SUFFOLK COUNTY
FIRE, RESCUE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES
911 Communications Center
Fire Marshals Office
Office of Emergency Management
Suffolk County’s
Emergency Preparedness
Initiatives
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2005 hurricane season worst on record (Katrina / Rita)
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2006 Atlantic hurricane season less active than predicted
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Hurricane activity goes in cycles
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Periods of activity followed by periods of inactivity
Presently in an active cycle (could last 10 yrs)
Recent storms have been more intense
Five CAT 5 storms have made landfall
Lessons learned from Katrina and Rita
Suffolk County’s emergency preparedness efforts have moved
forward and we are now more prepared than ever before
Suffolk County’s
Emergency Preparedness Efforts
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Evacuation
Shelters
Special Needs Population
Pets
Logistics
Information Dissemination
Interoperability of Communications
Emergency Operations Center
Suffolk County
Emergency Management
Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
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EOC Activated prior to an emergency
Work with local, state, and federal officials in shelter
management, planning, resource management, and
incident response coordination.
Representatives from utility, transportation, Fire,
Police, Health, EMS , public works, and local
governments meet at the EOC and offer specialty
knowledge and available resources during the
emergency.
Suffolk County
Emergency Management
E-Team Computer Software
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Computer software utilized throughout an
incident to coordinate County response efforts.
E -Team allows responding jurisdictions and
agencies to communicate and collectively
manage their response decisions.
HURREVAC
National Hurricane Center Computer Program
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Plotting forecast tracks and evacuation time
calculations manually is time consuming.
HURREVAC
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Automatically tracks information and displays the results
Updates current and forecast storm data and displays
the track of the storm.
Calculates evacuation times and storm surge based on
storm speed and intensity.
Serves as a tool to help emergency managers determine
the course of action.
Sync Matrix
Argonne National Laboratory
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A computerized planning tool used to compare
coastal storm plans developed by all regional
jurisdictions (Suffolk, Nassau, NYC, Westchester,
MTA and Port Authority) and helps to identify
decision points related to evacuation and response
plans.
Logistics
Citywide Asset and Logistics Management
System (CALMS)
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Web-based system designed to capture information
on our resources that are used in disaster response.
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Identifies facilities, fleet vehicles, heavy equipment,
machinery and emergency supplies from various
county and town agencies.
General Population Shelters
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American Red Cross shelters
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145 school buildings
-108 not in flood zone / 37 in flood zone
- 59 have generators (not in flood zone & w/gen – 37)
Capacity of 108 buildings – 60,000
- Top 25 will be opened first 5/10/10
- Directions to top 25 are on website
 Food, water, basic medical supplies –ARC
 Volunteers needed to staff shelters
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County Run Shelters
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First Responder Shelters
Pet Friendly Shelters
Special Needs Shelters
First Responder Shelters
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Shelter families of law enforcement,
firefighters, EMTs, school bus drivers, etc.
Sheriff’s Office to provide security, food/water
Pet Friendly Shelters
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SC Fire Academy
Ducks Stadium
SCCC Campuses
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Capacity of 750 pets and 550 people
Suffolk County is partnering with SPCA
Owners asked to bring cage, pet food,
medicine, leash, records, water bowl
Special Needs Shelters
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Shelter Locations:
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John J Foley Skilled Nursing Facility
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SCCC Campuses
Town special needs shelters
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Staffing Support:
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Medical Reserve Corps
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CERT
County Employees
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JEEP
Joint Emergency Evacuation Program
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Assists eligible disabled individuals who need
emergency evacuation assistance
Need to pre-register and apply for approval
Database of all JEEP registered individuals
Transportation will be provided to:
 general population shelter
 Special needs shelter
 hospital
Call (631) 852-4900 for application
Evacuation
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Evacuating LI not practical
Evacuate or Shelter-In-Place
Evacuate to higher ground
RUN from the Water
HIDE from the Wind
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County & private bus companies
Bus pick up points designated
Wheelchair accessible vehicles
LIRR – Evacuation Trains
Nursing homes & hospitals –
evacuate 72 hours prior to storm
Mobile homes & trailer parks priority
Logistics
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Pre-positioned supplies
- FEMA/SEMO
- American Red Cross
- Suffolk County
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Food – MRE’s / Heater Meals / Prepared Meals (MOW)
- 3 days food supply in Long Island
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Water Supply
- SCWA has generators for pumping stations
- Bottled water MOU’s
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Air mattresses / Cots – Storage trailers around County
Generators – availability, cost & funding
Logistics
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Fuel supply – prioritize all facilities that
require fuel – diesel & gasoline
MOUs with fuel distributors
LIPA – prioritize electric restoration for critical
infrastructure facilities
LIRR/MTA/Verizon – identified all critical
infrastructure in inundation zone
Communications
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Interoperable 800 MHz radios
Satellite phones – Town OEMs, county
agencies
Amateur Radio Operators (RACES)
GETS (Government Emergency
Telecommunications Service)
Communications
Government Emergency Telecommunications
Service
GETS
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GETS provides emergency personnel priority access for
phone calls when normal calling methods are unsuccessful.
