ROME, N.Y. — A free Citizen Preparedness Training program, titled Free Citizen Preparedness Training in Rome on Oct. 14, is coming to the Mohawk Valley Community College Rome Campus on Wednesday, Oct. 14, giving local residents a practical chance to learn how to prepare for emergencies before they happen. The session, hosted by the Mohawk Valley Institute for Learning in Retirement in conjunction with MVCC, begins at 11 a.m. in Room 150 on the first floor of the Rome Campus at 1101 Floyd Ave.
The free workshop will focus on family emergency planning, essential supplies, disaster response and recovery, with a preparedness kit provided to each participating family.
What the Citizen Preparedness Training will cover
The New York Citizen Preparedness Training Program is designed to help residents understand the basic steps they can take before, during and after a natural or human-caused emergency. According to the official event notice, participants will receive an introduction to disaster response and learn how to develop a family emergency plan and stock essential emergency supplies.
The training is especially timely because emergencies can unfold with little warning. Severe storms, extended power outages, flooding, fires and other disruptions can leave families without normal services for hours or days. A basic plan can help residents know where to go, who to contact and what supplies they may need.
The state program emphasizes practical preparation rather than fear. The goal is to give residents tools they can use at home and share with relatives, neighbors and caregivers.
Each family will receive a preparedness kit
One of the most useful parts of the program is the take-home resource. The official event flyer states, “Each family that attends will receive one preparedness kit.” The kits are intended to reinforce the lessons taught during the class and help families begin organizing emergency supplies.
Residents are also encouraged to think beyond the kit itself. A strong household emergency plan should include:
- Contact information for family members and emergency services
- A meeting place if family members become separated
- Medications and important medical information
- Water, shelf-stable food and basic first-aid supplies
- Flashlights, batteries and a battery-powered or hand-crank radio
- Copies of important documents stored securely
- Plans for pets, older adults and household members with disabilities
Registration is required for the Oct. 14 class
The training will be held Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026, at 11 a.m. in Room 150 on the first floor of the MVCC Rome Campus, 1101 Floyd Ave., Rome.
Registration is required. Residents can register through New York State’s official preparedness website at prepare.ny.gov.
The event is being presented through the New York Citizen Preparedness Training Program in conjunction with Mohawk Valley Community College and the Mohawk Valley Institute for Learning in Retirement.
Sign up at the MVILR Open House
Community members who want to learn more about the training can also visit the MVILR Open House on Thursday, Sept. 10, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the MVCC Rome Campus. Visitors will be able to learn about MVILR programs and receive information about signing up for the preparedness workshop.
The Open House also gives residents a closer look at MVILR’s broader lifelong-learning mission. MVILR is a nonprofit organization that has served local seniors since 1996 and now operates in partnership with MVCC’s Center for Corporate and Community Education. Its programs are based at the Rome Campus and include lectures, discussion groups, wellness activities, cultural programs and other learning opportunities.
MVCC describes MVILR as a community for retirees who want to continue learning without homework, exams or grades. Courses are taught by volunteer facilitators, members and guest professionals, with subjects ranging from history and literature to science, wellness and the arts.
More than a single workshop
The preparedness class is a good example of how lifelong learning can connect directly to public safety and everyday life. Emergency planning may not be something families discuss often, but a few decisions made in advance can reduce confusion when normal routines are disrupted.
For older adults, preparedness can be especially important. Medications, mobility needs, transportation, medical equipment and communication plans may require extra attention during a power outage or evacuation. Families caring for children or relatives with disabilities may also need plans tailored to those needs.
That is why community-based training matters. A checklist on a website can be useful, but an in-person class gives residents a chance to hear the information in a structured setting and think through how the guidance applies to their own household.
Why preparedness starts before an emergency
Emergency management experts routinely stress that the best time to make a plan is before a crisis begins. Once a storm, outage or evacuation is underway, families may have less time, fewer transportation options and limited access to stores or services.
A preparedness plan does not have to be complicated. Residents can start with three basic questions:
- How will we communicate? Decide how family members will reach one another if phone service is limited or people are in different locations.
- Where will we go? Choose a nearby meeting place and a second location outside the immediate neighborhood.
- What do we need? Build a supply list based on the people, medications, pets and equipment in the household.
The Citizen Preparedness Training gives residents a framework for answering those questions and for updating their plans as circumstances change.
How to learn more
The Oct. 14 class is free, but advance registration is required. Residents can register at prepare.ny.gov.
For information about MVILR, its Open House or other programs, contact the Mohawk Valley Institute for Learning in Retirement at 315-334-7761 or mvilr@mvcc.edu. More information is available on the MVILR website.
Preparedness is one of those tasks that is easy to put off until it suddenly matters. The Oct. 14 training offers Rome-area residents a free opportunity to make a plan, ask questions and leave better equipped for the unexpected. Families interested in attending should register early and consider using the Sept. 10 Open House as a chance to learn more about MVILR and its fall programs.
