Many individuals deserved credit for establishing a shelter at the in preparation for Hurricane Irene. If you read “Standing Together During Hurricane Irene,” Councilwoman DeRiggi-Whitton unfortunately omitted many individuals who deserved credit.
I volunteered at the Locust Valley and Glen Cove shelter sites from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 27. Although Councilwoman DeRiggi-Whitton was “especially impressed by Glen Cove City Coucnilman [sic] Tony Jimenez,” these persons should also receive credit for establishing the shelter:
- Ricardo Mercado, my colleague in Nassau County, helped me coordinate logistical support for the shelter. He and I were in constant communication with Nassau County Office of Emergency Management.
- Nassau County Detectives Jose Mercado and Frederick Goldman provided site security from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.They also helped set up 100 cots in the Glen Cove High School gymnasium.
- As the rain poured late Saturday morning, Detective Mercado and I joined Glen Cove City School District employees in unloading and transporting miscellaneous equipment from the Red Cross’ emergency container on Old Tappan Road to the school gymnasium. These school employees are John Macchione, Sal Scutifero, Frank Zangari, Sal DiMaggio and Travis Basile. Joe Fiorino, director of facilities for the school district, was especially helpful in obtaining portable generators, fuel, and emergency lighting for the shelter site.
- Glen Cove High School students Billy Neice, Alex Aguilar, Charlie Gustella, Nicky Rant, Paul Cavese and Josh Martin were essential members of the shelter team. Each student quickly set up cots in the gymnasium.
- When I called Mayor Ralph Suozzi late Saturday morning and asked him for volunteers, he sent D.J. Martone (a member of the Glen Cove Volunteer Fire Department) and Jeff Jackson (captain of the fire police). The mayor joined them in setting up cots.
Vince Lombardi said, “Individual commitment to a group effort – that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.” I witnessed this on that day.
