Communicate when it counts
NYC Emergency Management and Ad Council Remind Families to “Communicate When It Counts” in New Creative
New campaign creative debuts during National Preparedness Month to encourage families to have a plan in case of an emergency
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – Wednesday, September 4, 2019 — A majority of New Yorkers (62%) feel prepared for an emergency, but only 34 percent of New Yorkers report having a plan for how to find family members and reunite following an emergency. In an effort to encourage families to create a plan for these unexpected events, the New York City Emergency Management Department and the Ad Council kicked off National Preparedness Month with a new public service announcement (PSA).
“It’s so important that New Yorkers feel confident that they can appropriately handle a disaster – before it happens. It’s our mission to help protect families by encouraging them to think through every possible outcome so they can take the appropriate steps before, during, and after an emergency. This campaign shows New Yorkers how easy it is to make a plan and have a much-needed discussion about family preparedness,” said Deanne Criswell, New York City Emergency Management Commissioner.
Building on the success of previous campaigns, this new creative titled “Communicate When It Counts” encourages New Yorkers to talk with their families and develop an emergency plan before disasters such as flooding, power outages and hurricanes strike. Created pro bono by advertising agency Oberland, the creative recognizes that while families don’t always want to talk about every day mishaps, having a conversation about emergency preparedness can save lives.
This #NationalPreparednessMonth, make sure you and your family have a plan for when disaster strikes Tweet
“New Yorkers are busy, and they’re often too focused on other responsibilities to take the time to plan ahead for the unforeseen disaster events that develop in our lives. This campaign encourages preparedness by highlighting how advanced planning can begin with just talking with your family,” said Bill Oberlander, Co-Founder & Executive Creative Director at Oberland.
New York City Emergency Management is hosting the following events throughout September to help New Yorkers get prepared:
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September 4: National Preparedness Month Kick off
10 am – 2 pm
Brooklyn Borough Hall -
September 5: Protecting One Another: Pet and Service Animal Preparedness Fair
11 am – 3 pm
Union Square -
September 12: Senior ReadyFest
11 am – 1 pm
Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
101-41 91st Street, Queens -
September 15: Kids Preparedness at the Bronx Zoo with Ready Girl
10 am - 3 pm
2300 Southern Blvd, The Bronx, NY 10460
*admission to the museum is needed to enter. -
September 28: Family Preparedness Day at the Staten Island Children’s Museum
12 pm – 5 pm
1000 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island
*admission to the museum is free
“Every New Yorker should feel confident and comfortable with how to plan ahead for a disaster. Since its launch in 2009, the Ready New York campaign has empowered New Yorkers to take steps to prepare ahead for when disaster strikes,” said Chief Campaign Development Officer, Michelle Hillman. “This new creative informs New Yorkers that there is no better way to plan ahead for a disaster than to talk to your family about creating a plan.”
The new creative will have English and Spanish TV spots, outdoor and digital banners. The campaign is also being supported by Post Studios, the in-house creative agency at the New York Post, as well as Five Tier, the Connected Media™ platform that takes the guesswork out of marketing.
“During National Preparedness Month, we want to raise everyone’s awareness and get them to take action by encouraging everyone to make an emergency plan with their family. A key focus for us this year is on helping kids be prepared. Talking with your family about what to do in a disaster will help kids feel prepared, not scared,” said Thomas Von Essen, Regional Administrator for the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
“As we saw after disasters like Hurricane Sandy, sound planning can save lives and speed up the recovery after catastrophes strike. This important initiative encourages families throughout our city to develop a disaster plan and I’m pleased by its rollout. With the intensification of climate change and additional flooding, emergency preparedness should be a priority at the city, state and federal levels, and I’ll continue working with my colleagues to help New Yorkers and all Americans prepare for disasters,” said Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY).
“The Red Cross is proud to stand alongside our NYC partners to help ready our neighbors. Preparation is the best protection against the dangers of any emergency that could impact our lives. It’s critical that families and individuals make time to build an emergency kit, create an evacuation plan, and make themselves aware of the different types of disasters, large or small, that could disrupt our communities,” said Susan Rounds, Interim CEO, American Red Cross in Greater NY.
NYC Emergency Management’s Latest ‘Prep Talk’ Podcast Series Discusses New Creative
Effective communication is the key to staying safe during an emergency. In the latest episode of ‘Prep Talk,’ Amy Gibson-Grant, vice president and group campaign director at the Ad Council, and Bill Oberlander, executive creative director and co-founder of Oberland, discuss the role creative marketing and advertising can have in raising public awareness and inspiring change. The guests also talk about their partnership with New York City Emergency Management and the new public service announcements, “Communicate When It Counts.” You can listen to the latest episode on SoundCloud and iTunes, Spreaker, and subscribe now to stay up-to-date on the latest episodes.
For more information visit NYC.gov/readyny, download the Ready NYC app, and follow New York City Emergency Management on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
About New York City Emergency Management
The New York City Emergency Management Department plans and prepares for emergencies, educates the public about preparedness, coordinates emergency response and recovery, and collects and disseminates emergency information. Residents can stay in touch with NYC Emergency Management via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and the agency’s website, NYC.gov/emergencymanagement. New Yorkers can also sign up for Notify NYC, the City’s free source for emergency information, by calling 311 or visiting NYC.gov/notifynyc.
About The Ad Council
The Ad Council is where creativity and causes converge. The non-profit organization brings together the most creative minds in advertising, media, technology and marketing to address many of the nation’s most important causes. The Ad Council has created many of the most iconic campaigns in advertising history. Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk. Smokey Bear. Love Has No Labels. Its innovative social good campaigns raise awareness, inspire action and save lives. To learn more, visit AdCouncil.org, follow the Ad Council’s communities on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and view the creative on YouTube.
About Oberland
Founded in May of 2014 by Executive Creative Director Bill Oberlander and President Drew Train, OBERLAND uses the technologies, tools, and cultural perspectives of Madison Avenue to create purpose-driven brands. The award-winning agency is passionate about the power of creativity to change the world and empower a new generation of conscious capitalists. That’s why it collaborates with like-minded leaders in the public, private and nonprofit sectors to build purpose-driven brands and a better, more prosperous future for all. The 25-person, full-service agency’s growing client roster includes Uber, Heifer International, The Nature Conservancy, Blockchain.com, Autism Speaks, Happy Egg Co, New York Institute of Technology (NYIT), and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). OBERLAND sees purpose as the new digital and uses its knowledge, expertise, and dogged determination to impact consumer behavior, boost awareness, and drive profit. OBERLAND creates social value in its community and in the business of branding. This is why in 2018 the agency re-incorporated as a Public Benefit Corporation and became a Certified B-Corp. In 2018, OBERLAND was awarded Ad Age's Small Agency of the Year (11-75 people) honors, and in April 2019 named as an Ad Age A-List Agency to Watch.
Media Contacts
Ad Council
Emily Kostic, Director, PR, Social Media, & Brand
[email protected]
Omar Bourne, Deputy Press Secretary
[email protected]