City Preparing for Storm at All Levels

Several emergency management meetings will be held with all City of Glen Cove department heads in the coming days as Hurricane Sandy moves north, according to Glen Cove EMS chief Matt Venturino.

"We are prepared and ready to handle whatever mother nature brings our way," Venturino said in an email.

Michael Salentino is director of emergency management.

Here are a few things he said Glen Cove EMS is doing to gear up:

• Topping off each ambulance and response vehicle with fuel.
• Several all-terrain vehicles equipped with medical equipment that would be utilized in case an ambulance is not able to reach a sick or injured person.
• The Mass-Casualty response pick-up truck will be staffed. The vehicle contains large amounts of medical supplies and equipment that could triage and treat up to 25 patients.
• Coordinating with North Shore Glen Cove Hospital as well as the various nursing homes and assistive livings in case any facility would have to be evacuated.
• We’ll have extra medical crews and supplies stationed at EMS Headquarters to handle any increase in calls.

He said the service averages 6-8 calls per day in addition to the preparation work. 

He offered residents a list of basic safety tips:

• Have a stock of flashlights and fresh batteries readily available.
• Move or secure lawn furniture, outdoor decorations, trash cans, hanging plants and anything else that can be picked up by wind and become a projectile.
• Top off your vehicle with fuel.
• Fully charge your cell phone in case telephone lines are down to keep your means of communications open. Carrying a second cell phone battery might be helpful.
• Have a sufficient amount of bottled water and non-perishable food for your family.
• Have enough prescription medication to last a week.

He also supplied the numbers of these emergency numbers for the city:

• Glen Cove Medical or Fire Emergency 516-671-3437
• Glen Cove Police Emergency 516-676-1000
• Glen Cove City Hall 516-676-2000
• Glen Cove Animal Shelter 516-676-5913
• Glen Cove Senior Center 516-759-9610
• Long Island Power Authority- Report Wires Down/Power Outages 800-490-0075
• Nassau County Red Cross 516-747-3500
• Nassau County Office of Emergency Management 516-573-0636

For more preparedness info, visit www.NYRedCross.Org.