Be Ready NYC

1. Have a Plan

• • Create an emergency support network
  • Write down your health and medical information
  • Pick a meeting place for your family.
  • Write down phone numbers. Don't rely only on your cell phone.
  • Plan for children, older adults, people with disabilities, and pets.
  • Practice your plan.
  • Review your insurance. Standard policies may not cover flood or wind damage.

Get the full plan: Complete the Ready New York: My Emergency Plan workbook at nyc.gov/readyny. Available in 13 languages and audio.

2. Gather Supplies
   
   Go Bag (for leaving quickly):

• Water and food that won't spoil

• copy your prescription and put it in your bag, or write down the essential meds with dosages and keep that list in the Go Bag.
• Important papers in waterproof bags
• Flashlight, radio, batteries, chargers, first aid kit
• Pet supplies: food, water, leash, crate, vaccination records
  
  Home Kit (for staying home, 7 days):

• 1 gallon of water per person per day
• Food that doesn't need cooking
• First aid kit
• Extra clothes and blankets

3. Stay Informed
   
   Sign up for Notify NYC—the City's free alert system:

• Go to nyc.gov/notifynyc or call 311
• Text NOTIFYNYC to 692-692 for English
• Text NOTIFYNYCES to 692-692 for Spanish
• Text NOTIFYNYCFRE to 692-692 for French
• Available in 13 languages, including American Sign Language
  
  Turn on phone alerts:

• iPhone: Settings → Notifications → Government Alerts → turn on Emergency and Public Safety alerts
• Android: Settings → Safety & Emergency → Wireless Emergency Alerts → turn on Extreme and Severe alerts
  
  Note for organizations: Groups that support people with disabilities and access needs should enroll in the NYCEM Advance Warning System.

Extreme heat is the deadliest weather emergency in New York City, linked to over 500 deaths a year. Air conditioning is the best protection. Hot weather strains the body and can make health problems worse. It can raise your core temperature and lead to heat stroke or organ failure. Because of climate change, dangerously hot weather is happening more often and lasting longer.

Who is most at risk: Older adults, infants, people with health conditions, outdoor workers, people who live alone, and anyone without air conditioning. 

Before Extreme Heat

• Know your risks. Are you in a high-risk group?
• Get/Apply for a free air conditioner through HEAP if you qualify. Supplies are limited. Call 311 to sign up.
• Find Cool Options: malls, libraries, cafes, or City Cooling Centers. Call 311 or visit nyc.gov/beattheheat to find one near you.
• Prepare your home. Use blackout curtains. Clean your AC.
• Register with your utility company if you rely on medical equipment for priority power restoration in the event of a power outage.
• Keep backup batteries and other ways to power devices.
• Store medications in a cool place. Check if any need refrigeration.
• Make sure service animals have water and cool rest areas.
• Sign up for Notify NYC.

During Extreme Heat

Indoors:

• Set AC to 78°F or the highest comfortable temperature.
• Stay in one cool room to save energy.
• Use high energy consuming appliances only in early morning or late evening whenever possible.
• Fans alone will not lower your body’s core temperature  once it reaches 90°F indoors.
• If you don’t have access to air conditioning, visit a NYC Cool Option.
• Cool Options are private places like a friend or family member’s home, a café, a museum, or a mall, or a public place like an official NYC Cooling Center, which are libraries and other spaces with air conditioning. Visit nyc.gov/beattheheat.

Outdoors:

• Avoid strenous physical activity.
• Take frequent breaks from the heat.
• Wear light clothes, use sunscreen, stay hydrated, stay in shade.

Stay hydrated:

• Drink water often, even if you are not thirsty.
• Replace/Increase your intake of  electrolytes with sports drinks if active or sweating heavily.

Check on others:

• Check in on older adults and neighbors without AC.
• Never leave children, adults, or pets in cars.
• Provide shade and water for your pets. Protect their paws from walking on sidewalks.

Know the signs of heat stroke:

• Extremely high body temperature (above 103°F).
• Red, hot, dry skin with no sweat.
• Rapid, strong pulse.
• Dizziness, confusion, or unconsciousness.
• Call 911 immediately - heat stroke is a medical emergency.

After Extreme Heat

• Keep checking on vulnerable neighbors.
• Turn off lights and appliances you don't need.
• Stay alert. Heat deaths happen even after heat waves end, as symptoms of extreme heat may take longer to appear in some individuals. Homes may also take longer to cool during the overnight hours.

