Steuben County Kicks Off Ready Steuben Web Site

The Steuben County Office of Emergency Services in conjunction with Steuben County Citizens Corps, the Greater Steuben Chapter of the American Red Cross, Steuben County Public Health and Nursing Service, Steuben County RSVP, 211 Helpline and the Institute for Human Services has developed a new in-depth web site to assist citizens with their disaster readiness.  According to Timothy Marshall, Deputy Director of Emergency Services, “This new website will be a single location for all things preparedness.”   The website www.readysteuben.com will focuses on the four key elements of disaster preparedness; Make a Plan, Get a Kit, Be Informed and Get Involved. 

The website was developed to provide specific information to four different segments of the Steuben County population including families, businesses, schools and those with special needs.  The website offers such information as, how to develop an emergency plan and what types of supplies an individual would need to fill an emergency kit.  “There are links to an enormous amount of resources from the Local, State and National levels,” stated Marshall.  “It is a location that we hope county residents will turn to if they are looking to protect their homes and families from emergencies.  This should be a site you visit before a disaster happens not when you need the help.”  The site also offers information to various different hazards that can affect our region.  According to Michael Sprague, Steuben County Emergency Services Director, “The Be Informed page should provide residents with great information about the types of emergencies we encounter in Steuben County.  From flooding to fact sheets, pet safety to power outages this section should provide citizens with some great information.”  

Photo content for the web site was provided by the county as well as help from The Leader Newspaper in Corning.  “The thing I think is most important is that most of all the photos are of local disasters and this only points out the need for preparedness,” said Kathleen Burns, Impact Program Specialist from Steuben County RSVP and Coordinator of the Steuben County Citizen Corps Program.   The website was funded with grant money allocated from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security administrated by the New York State Office of Emergency Management.  The website was developed with assistance from the Institute for Human Services Technology Services Department.  “This venture was a great partnership and we are grateful to be part of such an important project,” stated Patrick Rogers, Executive Director of the Institute for Human Services.