Supervisor Unveils New Hurricane Survival Guide for Residents

AUGUST 16, 2006, FARMINGVILLE, NY – Brookhaven Town Supervisor Brian X. Foley and Congressman Tim Bishop hosted a standing-room-only Disaster Preparedness Forum for town residents on Wednesday, August 16 at the Patchogue Fire Department. Supervisor Foley also unveiled the town’s new Hurricane Survival Guide now available to all Brookhaven Town residents.

Supervisor Foley brought together experts from the county Fire Rescue Emergency Service, the Red Cross and the town’s Department of Public Safety to give residents an outline of how they can best weather the storm if and when a hurricane hits here. The experts held a panel discussion and then answered questions from the audience.

“Citizens of the Town of Brookhaven need to be prepared in the event that a hurricane makes landfall,” said Supervisor Foley. “Tonight we are giving residents the information they need to ensure the safety of themselves and their families in the event of a storm. By taking some relatively simple precautions right now, residents can make sure they will be ready if and when a hurricane hits.

“This panel of experts is here tonight to help residents make a plan for dealing with a hurricane and putting it in place now. The key to preparing for a hurricane is to prepare now, not when the storm is zeroing in on Long Island.

“The new town Hurricane Survival Guide that was created at my request is a great guide for residents as they prepare a hurricane plan. It is a take-home guide to emergency preparedness. The guide has lists of information on how to ensure the safety of you and your family, tips on securing the safety of your homes, belongings, pets and boats, emergency telephone numbers, evacuation maps, medical tips, instructions on preparing a ‘go’ bag, and much, much more. The guide provides step-by-step instructions for every aspect of weathering a hurricane.”

“While none of us may control a storm, we can control our level of knowledge and preparatory measures for ensuring the safety of our residents and their families,” said Councilwoman Bissonette. “The Town of Brookhaven official Hurricane Survival Guide is the first step in educating the public and should be used as a tool to assist in planning, preparing and dealing with a hurricane and the aftermath. It is a living document that over time will evolve as new information and techniques for hurricane preparedness become available.”
 The guide is available by calling the town’s Public Information Office at 631-451-6595.

Supervisor Foley was joined at the forum by elected officials including Congressman Tim Bishop, State Assemblywoman Pat Eddington, County Legislator Jack Eddington, Brookhaven Town Councilwomen Carol Bissonette, Connie Kepert and Kathy Walsh, and Councilman Tim Mazzei.

Office of the Supervisor
One Independence Hill • Farmingville • NY 11738 • Phone (631) 451-6955 • Fax (631) 451-6677