CARMEL, NY— This September, as National Emergency Preparedness Month begins, the Putnam County Legislature recognized the county’s Medical Reserve Corps volunteers as the organization celebrates its 20^th anniversary. For two long decades, the volunteers of the MRC, as it is commonly known, have served the county’s residents. Members, who come from all walks of life and careers, have shown a ready willingness and dedication to support the health department through a myriad of challenges, both large and small.

            “Our Medical Reserve Corps volunteers have demonstrated unwavering commitment to the residents of our county over the past twenty years,” said Kevin Byrne, Putnam County Executive. “They have served our community in times of its greatest need. They have built our resilience and strengthened our county’s public health emergency capabilities. As a volunteer organization they provide an unmatched monetary and economic value to the county, and they achieve this by working seamlessly with staff at the health department, our Bureau of Emergency Services, law enforcement and other county agencies. Simply put, they help ensure we are ready for whatever challenges may arise.”

Michael J. Nesheiwat, MD, the county’s interim health commissioner, agreed, adding, “From the H1N1 flu pandemic in 2009, to the most consequential pandemic of our times, these volunteers are instrumental in our ability to respond to emergencies. This program and their efforts are most effective when individual residents also take the time and take actions to be prepared. When everyone’s efforts come together, we are much safer and stronger than we would be otherwise.”

            To encourage individuals to act and make an emergency plan is the rationale behind the annual observance of National Preparedness Month, spearheaded each fall by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, known as FEMA.

“We want to raise individual and collective awareness—and action—toward thinking about and preparing for emergency situations,” said Connie Bueti, MPH, the health department’s emergency preparedness coordinator. “There is a lot of valuable information online, and the best, most comprehensive place to start is FEMA’s user-friendly site Ready.gov.”

From the Ready.gov landing page, there is access to targeted emergency information for specific challenges, including flooding, severe weather, hurricanes, and extreme heat. There is a section for older adults and the special concerns they face, and a Build-a-Kit section which provides access to a simple emergency supply list in nearly a dozen languages.

For Putnam specific information and alerts, NY Alert is a free service that provides critical information and emergency alerts on local situations. Being able to access information in real time, as it evolves, is key for individuals as well as county staff, partners and emergency crews, and NY Alert is completely free for everyone. When someone signs up, they can decide what type of information to receive and whether by phone, email, text, or fax. Those who enroll in NY Alert can receive critical information and local emergency alerts in real time.

Carla Taylor, who assists with the MRC program locally is impressed by Putnam’s volunteers, “I have both been a volunteer and coordinated volunteers, and Putnam County’s MRC volunteers immediately stood out for their commitment to continued growth and learning. They collaborate, train, keep their skills current and are eager to support the work of our health department at community education events, flu clinics and more.”

Volunteers of all backgrounds are wanted and do not need to have any healthcare experience. The MRC needs interpreters/translators, clerical, data entry and computer support, and logistical assistance, in addition to medical professionals,. For information on becoming a volunteer with the Medical Reserve Corps, visit: https://www.putnamcountyny.gov/mrc

The mission of the Putnam County Department of Health is to improve and protect the health of the Putnam County community. The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) through 2029, serves a community composed of nearly 100,000 residents. Core services are provided through a lens of equity, and include community health assessment, disease surveillance and control, emergency preparedness, environmental health protection, family health promotion and health education. For more information, please visit the County website at www.putnamcountyny.gov, or visit our social media sites on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter) and Instagram @PutnamHealthNY.