Thunderstorms can bring heavy rain, strong winds, hail, and lightning. High winds — even without rain — can knock down trees and power lines, damage buildings, and send debris flying at dangerous speeds. In rare cases, severe thunderstorms can also produce tornadoes.

Who is most at risk: People who are outdoors, especially in open areas or near trees and power lines. People near scaffolding or construction sites. People on higher floors or in rooms with large windows. Anyone who needs extra time or help to move to a safer spot indoors. People in mobile homes, RVs, or temporary structures, which offer little protection from high winds or tornadoes. People in basement apartments (heavy rain can cause sudden flooding — see our Flash Floods & Excessive Rainfall section for more)

Before Thunderstorms, Heavy Winds & Tornadoes

• Sign up for alerts. Visit nyc.gov/notifynyc or text NYC to 692-692 to get weather alerts sent directly to your phone.
• Know your plan. During a thunderstorm or high winds, ff you live in a basement or ground-floor apartment, decide now where you will go if conditions get bad — a neighbor on a higher floor, a nearby public building, or a friend or family member's home.
• Secure loose items. Bring in or tie down anything that could blow away — trash cans, lawn furniture, plant pots, and umbrellas. This includes items on balconies, rooftops, and patios. At job sites, secure tools, cones, boards, and barriers.
• Protect your home. Unplug electronics or use surge protectors to prevent damage from lightning. Make sure your basement exits are clear and easy to open.
• Get your Go Bag ready. Keep a bag near your door or bed with: medications, a flashlight, batteries, a portable phone charger, important documents in waterproof bags, and other essentials.

During Thunderstorms, Heavy Winds & Tornadoes

• Call 911 if you are in immediate danger or see a life-threatening situation.
• If you hear thunder, go inside. Get into a sturdy building and stay there.
• Move away from windows. Go to an interior room on a lower floor. Stay away from glass doors, porches, balconies, and rooftops. Do not touch electrical equipment or plumbing (sinks, showers, or baths) during a thunderstorm. Avoid corded phones.
• If a Severe Thunderstorm Watch or Warning, or High Wind Watch or Warning is issued, go to your safe indoor spot and stay there until the warning expires. If you are in a mobile home or temporary structure, leave immediately and go to the nearest sturdy building. These structures are not safe in severe conditions, even if they are secured.
• If you cannot get indoors, stay away from trees, power lines, scaffolding, open fields, and bodies of water. If a tornado is approaching and you have no shelter, lie flat in a low-lying area, cover your head, and stay away from trees and vehicles.
• If you must drive, slow down and allow extra travel time. Never drive through standing water or around barricades. If a tornado is nearby, do not try to outrun it in a car — get out and seek sturdy shelter immediately.
• If a Tornado Warning is issued for your area, take shelter immediately:
  Go to the lowest floor of a sturdy building — a basement is best. If there is no basement, go to a small interior room with no windows, such as a bathroom, closet, or hallway on the lowest floor. Get under something sturdy if you can, and protect your head and neck. Do not wait to see the tornado before you act — by the time it is visible, it may already be too late to move safely.

After Thunderstorms, High Winds, or Tornadoes

• Stay away from downed power lines. Treat every downed line as live and dangerous. Do not approach, touch, or drive over them. Call 911 immediately if a downed line is near people or poses an immediate danger.
• Watch out for fallen trees and branches. Do not walk under or near trees that have partially fallen or have large hanging branches — they can come down without warning. If you see a fallen tree or dangerous branch on a street, sidewalk, or in a park, call 311 to report it. If a tree has fallen on a person, a vehicle with someone inside, or a building and poses an immediate threat, call 911.
• Secure and report loose objects. After a storm, unsecured items like trash cans, signs, scaffolding materials, and construction debris can still be unstable or create hazards. If you see something dangerous on public property — a loose sign, an unsecured construction barrier, or debris blocking a street — call 311. If it poses an immediate risk to life, call 911.
• Watch where you walk. Look out for broken glass, loose debris, and anything that may still be falling from buildings or trees. After a tornado, avoid damaged structures until they are inspected — walls and roofs can collapse without warning.
• Check your home for damage. If you smell gas, hear hissing, or see a broken gas line, leave immediately and call 911 from a safe location. Do not turn on lights or appliances in a flooded basement until a qualified professional says it is safe.
• Check on your neighbors. After a storm, check on elderly neighbors, people with disabilities, and anyone who may need extra help — especially if power is out or conditions outside are still hazardous.
• Keep monitoring alerts. Check Notify NYC and local news for information about additional storms, street closures, and safety updates.  

