Mineola, NY-Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi was joined today by Nassau County Legislator Joseph Scannell (D-Baldwin), Police Department 1st Deputy Commissioner Robert Bishop, Fire Marshal Thomas Tilley, Health Department Commissioner David Ackman and Director of Emergency Management Richard Rotanz to announce Nassau's preparation in response to the upgraded National Terror Alert.

"We have received no information regarding a specific threat to Nassau County," said County Executive Suozzi. "Residents should be reassured that regardless, should anything happen, we are capable of responding."

The Office of Emergency Management is on alert and is ready to activate immediately if required. In conjunction with the Nassau County Office of Emergency Management, the Police Department and the Sheriff's Department are in direct and continual communication with State and Federal law enforcement agencies regarding the current threat levels. Those agencies include: the New York State Emergency Management Office, the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The Nassau County Police Department Marine Bureau patrols have been increased to 24-hour operations on both the North Shore and South Shore and the Coast Guard has been advised of the schedule. Additional personnel from the Bureau of Special Operations are being deployed to select locations in Nassau County where large events are being held. The Emergency Services Unit and the Fire Marshal's Hazardous Materials Unit are fully staffed and ready to respond to hazardous material situations that may occur, including chemical or biological threats. They are fully trained and have protective gear.

Over the last year, the Nassau County Department of Health has undergone training for any biological weapons attack and has developed epidemiological response teams. The department is also in daily contact with all hospital emergency rooms and has developed plans to distribute medicine and vaccines in case of emergency. In addition, within the next few weeks the department will begin vaccinating some of its employees and those employees of the county's 12 hospitals against smallpox.

Residents are advised to call 911 to summon police for any emergencies. To report any information regarding suspicious persons or activity, residents should call 1-800-244-TIPS. The Nassau County Department of Health maintains a general information referral line from 9:00AM-4: 45PM at (516) 571-3410. They also maintain a 24-hour automated information hotline that is updated during emergencies at (516) 571-2500. The following websites can be used for further information:

• American Red Cross - www.redcross.org
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) - www.fema.gov
• Nassau County - Health Department