While confirmed cases of  the novel H1N1 (swine) flu were relatively few in Westchester this summer, county officials have put in place a comprehensive plan to cope with a flu epidemic –  small or large –  that may develop this fall and winter, County Executive Andy Spano announced today. Residents are reminded to get their seasonal flut shot.  Remember, too, that washing hands is a simple step in stemming the spread of germs.

While texting is a great way to communicate with family and friends, it's dangerous to do while you're driving -- and, it's against the law. Police are cracking down on texting while driving so best to put that cellphone away.

New studies show that drivers overestimate their ability to multitask behind the wheel. Try your hand at the "Gauging Your Distraction" game as featured in a series of articles, Driven to Distraction, in the Technology Section of the New York Times Web site. This game measures how your reaction time is affected by external distractions. Regardless of your results, bottom line is that you should not text when driving.

Even into the start of autumn, you should be prepared in the event of a hurricane.

As fun as they are, bikes can also be dangerous. Bicyclists are required to follow the same laws and rules of the road as motorists. They must learn to share the road responsibly. These bicycle safety tips can help your family avoid serious injury.

It's also important to be prepared for emergencies inside and outside of the home. Learn what you can do to prevent fires and what to do if the power goes out. If you were forced to leave your home quickly due to flooding, you should have a go bag and a family emergency plan prepared in advance if a sudden emergency arose.

And, if you, or someone you know, might require additional assistance to leave home during an emergency, consider adding registering with the Special Needs Registry. The registry is for individuals with physical or mental disabilities who live on their own. The database will be shared with local municipalities to use in their emergency planning efforts.

Of course, keeping Westchester safe requires the cooperative efforts of several departments, including Public Safety, Emergency Services, Correction and Probation. Whether it's severe weather or Indian Point, Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano takes these threats seriously by making sure county government develops and practices plans to deal with emergencies.

Westchester, backed by New York State, is continuing its effort to oppose the relicensing of Indian Point. We also have the latest information for residents about emergency planning at Indian Point.

The county’s Protect the Kids Committee has programs to protect children from sexual predators, including the Inoculating our Children Against Sexual Abuse and Preventing Abduction workshops. The county has adopted the Code Adam child-finding system in all of its parks and county facilities. The county has also been at the forefront of efforts to fight bullying in general and cyberbullying in particular. Other programs are aimed at stopping drunk-driving and underage drinking and preventing youth violence.

Westchester County can also notify you in case of a major emergency. Sign up to receive emergency notification by e-mail or cell phone.

Remember: If you have an emergency, dial 911.