Flooding can happen anywhere it rains. Flash flooding is especially dangerous because it happens fast — heavy rain overwhelms drainage systems, water fills streets and low-lying areas, and there is often very little warning. Excessive rainfall is different: it is prolonged, heavy rain that accumulates over hours, gradually saturating the ground, overwhelming the city's sewer system, and causing flooding that can persist long after the rain stops. Both are dangerous. Both can happen in the same storm.

In New York City, basements, below-grade, and underground spaces are particularly vulnerable to both. Water can rise faster than you expect and faster than you can safely react.

Who is most at risk: People who live in basement apartments or below-ground units — flooding can block exits and rise faster than you can react, even during slow-building rainfall events. People in low-lying neighborhoods or areas that have flooded before. People in vehicles, especially near underpasses, tunnels, or low-lying roads. Anyone using the subway during heavy rain. Anyone who needs extra time or help to move to a higher floor or safer location.

Before a Flash Flood or Excessive Rainfall Event

Sign up for alerts. Visit nyc.gov/notifynyc. When you sign up, if you live in a basement apartment, select the basement apartment alert option. This makes sure you get flood warnings that apply specifically to where you live. If you are deaf or hard of hearing, make sure your phone is set to vibrate and/or flash for emergency alerts, and consider asking a neighbor to check on you when flood warnings are issued.

Know your risk. If you live in a basement, ground-floor apartment, or a neighborhood that has flooded before, you are at higher risk. Do not wait for water to enter before you act — by then, it may be too late to leave safely. This is true even during slower rainfall events: water can accumulate gradually and then rise very quickly once it enters a space.

Make a plan now. Decide in advance where you will go if your home starts to flood — a neighbor on a higher floor, a nearby public building, or a friend or family member's home. Know more than one way out of your home and make sure exits like basement doors and windows are clear and easy to open. If you use a mobility device or need help to evacuate, identify a specific person — a neighbor, family member, or building staff — who can assist you before flooding begins. Do not wait until water is entering to ask for help. If you rely on a home health aide or caregiver, include them in your emergency plan and know in advance what you will do if they cannot reach you during a storm.

Install a water alarm or flood sensor. Small water alarms that alert you when water is detected on the floor are widely available for around $10–15. If you live in a basement or a flood-prone area, placing one near basement drains or low-lying areas can give you critical early warning — especially overnight or during slow-building rain events when you may not notice water entering until it is already dangerous.

Clear drains, gutters, and stairwells before storms. Remove debris from around basement windows, stairwell drains, and gutters so water can flow freely. This matters especially before prolonged rain events, when drainage systems are more likely to back up over time.

Get flood insurance. Standard renter and homeowner insurance policies do not cover flood damage. If you rent or own in a flood-prone area, ask your insurance provider about separate flood coverage.

Register if you rely on powered medical equipment. Contact your utility provider. Keep backup batteries charged and accessible.

Get your Go Bag ready. Keep a bag near your door or bed with: medications, a flashlight, batteries, a portable phone charger, and important documents in waterproof bags. If you use a powered mobility device, hearing aid, or other assistive technology, include extra batteries or a charger for that device. Bring copies of prescriptions and any medical documentation you may need.

During a Flash Flood or Excessive Rainfall Event

Call 911 if you are in immediate danger or trapped by rising water.

If you see heavy rain in the forecast, start thinking about your plan. You do not need to wait for an official alert to act — if you live in a basement or low-lying area, it is always safer to move early.

If a Flash Flood Watch is issued, flooding is possible. Stay alert, keep your phone nearby, and be ready to move quickly. If a Flash Flood Warning or Flash Flood Emergency is issued, act immediately: Move to a higher floor right away — do not wait to see water. If you are told to evacuate, go now. Stay on higher ground until the warning expires. The difference between a Warning and an Emergency is severity — both require the same action. Move now.

Once you leave a flooded area, do not go back home. Floodwater can rise in minutes. What looked safe when you left may not be safe when you return. Wait until officials confirm it is clear.

