Politics & Government

In Wake of Storm, Town Official Pushes 'Swift 911'

Leonard Symons says system has been effective in getting the word out.

Leonard Symons has his own personal weather center at home and talks with famed New York forecast man Mr. G every day.

Yes, he's a confirmed weather geek. But when a hurricane is potentially heading toward Long Island it's nice to have him on your side. The Town of Oyster Bay deputy commissioner for public safety and former councilman has spoken throughout the country on meteorology issues. He's been following the trek of Hurricane Earl closely, and he's urging Town residents to be proactive, not panicked. 

"I think it's important to put everything in perspective," Symons says. "Earl is currently classified as a Category 3 hurricane. It's a major hurricane, and it's major hurricanes that do the most damage. But this hurricane is still four to five days away, and there's no telling where this is going to end up."

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He's quick to add that every computer projection had the eye of the storm far out in the ocean. 

"But every day you could have 40 to 50 miles of tracking error," Symons explains. "You add that up by four or five days and the storm could have a much different effect."

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It's then that Symons interjects what he refers to as Supervisor John Venditto's mission statement: "Prepared today, even more prepared tomorrow."

That's why Symons is urging Town of Oyster Bay residents to go to www.oysterbaytown.com and check out the Town's "Swift 911" feature. It's been in service for the past year, and it helps alert the public in severe weather and emergency situations.

"We can literally do a couple of thousand of calls a minute, and contact the whole town in a little over two hours," Symons says.

Everybody who has a listed phone number in the Town of Oyster Bay is included, but Symons says the service offers much more.

"If you are unlisted, or if you want us to e-mail you, or you have other telephone numbers you want us to call you at like a cell number, you can go to website and sign up," Symons says. "Swift 911 contacts you where you want to be contacted. That's a very, very important to do."

Symons says it's a little premature to be using the system now for Earl. But during a rather white winter Symons says Swift 911 proved its effectiveness.

"It takes [communication] to the next level, Symons says. "We used this during one of the winter's major snow storms telling residents to take their cars off the street, and plowing increased, showing how important it is. We were very satisfied with how that worked out." 

Click here to find the Town of Oyster Bay's Hurricane Safety Guide. 

 


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