It’s why the commissioner preaches preparedness year-round with the division, offering Citizen Preparedness Corps events.

“We’ve trained over 365,000 New Yorkers,” she said. “This month, we’re focusing on training seniors, older adults.”

The training helps participants prepare for adversity, beyond severe weather.

“Also biological hazards, cyberattacks and violence in communities,” Bray said.

When people complete the training, they leave with an emergency kit packed full of supplies. 


“Things that might help you stay safe in the event local first responders couldn’t get to you, and you needed to stay safe on a couple days on your own,” Bray said.