While historic wildfires continue to devastate Southern California, and the southeastern United States recovers from hurricanes that left a trail of destruction last fall, the Hudson Valley confronts its own mounting threats from increasingly severe and costly extreme weather events.
In anticipation of future and more frequent natural disasters, the Stanford Grange will host a free emergency preparedness training at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 28. Led by the state’s Citizen Preparedness Corps, the event will teach attendees how to protect themselves and their families during various disasters and emergencies.
“With New York seeing higher rates of severe weather, having a plan can help ensure the safety of your loved ones,” Jackie Bray, commissioner of the New York state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services told the Herald. “Taking the time to make an emergency plan that accounts for all your family members, including children, older adults, those with special needs and pets, saves precious time when disaster strikes.”
Launched in 2014, the Citizen Preparedness Corps is a statewide initiative led by the New York National Guard in partnership with the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES). The training program provides practical education in disaster response, family emergency planning, and assembling essential supplies. Participants also receive free preparedness kits.
The program comes to Stanfordville following a year of unprecedented severe weather events across New York. In 2024, the state responded to 32 tornadoes, eight days of extreme heat, widespread flooding, droughts in the Hudson Valley, and wildfires in Ulster and Orange counties, according to a Jan. 9 press release from Gov. Hochul’s office. These events resulted in four major disaster declarations from President Biden.
Since the 1980s, extreme weather events affecting New York state have risen by over 1,000%, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). The agency recorded 95 billion-dollar weather events affecting New York from 1980 to 2024, averaging 2.1 annually. By contrast, the past five years alone (2020–2024) saw 31 such disasters — an average of 6.2 per year.
In 2024, this trend reached a troubling peak, with 10 billion-dollar disasters affecting the state in a single year — a staggering 1,328% increase compared to the annual average during the 1980s. These events highlight the escalating impact of climate change on New York’s infrastructure, economy and communities.
The billion-dollar disaster threshold is a measure used by NCEI to track events that cause at least $1 billion in damages, adjusted for inflation. This metric captures the financial toll of severe weather, including damage to infrastructure, property, and agricultural losses. By focusing on billion-dollar events, researchers highlight the most economically significant disasters, drawing attention to their growing impact on both state and national scales.
At the Stanfordville event, attendees will learn how to develop personalized emergency plans, including evacuation routes, meeting points, and contact lists. Organizers will also discuss how to assemble and maintain a well-stocked emergency kit containing non-perishable food, water, medications, and other essentials to last at least 10 days.
Staying informed during emergencies is another focus of the training. Participants will be encouraged to sign up for NY-ALERT, a free statewide notification system offering real-time updates. The program also emphasizes community involvement, urging residents to join organizations like the American Red Cross or local volunteer groups. Trained volunteers often serve as first responders, providing vital support during crises.
The Citizen Preparedness Corps training is free to attend and will take place at Grange Hall, 6043 Route 82 in Stanfordville, 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 28. Registration is required and can be completed at prepare.ny.gov. For those unable to attend in person, an educational video is available to view online.