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Community Corner

Emergency Personnel Prepare for Hurricane Season

LIPA president Kevin Law says it's not a matter of if, but when, major storm will hit.

A major storm drill Tuesday afternoon was aimed at preparing local agencies for what projects to be an active 2010 hurricane season.

Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), National GridRed Cross, New York State officials and the Offices of Emergency Management of Nassau and Suffolk counties conducted the annual drill at the Applied Science Center of Innovation & Excellence in Homeland Security.

"We work every day to prepare for significant weather events," says LIPA president Kevin Law. "We always have to be prepared, but no utility can guarantee that we'll be 100 percent storm proof."

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Law stressed it's critical to respond quickly, not only for Long Island customers, but for the economy as well.

Tuesday's drill prepared for a fictitious storm, "Hurricane Darren." Workers assembled at a conference table to go through fast ways to successfully calm the storm.

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One thing that was stressed in a fictitious press release was the ability to maintain a hurricane disaster kit; which includes first aid materials, non-perishable food, a manual can opener and at least three gallons of drinking water.

"If you take a look at the weather on Long Island in the last three months…get ready," Law said. "It's not a matter of if. It's a matter of when."

Commissioner of Nassau County Office of Emergency Services Jim Callahan knows that Long Island is long overdue for a hurricane.

"Every 17 years, we should have a hurricane coming to Long Island," Callahan said. "The last hurricane we had in Nassau County was Hurricane Gloria in 1985, and that was a category one."

The March Nor'easter was the most significant weather event on Long Island in the last 20 years, and June's microburst in Great Neck has gotten officials' attention as well. Also, last week's heat wave caused LIPA to reach its all-time high in demand for energy in the history of the company.

The Red Cross has 45 shelters on Long Island that are stocked with cots, blankets, food, water and medical supplies, and the Red Cross can house anywhere from 75-80,000 people for up to five days. Frank Cassano, CEO of the Nassau County chapter of the Red Cross, pled for people to prepare to stay with friends or family, because people will be much more comfortable.

"The last place you want to end up is a Red Cross shelter," Cassano said. "We should be your last resort."

Law also informed attendees that LIPA is working on a text messaging system to communicate with customers, which is an idea that LIPA got from college campuses. He also stressed that a good emergency system requires all parties to work together.

 "We can't do it alone," Law said. "We need our partners at the county, town and village levels."

John Bruckner, vice president of Long Island's transition and distribution system for National Grid, is confident in the ability to follow through if and when a big weather event occurs.

"We have a plan," Bruckner said. "When it comes down to a significant weather event, we will execute on that plan."

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