NORWICH – With a number of natural disasters in recent years still fresh in the memory of many, the City of Norwich is setting the stage for a citizen preparedness training program to get residents ready before the next disaster.

The citizen preparedness training program is a collaborative effort among the New York State National Guard, Governor Andrew Cuomo, State Senator Tom Libous, Assemblyman Clifford Crouch and Norwich Mayor Joseph Maiurano. The goal, according to local officials, is to provide area residents with the tools and resources to prepare for emergencies and disasters, respond accordingly, and recover as quickly as possible to pre-disaster conditions.

“The city prides itself on being prepared, and I think this is just one more activity that will incorporate the whole community,” said Maiurano. “Keeping people informed and knowing what to do during an emergency is important and gives us a chance to answer important questions before there’s a real disaster.”

While hope is to register as many people as possible for this free training event, added Maiurano, people are encouraged to pre-register beforehand. The event is slated for 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, at the Norwich High School Auditorium.

In addition to the seminar which teaches citizens what to do in the event of an emergency, the National Guard will issue a disaster preparedness backpack to attending families, filled with suggested items that would be useful in the event of a disaster. Items include:

• Safety goggles

• Six packs of drinking water