Precautions all over the East Coast are being made in anticipation of Hurricane Sandy, or what some are referring to as a historic "Frankenstorm." Officials are urging residents to stock up on food, water and batteries, some residents in low-lying and waterfront properties are being evacuated, and New York's Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that the city's subway, commuter rail and bus services will be suspended starting Sunday night, EST.
But what do we do on an individual level to prepare for a disaster? After last year's Hurricane Irene and a rare New York City earthquake, the Center for Urban Pedagogy (CUP) and students in College Now—a program designed to prepare New York's public high school students for success in college—interviewed insurance mavens, city and federal disaster planners, and environmental justice organizations to understand what disaster planning looks like on a community level.
Out of those conversations came the booklet, Are You Ready for a Ruckus, a tool for individuals and community organizations who’d like to start thinking about community preparedness, what that might look like, and why it matters. They help answer the bigger questions like: Will you be ready if a disaster strikes? What about your neighborhood? Who’s responsible for making a plan for your community?
The booklet, available as a free download here, will help anyone prepare for when the next disaster strikes your city, whether it be a Frankenstorm or not.