New York state will resume later this week training courses for its Citizen Preparedness Corps as the hurricane season is taking shape.

Training for the program was halted in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The corps has been in place since 2014 and was created as a way to help train New Yorkers to respond to a variety of disasters and emergencies as well as help with the aftermath.

"New York is no stranger to climate disasters and weather emergencies that require local emergency response agencies and the general public to be on alert and prepared," Gov. Kathy Hochul said. "Since day one, my administration has been laser-focused on keeping New Yorkers safe, and I am proud to announce the return of the Citizen Preparedness Corps training program, which empowers New Yorkers to stay informed and be prepared for anything Mother Nature throws our way."

Since its inception eight years ago, nearly 350,000 New York residents have been trained through the corps program to help them with disaster response and recovery.

The state is set to hold five training courses in the coming weeks, including events at the State Fair from Aug. 28 to Aug. 30, one on Long Island on Sept. 13 and a fifth in Riverhead that is yet to be scheduled.

Training will include responses to life-threatening emergencies and how families can develop plans and stock up for emergency supplies.

New York is no stranger to increasingly extreme weather events. Last year, parts of the New York City area were inundated with sudden floods following the remnants of a hurricane passing through the region.

New York City was slammed by a strong hurricane in 2012, while parts of upstate faced devastation as well in the wake of storms Irene and Lee.