July 25, 2006

From the desk of Legislator Dave Mejias

Preparing for Hurricane Season on Long Island

Hurricane season is once again upon us, and this year Long Island is faced with an increased chance of being struck by a major storm. It has been nearly 21 years since Hurricane Gloria struck, and experts state that we are statistically overdue for a similarly damaging storm. That is why I am pleased to announce that I will be hosting a Storm Symposium at the Farmingdale Public Library on Wednesday, July 26th.

Much has changed since Hurricane Gloria in 1985. Over the past 20 years, Long Island’s population has dramatically increased. Officials estimate that around 475,000 people live in the floodplain—the area along the South Shore most prone to significant flooding that may result from a storm. In a worst-case scenario, flooding may extend as far north as Sunrise Highway, and a significant portion of residents in the floodplain would need to be evacuated.

Currently, the Nassau Chapter of the American Red Cross has enough staff to operate 26 storm shelters, which could house only 37,000 residents. There is a significant need for additional volunteers, and my office has worked closely with the Red Cross to organize a training session for Nassau County employees to become qualified emergency shelter workers. I am proud to say that over 75 Nassau County employees participated in this training. In addition to ensuring preparedness and safety in the case of a major storm, these County employees have set a terrific example for the rest of our residents by volunteering their time to this cause.

Despite the success of this training program, Nassau County residents should still educate themselves how best to protect their homes and loved ones in the case of a disaster. My Storm Symposium will feature representatives from a number of County departments and organizations, including the Nassau County Office of Emergency Management and Office of Risk Assessment, the Nassau Red Cross, Pet Safe, Inc., and more who will share their expertise on hurricane preparedness and provide tips on how to keep our families safe.

Please join me at this important town hall meeting on Wednesday, July 26th from 7-9 PM at the Farmingdale Public Library, 116 Merritts Road in Farmingdale. Space is limited, so please call my office at (516) 571-6214 to reserve a seat.

Furthermore, any residents who would like to volunteer as emergency shelter workers should contact the Nassau Red Cross at (516) 747-3500 for information on future training sessions. As always, please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or comments, by phone or via e-mail at DMejias@NassauCountyNY.gov.