Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Winter is right around the corner, and the Buffalo Common Council wants to make sure residents are prepared for the worst.
Each of the nine Council District will be hosting their own Winter Preparedness event, where vendors provide free tools and resources for people to stay safe during a snow storm. Each registered attendee will receive a free winter kit (one per-household).
"We have over 30 vendors getting families prepared for the winter season. If we've learned anything over the course of a few years is that we have inclement and severe weather, and we're seeing it become more extreme, and we know that when we're going to keep people safe is by keeping people prepared," Fillmore District Councilman Mitch Nowakowski stated in an interview with WBEN. "Every family can come out here and make a bag of devices and things that they need, if they need blankets, flashlights, emergency equipment to keep themselves safe throughout the winter season and inclement weather."
Zach Penque - WBEN
The American Red Cross of Western New York will be at the events, letting people know about their emergency app and how to stay comfortable if they ever get trapped in their car during a snow storm.
"Our emergency app actually will link to every shelter in the country that is open that is either run by the Red Cross or partnered through the Red Cross, so that if there is a winter storm here in Buffalo, people can go to their app and it'll tell them exactly where we have shelters located," CEO of Red Cross WNY, Nick Bond, stated in an interview with WBEN. "And there's also other preparedness tools that are in that we also during the winter months."
Niagara University's Director for Border Community Service, Dana Estrada, says she will be supplying survival wraps and tips to stay ahead in an emergency situation.
"We know that winter happens here, and we like to pat ourselves on the back that we're from Buffalo and we're tough. We are, but our weather is changing, and it's events like this really encourage everyone to start working on preparedness," Estrada Stated in an interview with WBEN. "Don't wait until December to get your snow brush in. Start working on preparedness now, getting a home kit, extra food, extra water. Talk to your family about what you'll do in an emergency and be ready for any emergency that we could have."
The next event will be in the Lovejoy district on Oct. 23 from 5:30 p.m.-to-7:30 p.m. ET.
