Town Schedules Hurricane Seminar

The town’s Department of Public Safety will host a hurricane/emergency management seminar on June 19.

The session is scheduled for the Morrelly Homeland Security Center, 510 Grumman Road West, Bethpage.

The purpose of the seminar is to inform residents on how to prepare for a hurricane or other weather emergency, when to evacuate, what to do if a storm hits and how to best respond during the aftermath. It will also cover other emergencies that could affect residents.

Leaders in the fields of meteorology and emergency management will lead the seminars, which will be directed by Leonard B. Symons, deputy commissioner of the town’s Department of Public Works.

Symons specializes in issues relating to Emergency Management and Public Safety and is a weather expert who has trained at the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida.

There will also be an overview of the SWIFTREACH 911 Emergency Notification System and a tour of the Morrelly Homeland Security Center, which is home to Nassau County’s Office of Emergency Management.

“Locally, destructive wind and rain storms like last year’s Tropical Storm Irene, have made us more aware of being ready for hurricane season,” said Supervisor John Venditto. “All residents should compile an emergency kit, know evacuation routes and be familiar with shelter locations. These topics, and others, will be discussed at the seminar.

“This seminar is an important way to learn from the experts what you need to know to ensure that you and your family will be prepared should a hurricane, blizzard, nor’easter or other type of natural disaster find its way to Long Island,” Venditto said.

For more information about the hurricane seminar, residents can call the Town’s Department of Public Safety at 677-5350.

Hurricane Safety Reminders can also be found on the inside back cover of the 2012 Town Calendar. The town will mail a hurricane safety guide, which contains information to help prepare for a hurricane or nor’easter.