Turn Around, Don't Drown. Never walk, swim, or drive through floodwater — no matter how shallow it looks. Just 6 inches of moving water can knock a person off their feet. Just 1 foot of water can sweep away a car. Water on streets can conceal open drains, downed power lines, and uneven surfaces.

Never drive through flooded roads or underpasses. Turn around and find another route. Never drive around barricades — they are there for your safety.

If you have no access to a higher floor, go to a safer nearby location before flooding begins — a NYC government building lobby such as a police precinct or hospital entrance can provide refuge.

Avoid entering flooded subway stations. If you are already underground, follow MTA guidance and move to street level if water is entering the station. During prolonged rainfall, station and track flooding can develop gradually — check MTA alerts before traveling.

Do not enter flooded lobbies, stations, or underpasses. Even if the water looks passable, do not enter — conditions can change in seconds.

Do not touch floodwater. It may be contaminated with sewage, chemicals, or debris — and it may carry electrical current from downed lines or submerged equipment.

Stay alert at night. Flash flooding can happen while you sleep and heavy rainfall can intensify overnight. Keep your phone near you with alerts turned on and the volume up.

Do not touch electrical equipment or appliances if you or the equipment are wet.

After a Flash Flood or Excessive Rainfall Event

Call 911 if you are in immediate danger. Call 311 to report flood damage, blocked drains, or request non-emergency services.

Do not return home until it is safe. Wait for official confirmation before re-entering a flooded building. After prolonged rainfall, the ground may still be saturated and flooding can resume with any additional rain.

Stay out of flooded basements. Standing water near electrical equipment is life-threatening.

Do not walk or drive through standing water. Even after rain stops, flooded streets can remain dangerous and may conceal hazards. After excessive rainfall events, streets and underpasses may stay flooded for hours.

Wash thoroughly if you touched floodwater. Floodwater can carry sewage, bacteria, and other contaminants. Wash your hands and any exposed skin with soap and water.

Clean affected surfaces with a bleach solution. When cleaning up after a flood, disinfect surfaces with a diluted bleach solution under proper ventilation. Never mix bleach and ammonia — the combination creates dangerous fumes.

Throw away food that touched floodwater. Do not eat or use any food, including canned goods, that came into contact with floodwater.

Watch for mold. Mold can begin growing within 24–48 hours after flooding — and excessive rainfall that causes slow seepage into walls or floors can create mold conditions even without visible standing water. If your home has mold or you need cleanup help, contact 311.

Pump out flooded basements slowly. Remove about one-third of the water per day — not all at once. Water-saturated soil outside your walls creates pressure, and removing water too quickly can cause walls to crack or collapse. This is especially important after prolonged rainfall, when surrounding soil may be heavily saturated.

Document damage before cleaning up. Take photos and videos of all damage before removing water or debris. This will help with insurance claims and disaster assistance applications.

Check on your neighbors. After a flood, check on elderly neighbors, people with disabilities, and anyone in basement apartments or low-lying units who may need extra help.

Keep monitoring alerts. Flooding conditions can return quickly — especially after excessive rainfall has already saturated the ground, when even moderate additional rain can cause new flooding. Check Notify NYC and local news for updates on street closures, transit impacts, and ongoing risks.

Coastal storms, including nor'easters, tropical storms, and hurricanes, can bring severe flooding, strong winds, heavy rain, and storm surge. Hazards include falling trees, downed power lines, flying debris, and loss of heat, water, and power.

Who is most at risk:  Anyone living or working on the coast, in a hurricane evacuation zone, people who live or work in high-rises during a storm, people in flood-prone areas, and anyone who needs help evacuating.

Before a Coastal Storm

• Check if you live in a hurricane evacuation zone at nyc.gov/knowyourzone
• Know that hurricanes bring impacts hundreds of miles inland, not just at the coast.
• Make a Go Bag with copies of important documents like leases, insurance coverage, banking information, IDs, current/non-expired medications, non-perishable food, and supplies.
• Plan early to stay with family or friends outside the zone when storms are forecast. You can leave before an evacuation order is issued.
• Move your car if it's in a frequently flooded area.
• Protect your home. Bring in or secure outdoor items like decorations, furniture and grilling units. Clear drains. Secure windows.
• Document your possessions with photos and serial numbers for insurance claims
• Review your insurance. Standard insurance policies do not cover flood damage. Flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program has a 30-day waiting period, so get it early.
• Register with your utility provider if you rely on medical equipment for priority restoration. Keep backup batteries.
• If you need accessible transportation to evacuate, call 311 when an evacuation order is issued. Accessible transportation is available to evacuation centers outside the zone.
• Service animals and pets are welcome in all NYC shelters.
• Sign up for Notify NYC, including basement messaging apartment alerts.

