CANCELLED: Forum About Storm Response In Chappaqua

Due to the snowstorm forecast for March 21, New Castle officials have cancelled the forum. No new date has been set.

CHAPPAQUA, NY — New Castle residents will have a chance to sound off locally about the nor'easter recovery efforts at a forum titled "Community Conversation: Lessons Learned from Winter Storm Emergencies" scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Chappaqua Library Auditorium.

The community has just weathered a series of winter storms that resulted in widespread power outages, closed roads, and other emergency condition, officials said. Climate change is real; and weather-related emergencies can and will happen again. Now we have a critical task to perform, while our collective memories are fresh, to learn from what happened.

The Town would like you to join with us in asking and answering questions such as: What can be learned from what happened? What worked well and what did not work? How can we improve our readiness and response? We want to hear your feedback, comments, concerns, and suggestions.

The Town Board will use the results of this session to present recommendations for improvement to Con Ed.

We will also use the lessons to enhance our Town’s emergency response plan, as well as our own individual and neighborhood-based plans. An expert on solar power and generators will be on hand to answer questions. The New Castle Building Inspector will be on hand to answer questions.

If you cannot attend but wish to submit comments, email them to StormDamage@MyNewCastle.org.

"The goal is to discuss & learn from the recent winter storms. We want to hear feedback, comments, concerns, and suggestions from New Castle residents," said New Castle Town Supervisor Rob Greenstein.

In addition to Greenstein, panelists will include:

• Ivy Pool, New Castle Council Member, Liaison to the Community Preparedness Committee
• Suzanne Kavic, Chair, Community Preparedness Committee
• Mike Alter - Nita Lowey’s office
• T.J. McCormack - Senator Terrence Murphy
• Joe Orlando - Assemblyman David Buchwald
• Mike Kaplowitz - Westchester County Legislator
• Rand Manasse - Sunrise Solar Solutions, LLC
• Peter James - Chappaqua Paint and Hardware

Community Preparedness Committee

In 2016, New Castle created the Community Preparedness Committee. The scope of the Committee’s efforts shall include exploring the following initiatives:

• Making recommendations to the Town Board on matters pertaining to the Town’s emergency preparedness and coordination with neighboring jurisdictions, and with County, State and Federal agencies;•Educating residents on preparing their households for emergencies;
• Creating citizen training programs for resident volunteers and Committee members;
• Forming volunteer neighborhood emergency teams that would assist the Town in carrying out emergency activities when called upon;
• Preparing an Animal Emergency Preparedness Plan to address the evacuation, care and shelter of our animals during an emergency situation by ensuring the effective evacuation and care of pets in the Town; and
• Applying for grants to assist the Town in improving its emergency preparedness.

PHOTO/ Rick Caulfield