Being Prepared Will Keep You Safe Legislator Toback Hosts Hurricane Preparedness Meeting

With summer right around the corner people tend to focus all of their attention on planning vacations and warm weather activities. Legislator Jeff Toback cautions that it is prudent for residents to also keep in mind that June 1 is the official start of hurricane season. He will host a district-wide informational meeting on hurricane preparedness on Monday, June 29 at 7:30 p.m. at the Hewlett-Woodmere Library, 1125 Broadway, Hewlett, to ensure that residents know how to keep themselves and their families safe in case we experience a hurricane this year.

“While Nassau County does have hurricane preparedness plans, it is important for each resident to be educated on how to prepare for a hurricane should one strike,” Legislator Toback said. “Representatives from Nassau County’s Office of Emergency Management, the American Red Cross, Pet Safe Coalition and CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) will share their expertise at my June 29 meeting on a variety of topics to help residents understand hurricane watches, the warnings, and what to do to stay safe. Preparing ahead of time is of the utmost importance.”

Some of the topics that will be discussed by the experts are: what to do once evacuation orders are issued, evacuation routes, emergency shelters, personal preparedness, and care of pets.

Residents should also be aware that FEMA has recently updated the flood maps for Nassau County. These new designations are tentatively scheduled to go into effect in September of this year. Some homeowners who now live outside a federally designated flood zone could find themselves in one; some now inside a flood zone might end up on the outside. Legislator Toback urges residents to find out where they stand.

Insurance companies and FEMA recommend that those without flood insurance in borderline areas buy flood insurance to save money. Homeowners currently out of the flood plain on the old maps can purchase insurance at the lower premiums. These lower premiums will be grandfathered in on the new maps.

Nassau County Legislator Jeff Toback (D-Oceanside), left, will host a district-wide hurricane preparedness meeting.

Last year Nancy Lynch, from Pet Safe, James Callahan III, the Commissioner, Nassau County Emergency Management;

Carlos Varon, the Director of Emergency Services, American Red Cross; and Joseph Harten, from CERT attended.

This year, representatives from those agencies will be speaking at Legislator Toback's June 29 meeting.