Southern District of New York Makes September "Disaster Preparedness Month"

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York observed September as “Disaster Preparedness Month,” with events to raise awareness of emergency planning.

“Because our court has lived through so many different types of crises, from the attacks of 9/11 to Hurricane Sandy, we are particularly cognizant of the need to be ready for every situation,” said Chief Judge Chief Judge Loretta A. Preska.  “Recognizing the ‘all hazards’ concept allows us to prepare fully for a variety of circumstances, whether natural or human-generated.”

Groups of jurors in White Plains and Manhattan heard from Judge Preska and Judge Cathy Seibel about the importance of planning for emergencies. The American Red Cross provided court staff with personal preparedness training and judges, court employees, and jurors in both Manhattan and White Plains received informational handouts on what it means to be prepared at work and at home. In November, the court will participate in a full-scale test of pandemic procedures and a comprehensive FEMA disaster drill.

“The goal of this month is to remind ourselves of the systems in place to protect us,” said Judge Seibel. "It's never pleasant to think about potential disasters, but preparedness is an important and worthwhile endeavor, both in the workplace and at home.”