August 8, 2007

Nassau County Holds First Training and Exercise for Special Needs Shelters

Catholic Charities hosts at Holy Trinity High School in Hicksville

Mineola, NY – August 8, 2007 – As part of its comprehensive emergency preparedness efforts, the Nassau County Department of Health, in partnership with the Nassau County Office of Emergency Management and Catholic Charities, Diocese of Rockville Centre, will host a Training and Practical Exercise of Shelter Operations for Special Needs Residents.  All county residents are invited to attend and volunteer at the training and exercise being held this Sunday, August 12, 2007 at Holy Trinity High School, 98 Cherry Lane, Hicksville, New York from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Please E-mail: nassaucountymrc@nassaucountyny.gov. or call (516) 571-0631 for further information.

Special Needs Shelters are designed to care for individuals with medical or functional disabilities who are in need of assistance and who will likely have no other place to receive care during an emergency event.  These shelters will serve as a last resort for those individuals whose primary evacuation plan has failed.  The importance of individual responsibility for preparedness remains critical, especially for vulnerable populations.  To assure their safety in the event of a county-wide emergency, the Department of Health has been planning the design and operation of special needs emergency shelters that will be available throughout the county.

“This plan puts Nassau County on sound footing as we move into the 2007 hurricane season,” said Dr. Abby Greenberg, the acting commissioner for Nassau County’s Department of Health.  "In addition to Catholic Charities, we’re working with North Shore-LIJ which is the New York State designated regional resource center, so we’re confident we’ve developed a special needs shelter plan that we can rely on and that puts the safety of these residents first.”

The Nassau County Department of Health promotes and protects the health of the residents of Nassau County. This is accomplished through direct services and community partnerships in several areas, including the creation of innovative solutions to public health problems.