Northport Community Gets Citizen Preparedness Training

Northport-area residents had the chance to learn more about navigating disasters at a citizen preparedness training session Thursday at the Centerport Fire Department.

New York State has partnered with local communities to conduct citizen preparedness training sessions, which Leg. William R. Spencer, M.D. saw as an opportunity to educate residents. The program was presented by Captain Castillo and Captain Totter of the New York Army National Guard who covered how to prepare, respond and recover from natural, man-made or technological disasters.

“We’ve learned from recent experiences that it is critical for our citizens to be prepared when disaster hits,” Spencer told the audience.

“The better prepared we are the more resilient we will be when we are confronted with extreme situations,” he added.

A practicing physician, Spencer discussed the evolving Ebola outbreak that has affected several countries and West Africa and has made its way to the United States.

“In confronting Ebola, we need to be prepared for the worst, but it’s important to put the situation into context and understand that the risk of infection in Suffolk County is small,” he said.

“But, there is a plan in place to prevent the spread of the virus and the federal government is working with the State and County Health Departments on a coordinated effort that will provide rapid response teams to stop further transmission in the event the virus does enter the county.”

Castillo and Totter presented the four steps to preparedness:

· Make a plan

· Prepare an emergency kit

· Be aware

· Get involved

Staff from the county and state’s Office of Emergency Management was on hand to discuss recent policies that have been enacted in response to lessons learned from Super Storm Sandy. These policies include a requirement for the state to stockpile fuel for first responders, highway departments and utility companies in the event that fuel becomes unavailable. Additionally, a state law was enacted requiring fueling stations in the path of an evacuation route to be equipped with generators.

Several website were provided to the residents with information preparedness:

· http://stormrecovery.ny.gov/

· http://www.prepare.ny.gov/

· http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/