During a Storm

If ordered to evacuate:

• 48 hours before a storm makes landfall, evacuation orders may be issued. Follow evacuation orders if you live in a hurricane evacuation zone. Do not stay. 
• Take your Go Bag and medications.
• Stay with family or friends outside the zone if possible. If not, go to an evacuation center. Call 311 for locations and transportation.
• Service animals and pets are welcome in all NYC shelters.

If you stay home but  live outside an active hurricane evacuation zone:

• You may still face flooding, dangerous winds, and power outages. Be prepared.
• Stay out of basements. Move to higher floors.
• Stay away from windows.
• Never walk or drive through floodwater.
• Assume that all downed power lines still have electricity in them. Do not touch them as they can shock you and electrocute you.
• Keep 3 to 7 days of supplies.
• Report power outages to Con Edison.

After a Storm

• Avoid deep water, downed power lines, and unstable trees or structures.
• Report unsafe conditions to 311.
• Prevent mold by drying wet objects and removing materials that can't be dried.
• Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed to keep food safe.
• Follow boil water notices if issued by City officials.

Poor air quality in New York City can come from wildfire smoke, building fires, traffic, and other pollution and is measured using the Air Quality Index (AQI). The AQI runs from 0 to 500 and is grouped into six levels: 0–50 (Good), 51–100 (Moderate), 101–150 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), 151–200 (Unhealthy), 201–300 (Very Unhealthy), and 301+ (Hazardous).

Poor air quality can cause eye irritation, breathing difficulties, chest pain, and worsened respiratory conditions like asthma. These events pose serious health risks.

Who is most at risk: Older adults, children, infants, people with heart or lung disease, asthma, or other respiratory conditions, pregnant individuals, outdoor workers, and those in communities with higher asthma rates and fewer resources to reduce exposure.

Before Air Quality Events

• Monitor daily AQI forecasts and conditions from AirNow.gov and NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation and prepare backup indoor plans for outdoor activities.​
• Plan ahead for days at AQI 101 or higher by identifying “clean air” spaces such as rooms with air conditioning, air purifiers, or nearby public buildings with filtered air.
• Clean and ready air conditioners, HVAC filters, or portable air purifiers, stock N95 masks for sensitive household members.​
• Plan support for vulnerable people, including work-from-home options.

During Air Quality Events

Indoors:

• Stay inside as much as possible when AQI is above 100, keep windows and doors closed, and set air conditioners or HVAC systems to recirculate indoor air.
• Avoid activities that worsen indoor air, such as smoking or vaping, burning candles or incense, using fireplaces, or high-heat frying and broiling.
• Check on others: Support neighbors with health issues or no AC.

Outdoors:

• Limit strenuous outdoor activity when AQI is 101–150 and consider moving activities indoors at 151 or higher, especially limit time outside for everyone.
• Stay hydrated: Drink water regularly and be alert for symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest pain, or unusual fatigue, especially in children and people with heart or lung disease.
• If you must be outside when air quality is poor, take frequent breaks indoors and consider using a well-fitting N95 or similar mask to reduce inhalation of fine particles.

After Air Quality Events

• Replace dirty filters, ventilate when AQI improves, and review household plans for next time.​
• If breathing problems, chest pain, or other symptoms continue after the air has cleared, contact a health care provider or seek urgent care as needed.

Winter in New York City can bring extreme cold, heavy snow, ice, and freezing rain. These hazards can disrupt transportation, shut down power and heat, block emergency services, and create dangerous conditions. Cold weather increases the risk of hypothermia and frostbite, especially for older adults, infants, and people with chronic health conditions.

Who is most at risk : Older adults, infants, people with chronic health conditions, outdoor workers, those who rely on medical equipment, and anyone without adequate heating.

