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Recognizing that a large hurricane, comparable to the size of Katrina, could strike the Northeast this summer, Dowling College today joined with federal and local officials to address "Long Island Hurricane Preparedness: Federal-Local Coordination before Catastrophe Strikes," a proactive measure to form partnerships with senior officials to plan before disaster strikes.
The press conference, which was held at Dowling’s Rudolph Campus in Oakdale, was coordinated by the Office of Congressman Steve Israel (NY-02) to ensure accountability before a hurricane hits Long Island. Topics discussed included the development of a seamless communication system among all levels of government, method of evacuation for families and their pets, and a plan to coordinate efforts of local hospitals and emergency first responders.
"Thanks to a $300,000 federal grant secured by Congressman Israel, Dowling College has created a multi-track certificate program of Integrated Emergency Management that will allow elected officials, incident commanders, first responders and all citizens to improve communication and management of emergency situations," said Albert E. Donor, Ph.D., President of Dowling College. "Programs such as Dowling’s can alleviate communication and management problems such as those occurring after Hurricane Katrina and other incidents," he added.
Congressman Israel was joined by: Dr. Albert E. Donor, President of Dowling College; Mike Beeman, Director of National Preparedness, FEMA; Col. Robert Felderman, USA Deputy Division Chief of Current Operations for U.S. North Command; Chief Bobby Halton, Ret., Editor in Chief, Fire Engineering; Frank Petrone; Huntington Town Supervisor; Major General William Grisoli, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers North Atlantic Division Commander; Matt Lawrence; author of What To Do Till the Calvary Comes - A Family Guide to Preparedness in the 21st Century; Colonel Rick Polo, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers District Commander for New York; Richard Rotanz, Commissioner of Emergency Management for Nassau County; Joe Williams, Suffolk County Commissioner of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services; and Thomas Crowley, President Suffolk County Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers.
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