June 29, 2006

Red Cross in need of emergency shelter volunteers!

Mejias urges County Employees to join training

Nassau County Legislator Dave Mejias (D-North Massapequa) today joined Thea Linscott, Public Relations Director of the American Red Cross in Nassau County, at a press conference to inform Nassau County Employees of the opportunity to participate in Emergency Shelter Training with the American Red Cross. More than 40 County employees have already signed up for the training.

PHOTO CAPTION: Nassau County Legislator David Mejias (D-North Massapequa) recently urged all Nassau County residents to train to become qualified emergency shelter volunteers. Weather forecasters are predicting that a major storm will hit Long Island this hurricane season and, in the event of a mass evacuation, the Nassau Chapter of the American Red Cross will be too understaffed to properly react to such a disaster. Joe Marcus, 13, of Hicksville, is a Boy Scout in Troop 233 and has volunteered his time to train as an emergency shelter volunteer.  Pictured here (from left) are Mindy Marcus; Joe Marcus; Legislator Mejias; and County Community Service Representative Tyrone Sylvester.

A number of weather forecasters are predicting that a major storm will hit Long Island this hurricane season, and in the event of a Category 3 storm, Nassau County would have to evacuate and shelter tens of thousands of residents. Currently, the Nassau Chapter of the Red Cross does not have enough volunteers to staff all the shelters in the event of such an emergency.

As a result, Legislator Mejias has worked together with the Nassau Red Cross to create this program in which Red Cross representatives will train County staff and interns as qualified emergency shelter volunteers.

“I am proud to announce that I will host an Emergency Shelter Training course for Nassau County employees on July 12th and 13th,” said Legislator Mejias. “In addition to ensuring preparedness and safety in the case of a major storm, County employees would set a terrific example for the rest of our residents by attending this training program.”

For more information, call Legislator Mejias’ office at 516-571-6214. Any interested County employees can email IntDKadishson@nassaucountyny.gov. Residents interested in learning more can also call the Red Cross at 516-747-3500.