Before Winter Weather

• Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. NYC law requires them.
• Wear warm layered clothing, hats, and sturdy boots.
• Check your snow equipment. Keep rock salt and shovels.
• Winterize your car. Prepare a kit with blankets, food, water, shovel, jumper cables, flashlight, reflectors, and first aid kit.
• Register with your utility provider if you rely on life-sustaining medical equipment. Keep backup power ready.
• Keep essential supplies at home so you can stay safely indoors during and after a storm.
• Know how to get help with heat through the Home Energy Assistance Program. Call 311.

During Winter Weather

• Stay indoors if possible.
• Dress in layers and cover exposed skin.
• Watch for frostbite (numbness, pale or waxy skin) and hypothermia (shivering, confusion, drowsiness). Call 911 if you see symptoms.
• Use heating equipment safely. Never use stoves, ovens, kerosene heaters, or grills to heat your home.
• Run generators only outdoors and away from windows.
• Report heat or hot water outages to your landlord, then call 311 if not resolved. NYC law requires minimum indoor temperatures from October 1 through May 31:
• Daytime (6 AM - 10 PM): At least 68°F inside when it's below 55°F outside
• Nighttime (10 PM - 6 AM): At least 62°F inside, regardless of outside temperature
• Hot water: At least 120°F year-round
• Take extra care outdoors to avoid slips and falls.
• Ask neighbors or community groups for snow removal help if needed.
• Call 311 if you see someone who appears unsheltered and exposed to freezing temperatures, especially at night or in severe wind chill. A team can check on them and help them get to shelter, especially during a Code Blue cold weather emergency when no one seeking shelter is turned away.

After Winter Weather

• Check on neighbors, especially older adults and those with access needs.
• Clear snow safely. Shovel slowly. Take breaks. Keep hydrants clear
• Prevent carbon monoxide risks by clearing car tailpipes and using detectors

Before Snow Squalls

• Check the forecast and plan travel earlier or later if snow squalls are possible.
• Subscribe to Notify NYC for emergency alerts and weather updates.
• Dress for rapidly changing conditions. Wear layers, a wind resistant outer layer, gloves, and a hat.
• Allow extra time for trips that rely on buses or trains. Service can slow or change quickly during sudden weather.
• If you must drive, prepare your vehicle for winter conditions and keep a winter car kit.

During Snow Squalls

• If a Snow Squall Warning is issued for your area, avoid or delay travel until the squall passes if possible.
• If you are driving, slow down immediately, increase following distance, and stay in your lane. Do not pass.
• Turn on headlights. Use hazard lights when visibility drops. Avoid sudden braking, as roads can flash freeze.
• If you can safely exit a highway, do so and wait for conditions to improve.
• If you are walking, biking, or waiting outdoors when a snow squall hits, seek shelter right away in a nearby building, store, or transit station.
• If visibility drops to near zero, stop moving until you can clearly see where you are going.
• Use extra caution near streets and intersections. Drivers may not be able to see pedestrians or cyclists until the last moment.
• Cyclists should slow down immediately and consider dismounting and walking if conditions become unsafe.
• Outdoor workers should follow workplace safety guidance and pause work if visibility or footing becomes dangerous.

After Snow Squalls

• Continue to use caution even after the snow stops. Visibility can improve quickly while surfaces remain icy.
  
• Watch your footing on sidewalks, steps, and curb cuts, which may be slippery.
  
• Expect delays and crowding on public transportation as service recovers.
  
• Watch for refreezing behind the squall, particularly on bridges, ramps, and shaded areas as temperatures typically drop.
  
• Be alert for falling snow or ice from building ledges as conditions change.
  

Earthquakes are rare in New York City, but they can happen. The risk here is low to moderate. Shaking can still break glass, damage buildings, and knock down power lines. Unlike the West Coast, New York does not have an early warning system. If you feel shaking, do not wait for confirmation. Protect yourself right away.

Before an Earthquake

• Find safe spots in every room, like under a strong table or against an inside wall. Stay away from windows.
• Practice "Drop, Cover, and Hold On" with your family. If there is no table for everyone to hide under, get low by a wall and cover your head and neck.
• Secure your space. Bolt bookcases and TVs to the wall. Move heavy things to low shelves. Put latches on cabinets.
• Make a plan. Write down phone numbers. Pick a meeting place. Choose a friend or family member outside the city to be your contact. Include kids, older adults, people with disabilities, and pets.
• Pack a Go Bag and keep a 7-day supply of food, water, and medicines at home
• Know your utilities:
• Homeowners or property managers: Learn how to shut off gas, water, and power. Only turn off gas if you smell it, hear hissing, or see a broken pipe. Leave right away and call 911 and call Con Edison (1-800-75-CONED). If you are in Far Rockaway (served by PSEG Long Island): Report outages or gas issues, call 1-800-490-0075 or 631-755-6900.
• Apartment residents: Do not touch utilities. Report problems like gas smells or sparking wires to 911 immediately and your building staff.
• Stay informed. Sign up for Notify NYC and turn on Wireless Emergency Alerts on your phone.