GETS cards are issued to administrative staff of Health,
EMS, Fire, Police, DPW, OEM, County Executive and staff
that are crucial to maintaining our critical infrastructure.
During 9/11 events 10,000 GETS calls attempted in New
York City and Washington area with 95% completion rate.
Emergency
Notifications
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Media – TV, radio
Public Service Announcements
Emergency Alert System (EAS)
NOAA All Hazards Radios
Issued to various nursing
homes, congregate care
facilities, homeless shelters
Reverse 911
Emergency
Notifications
REVERSE 911 SYSTEM
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Suffolk County OEM can target a geographic area
(Block, Town, House, Facility) with a recorded
message to thousands of residents an hour.
Ability to enter groups into a database (JEEP
applicants, CERT Member, ETC.) in the system to
notify of pending hazards.
Community Outreach/Public Information
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Public presentations (English/Spanish) to:
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Community groups
Chambers of commerce
Senior citizen groups
Church groups
Special needs individuals
Minority communities –
East End migrant workers
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Indian Reservation
Website & info materials – English/Spanish version
Map & interactive website for finding nearest shelter
SUFFOLK COUNTY WEBSITE
www.suffolkcountyny.gov
Volunteers
Community Emergency Response Team
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300 trained volunteers
New classes starting regularly
Trained in shelter operations, first aid, search & rescue, firefighting
County Employee Volunteers
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80 employees trained in Shelter Operations
Recruiting more volunteers
How Do I
Prepare
For An
Emergency?
Make a Plan
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Choose a person to contact – preferably an outof-area friend or relative
Choose a meeting area
Know how to contact family
members at all times
Plan for special needs
Plan for pets
Post emergency telephone
numbers by your telephones
Assemble a Kit (Go-Kit)
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Flash light
Important
documents
First Aid materials
Money - CASH
Keys
Non-perishable
supply of food for 45 days
Water
Extra set of clothes
for each family
member
Contact Information
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Medications
Radio
Whistle
Batteries
Plastic bags
Map
Copy of family plan
Personal hygiene Items
Before The Storm
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Secure all loose items in yard
Trim trees that are close to house
Board up windows
Fill car fuel tanks
Water supply – 1 ga/person/day – 3 days
Non-perishable food for 3 days
Turn refrigerator to coldest setting
Close all windows and interior doors
During Storm:
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Stay in an interior first floor room
Stay away from windows and doors
Stay Informed
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Know where to get information
Know if you are in a storm surge zone
Know if the evacuation order affects you
Should you evacuate or shelter-in-place
Listen to radio / watch TV / follow instructions
Keep family members informed
Suffolk County
Multi-Jurisdictional Multi-Hazard
Pre-Disaster Mitigation Plan
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WHAT IS IT?
County wide plan to identify mitigation actions for natural disasters - i.e.
changes to building codes, strengthening infrastructure, beach
nourishment, etc.
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WHY DO WE NEED IT?
Required by Federal Law
Opens up access to two sources of Federal Funds
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WHO’S DOING IT?
Suffolk County, Towns & Villages
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HOW YOU CAN HELP
We need your thoughts and concerns about natural disasters
Please complete and return the Questionnaire or visit our website at:
www.suffolkcountyny.gov /RESPOND
(631) 852-4900