If an increase in COVID in the summer, a smallpox outbreak, inflation, and an ongoing war in Europe weren’t enough to worry about, how about preparing for a nuclear attack?
Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday defended New York City’s new PSA, saying a preparedness point for a nuclear attack by the Office of Emergency Management was a “big idea” that emerged from the Russian war in course in Ukraine.
The campaign was launched on Monday and includes a brief PSA outlining three steps New Yorkers can take “as the threat landscape continues to evolve.”
Step 1? Enter. Fast.
It may seem obvious, and it may be why the OEM PSA came across some eyebrows raised. Some may find it a bit out of touch, with the COVID-19 threat very much alive, as the omicron BA.5 subvariant fuels a sixth pandemic wave in New York City. But the five districts remain a major terrorist target, Adams says. And that’s pretty much the point.
Adams has said he doesn’t think the video was alarmist, telling reporters Tuesday: “I’m a big believer, it’s better to be safe than sorry … We’ll always be proactive, don’t panic, but we’ll be prepared.” He also said the message is that people should be prepared for any kind of disaster.
Adams stressed that there are no imminent nuclear threats in New York City, but there will be a number of emergency management announcements highlighting preparedness efforts. Emergency management officials say it is important to know the steps to stay safe even if the likelihood of a nuclear attack in New York in the immediate future is quite low.
Christina Farrell, the city’s emergency management subcommittee, also said the video is not tied to any specific threat. He said it’s about raising awareness about something most people haven’t thought much about.
“There’s no general reason why it’s time we ship this,” Farrell said Tuesday. “It’s just a tool in the toolbox that needs to be prepared in the 21st century.”
He said the agency’s goal is to empower people with regard to a terrifying issue and, despite various reactions to the video, “people have thanked us for approaching this issue.”
“We’ve received comments over the years that, not surprisingly, one of the dangers people don’t feel prepared for is something like a nuclear event,” Farrell said.
Still, many New Yorkers were left wondering, “Why now?” Some of a certain age saw the PSA as a kind of explosion of the past, something that had not been seen in this country since the 1970s, when messages showing cartoon turtles softened the threat. , then very real, of nuclear annihilation.
“So there has been a nuclear attack,” the PSA begins Monday. “Don’t ask me how or why. You just know the big one has hit. OKAY. So what do we do? “
In the event of a nuclear incident, the PSA advises the following actions:
- Enter: Move inside and away from any window.
- Stay inside – close all doors and windows and go to the basement if you have any.
- Stay tuned and stay tuned – follow the media for the latest details and look at officials ’alerts when it’s safe to leave.
“If you were outside after the explosion, clean up immediately. Take off and take off all your outerwear, to keep dust or radioactive ash away from your body,” the PSA advises.
New Yorkers are encouraged to sign up for Notify NYC, the city’s official emergency communications program, and receive free emergency alerts by visiting NYC.gov/notifynyc or by calling 311.
New York City Public Service Announcement for Nuclear Preparation. (New York Emergency Management)