WHAT: Red Cross to hold region-wide hurricane shelter drill with plans to open 34 shelters across Metropolitan New York, including Long Island, New York City, Westchester County, the lower Hudson Valley and Greenwich, Ct. The Nassau Red Cross will open one shelter and simulate opening 19 others.

WHY: To prepare Red Cross staff and volunteers to open multiple shelters during a major disaster like a hurricane. Experts predict that the 2010 Atlantic Hurricane Season will see above-average activity, with the possibility of 14-23 named storms—8 to 14 of which are expected to be hurricanes and 3-7 could be major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher). Besides training volunteers, it will help partner agencies better understand their roles.

WHO: Volunteers and staff of the Nassau Red Cross, as well as partner agencies which include Nassau County CERT; Nassau Amateur Radio Emergency Services; the NY Guard; Coca Cola Enterprises; and Save the Children. 

WHEN: THURSDAY, June 10, 2010: Youth volunteers from the newly-formed Youth Disaster Action Team will help setup the Emergency Operations Center beginning at 6:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, June 12, 2010: The drill will begin at 7 a.m. when volunteers report to the Red Cross staffing center to be processed and receive their assignments which could be to the Emergency Operations Center or one of 20 shelters. From 9-12 p.m., the public is invited to act as “evacuees” at Nassau Community College.

WHERE: The Nassau Red Cross Emergency Operations Center will be located at 195 Willis Avenue, Mineola, 11501. Volunteer registration and staffing will take place at Corpus Christi Elementary School, 120 Searing Avenue, Mineola. The main shelter will be at Nassau Community College, in the physical education building, One Education Drive, Garden City, 11530.

PHOTO, VIDEO AND INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE

FOR MORE INFO, CONTACT SAM KILLE, 516-297-0175

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