Prevention is better than cure, and that’s what New York City is up to. Recently, the Department of Emergency Management (DEM) of NYC released a video in which the citizens have been advised on how to survive a nuclear attack. This was a public service announcement (PSA), but despite the safety concerns, a lot of people created havoc by criticizing the decision and regarding it as “alarmist”. Although the city’s criteria for a nuclear attack is “very low,” the authorities say that there is no harm in building a safety-oriented culture and informing the public about the safety measures in advance rather than waiting for the destruction to take place.
Coupled with this, the mayor of the city, Eric Adams, was in favor of this decision. While talking to the New York Daily News, he said, “I’m a big believer in better safe than sorry. I take my hat off to (the Office of Emergency Management). The OEM took a very proactive step. Let’s be prepared. ” Citing the reference to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, the mayor said that this ongoing war is enough for us to remain alert to any potential danger.
He said that apparently there is no sign of such a nuclear threat, but the citizens need to be well-prepared and well-informed about the actions to be taken in the case of any nuclear emergency. The following are the guidelines that have been given by the department to alert the citizens in advance:
- Get inside
- Avoid windows and remove all of the outer clothing.
- Wait for more information from the government, which may be sent via the “wireless emergency alerts” (if the cell towers have been burned to the crisp).
Owing to these safety considerations, Adams said, “We’re still one of the top terrorist threats. We always have to be prepared as New Yorkers. ” Reportedly, the DEM is working in harmony with the city’s police and fire departments, including the public transportation system, health system, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to strengthen the city’s fight against “terrorist attacks and other no-notice events.”
On the other hand, the government released an official statement regarding the safety concerns, which states, “While the likelihood of a nuclear weapon incident occurring in or near New York City is very low. It is important New Yorkers know the steps to stay safe.”