Supervisor Petrone addresses participants at the workshop.

Upholding his commitment to public safety and emergency preparedness, Supervisor Frank P. Petrone recently hosted a workshop of Suffolk County emergency response providers and key staff personnel to kick-off the preparation of a new plan to better manage the response to natural and man-made hazards.

The plan, required under Federal law, is intended to further assist the Town in responding to natural disasters such as hurricanes and adverse winter weather and man-made disasters such as a terrorist attack or a hazardous material release.

"This new document, along with our existing Emergency Preparedness Plan, represents our continued commitment to safeguarding the public during adverse weather and other emergency situations," said Supervisor Petrone. "Both plans are ‘living' documents that will constantly be updated and expanded to address the changing times and needs of our residents."

Representatives from the Suffolk County Office of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services conducted the workshop, held August 5 at Town Hall. Participating in the meeting were representatives from two of the four incorporated villages of Huntington; Suffolk County Police; U.S. Coast Guard; Huntington Hospital; Veterans Administration Hospital at Northport Dix Hills Water District; and local school districts.

Those in attendance will continue to serve on the Town's new All Hazards Working Group, an ad-hoc committee that will operate under the auspices of the Town's Homeland Security Committee.

 Topics discussed at the workshop included:

• Scope: What area or areas within the Town could be impacted by a hazard and what are the chances of the hazard triggering another hazard, causing a cascade effect?

• Frequency: A prediction of how often a hazard will occur in the future. These include rare events, infrequent events, regular events and frequent events.

• Impact: Based on the worst-case event, must assess impacts on people, private property and community infrastructure.

Discussion was also held on the warning times of incidents; how long the incidents last and finally, the time it takes to stabilize after an incident.

Last year, Town Board members formally accepted a revised and expanded Emergency Preparedness Plan that provides support and guidance to those who play integral roles in assisting the Town when responding to any emergency or disaster. The updated Plan includes the addition of a Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Appendix; a revised chain of command; and a new design and layout to enhance communication and response.

"Three years ago, our perception and understanding of emergency planning and preparedness changed forever," Supervisor Petrone said. Many of these terms were familiar to only emergency responders and government officials. Today, these terms are part of everyone's vocabulary."

The Town will submit the All Hazards Plan to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Suffolk County Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services by November.