Long Island’s Red Cross Chapters Are Ready for Earl
FARMINGDALE, N.Y., Sept. 1, 2010 – The affect Hurricane Earl may have on Long Island is yet to be seen; however, the Nassau and Suffolk County Chapters of the American Red Cross announced at a press conference today that they are ready.
Working together, the chapters have pre-positioned cots, blankets and other supplies at 50 locations that could serve as shelters during a disaster, providing refuge for nearly 60,000 residents. Besides assuring residents that the Red Cross is prepared, representatives took the opportunity to encourage Long Islanders to examine their own plans.
“While we hope that the storm will veer away, hope is no substitute for preparedness,” said Frank Cassano, chief executive officer of the Nassau County Red Cross.
The Red Cross was joined at the conference by Michael Hervey, the Long Island Power Authority’s chief operating officer. Hervey spoke about the possibility of power outages—reinforcing the importance of having supplies like water, non-perishable food, flashlights and radios at home. Also in attendance was Frank Palma of Coca Cola Enterprises. The company’s Hauppauge-based plant has bottled water loaded and ready to ship to Red Cross shelters if needed.
To learn more about hurricane preparedness, Long Islanders can visit www.liprepares.org.
