Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi was joined by Suffolk County Executive Robert J. Gaffney and representatives from American Red Cross chapters in Nassau and Suffolk counties to announce a new Bi-County Shelter Plan. The community-based Adopt-A-Shelter disaster partnership is designed to create shelter capacity for 200,000 Long Islanders in the event of a disaster by training hundreds of volunteers to assist Red Cross workers in staffing shelters. The plan was unveiled today at the Interfaith Church on the C.W. Post Campus.

"When disaster strikes, this island must be ready, and the only way we can be fully prepared is by working together. This partnership will ensure that we are not caught off guard or short handed", said County Executive Suozzi.

The Adopt-A-Shelter plan will recruit volunteers from corporate, community, local government and civic organizations, academic, religious, and social institutions. These volunteers will be trained to operate and run disaster shelters located throughout Long Island. The Nassau and Suffolk Offices of Emergency Management will work collectively to recruit volunteers for the program and the American Red Cross in Nassau and Suffolk counties will provide training, materials and management expertise.

"The more we can get local partners involved, such as civic groups, the better prepared we can all be for any disaster," said Ximena Rua-Merkin, Interim Chief Executive Officer of the American Red Cross in Nassau County.

Nassau organizations interested in participating in the Bi-County Shelter Plan can call (516) 747-3500.