During an Earthquake

Indoors:

• Drop to your hands and knees, cover your head and neck, get under a table, and hold on until shaking stops.
• Stay inside. Do not run outside.
• Do not stand in a doorway.

In bed:

• Stay there and cover your head with a pillow.

If you use a wheelchair or walker:

• Lock the wheels if you can.
• Protect your head and neck with your arms or a pillow.

In tall buildings:

• Stay away from windows.
• Do not use elevators
• After shaking stops, take the stairs if told to leave.

Outdoors:

• Go to an open area away from buildings, trees, and wires.

In a car:

• Pull over in a clear spot. Avoid overpasses, bridges, tunnels, and power lines.
• Stay inside until shaking ends.

On the subway or train:

• Stay inside. Hold on. Listen to staff.
• Never walk onto the tracks unless instructed by transit staff or emergency personnel.

For any life-threatening emergency, call 911 right away. If phones are not working, go to the nearest firehouse or police station if it is safe.

After an Earthquake

• Be ready for aftershocks. Drop, Cover, and Hold On again if shaking starts.
• Check yourself and others for injuries.
• If you smell gas, hear hissing, or see broken pipes, leave right away. Call 911 and Con Edison from outside.
• Downed wires:
• Stay at least 30 feet away. All wires should be treated as live.
• Call 911 if a wire is sparking, smoking, lying on a car, or touching a building.
• Call 311 to report wires that are down but not dangerous.
• Look around your home. Watch for cracks, broken glass, and sparking wires. Open cabinets slowly. Unplug appliances until power is stable.
• Keep food safe by keeping fridge and freezer doors closed. Use flashlights, not candles.
• Listen for updates from Notify NYC, radio, or local news. Do not go back into a damaged building until officials say it is safe.
• Report power outages to Con Edison. Never run generators inside. Always use them outdoors, away from windows and vents.
• For any life-threatening emergency after an earthquake, call 911 right away. If phones are not working, go to the nearest firehouse or police station if it is safe

Property and Services

• Call 311 after a major emergency to request city services and report damage.
• Document damage with photos and serial numbers of possessions for insurance claims.
• File insurance and FEMA claims quickly. Deadlines are strict.
• Use only licensed contractors. Some repairs require Department of Buildings permits.
• Follow Department of Sanitation rules for debris disposal.

Cleanup and Safety

• Wear protective gear.
• Clean with bleach solution. Never mix bleach with ammonia
• Keep children and pets away from contaminated areas.
• Watch for mold and fix leaks quickly.
• Pump basements slowly to avoid structural damage.

Mental Health and Support

Recovery is not only about homes and belongings. It is also about healing. Disasters and emergencies can affect emotional health and wellbeing. Free, confidential help is always available in New York City.

In an emergency, call 911.

NYC Well – 24/7 mental health support

• Call 1-888-NYC-WELL (1-888-692-9355)
• Text WELL to 65173
• Chat online at nycwell.cityofnewyork.us
• Available in English, Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, and 200+ languages

NYC HOPE Hotline – 24/7 support for survivors of domestic violence, gender-based violence, sexual assault, trafficking, stalking, and elder abuse

• Call 1-800-621-HOPE (4673)
• TTY 800-810-7444
• Confidential safety planning, shelter assistance, and support in any language.
• Learn more at nyc.gov/nychope

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – Free nationwide 24/7 crisis support

• Dial 988
• For Spanish: press 2, text AYUDA to 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org/es/chat
• ASL users: videophone dial 988
• Available in 240+ languages
• Learn more at 988lifeline.org

Disaster Distress Helpline – 24/7 nationwide support for disaster-related emotional distress

• Call or text 1-800-985-5990
• For Spanish: press 2
• ASL users: use videophone or select "ASL Now" on the website

Available in 100+ languages