Thursday, July 21, 2011

FEMA Encourages Community and Organizations Involvement

FEMA Encourages Americans to Participate in

September’s National Preparedness Month
Eighth Annual National Preparedness Month in September:
"A Time to Remember. A Time to Prepare,"
Encourages Americans to Take Simple Steps to Prepare for Emergencies


WASHINGTON - The Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Ready Campaign, in partnership with Citizen Corps and the Ad Council, today announced the launch of new web tools that will make it easier for individuals and organizations throughout the nation to join the 2011 National Preparedness Month (NPM) coalition and pledge their support to help prepare their families, businesses and communities for emergencies of all kinds.

The eighth annual NPM will kickoff this September, using the slogan: "A Time to Remember. A Time to Prepare." The campaign seeks to transform awareness into action by encouraging all Americans to take the necessary steps to ensure that their homes, workplaces and communities are prepared for disasters and emergencies of all kinds.

"As we move forward with planning for this year's events and activities, we also recognize that this September marks the ten year anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks," said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. "By doing what we can to ensure that our communities, and our nation, are prepared to respond and recover from all types of disasters and hazards, we honor the memory of those who were lost that day."

Individuals and groups can now register to become NPM coalition members by visiting http://community.fema.gov. Once registered, members have access to a toolkit that includes suggestions for activities and events, templates, articles, banners and customizable materials. Coalition members also have access to an events calendar allowing them to post and promote preparedness events, share success stories, and participate in national and regional discussion forums to engage with fellow coalition members and FEMA representatives.

By hosting events, promoting volunteer programs and sharing emergency preparedness information, coalition members can help ensure that their communities are prepared for emergencies. Becoming a coalition member is easy and free, so register now to get started. Nearly 2,000 coalition members have already joined this year's campaign.

While NPM is held each September, FEMA's Ready Campaign promotes individual emergency preparedness at home, in the workplace, and throughout America's communities throughout the year. Ready is a national campaign, produced in partnership with The Ad Council, designed to educate and empower Americans to prepare for and respond to all types of emergencies, including natural disasters and potential terrorist attacks.

The Ready Campaign's websites (ready.gov and listo.gov) and toll-free numbers (1-800-BE-READY and 1-888-SE-LISTO) provide free emergency preparedness information and resources available in English and Spanish. Additionally, through FEMA's partnership with the Ad Council, public service announcements are available to increase the American public's involvement in preparedness.

Town of Hempsteads Pools to Assist Island Harvest

The Town of Hempstead will dive into Island Harvest's "Make a Splash" Pool Food Drive with the participation of its 21 community swimming pools. Through August 7th, each of the pools will be collecting perishable food items to feed and nourish Long Island's hungry.

"Here in Hempstead Town it's everybody in the pool to assist our good friends at Island Harvest," stated Supervisor Kate Murray. "Over 280,000 Long Islanders go hungry every day including 110,000 children. The Island Harvest food bank works diligently to help feed our hungry neighbors through food distribution to 570 nonprofit agencies in Nassau and Suffolk Counties."

Anyone coming to enjoy the refreshing waters of a Hempstead Town pool is asked to bring along canned vegetables, meats, fish or fruits, soups, sauces, pasta, cereals, dry milk, almond or soy milk, coffee, tea, personal care items, nutritional beverages or personal hygiene items. There will be collection receptacles clearly and conveniently placed at each pool to accumulate the food items.

To introduce a competitive aspect to the collection drive, Island Harvest will present awards to the three pools that collect the most food.

The roster of Hempstead Town pools participating in the food drive includes: Averill Blvd. Park, Elmont; Echo Park, West Hempstead; Forest City Park, Wantagh; Hewlett Point Park, Bay Park; Newbridge Road Park, Bellmore; Oceanside Park, Oceanside; Rath Park, Franklin Square; Roosevelt Pool, Roosevelt; Veterans Park, East Meadow; Walker Park, Lakeview; Sands Pool, Lido Beach; Lido Beach Town Park, Lido Beach and Malibu Park, Point Lookout.

In addition, all nine pools in the Levittown Pool District are participating: Acorn Lane, Azalea Road, Blue Grass Lane, Carman Avenue, East Village Green, Levittown Parkway, Slate Lane, West Village Green and Wolcott Road.

"In communities across our township residents will be responding as they always do, with kind heart and helping hand," added Supervisor Murray. "I imagine our collection efforts will go 'swimmingly' and our pools will provide invaluable assistance to the Island Harvest campaign."

Western Nassau Water Authority Issues Warning to Customers

Residents who use the Western Nassau Water Authority as their company reside in North Valley Stream, Franklin Square, Elmont, Floral Park, New Hyde Park, Stewart Manor and Garden City.

"Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes and food preparation until further notice," said a recording on the authority's phone line, 516- 327-4100.  Also the following information is posted on the water authority website, http://www.wawnc.org/

 One out of 11 water samples collected by the Water Authority on July 18, 2011 was found positive for E. coli bacteria. This bacteria can make you sick, and is a particular concern for people with weakened immune systems.

The Water Authority believes that this is a localized issue. On July 18, 2011 a distribution sampling location near N. Fletcher Avenue and Dutch Broadway tested positive for E. coli. Upon resampling of the location on July 19, 2011, there was no detection of E. coli. or Total Coliform bacteria; however a location near N. Fletcher Avenue and Dutch Broadway tested positive for Total Coliform bacteria, but negative for E. coli triggering this mandatory notification response.

The Nassau County Department of Health also took samples in our distribution system on July 19, 2011. All the Health Department’s samples showed no detection of either E. coli or Total Coliform bacteria.

All well and water storage tanks that supply water to the area were also sampled on July 19, 2011. There were no detections of E. coli or Total Coliform bacteria in any of those samples.

The Water Authority will be flushing the water mains in the area of the contamination, and increase the level of chlorine (sodium hypochlorite), which is used for disinfection purposes in the distribution system. We will continue to take samples from the wells, storage tanks, and treatment facilities that supply water to the affected area, and in the distribution system in and around the affected area. We will inform you when tests show no bacteria and you no longer need to boil your water.

What should I do?

DO NOT DRINK THE WATER WITHOUT BOILING IT FIRST. Bring all water to a boil, let it boil for one minute, and let it cool before using, or use bottled water. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and food preparation until further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water. Use only food that was prepared prior to July 18, 2011. Discard any ice made after July 18, 2011, turn off ice makers and disinfect once the boil water notice is lifted.

Fecal coliforms and E. coli are bacteria whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes. Microbes in these wastes can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, some of the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems.

The symptoms above are not caused only by organisms in drinking water. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical advice. People at increased risk should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers.

What happened? What is being done?

Bacterial contamination can occur when there is a break in the distribution system (pipes) or a failure in the water treatment process.

For more information, please contact Customer Service at 516-327-4100 or 58 S. Tyson Avenue, Floral Park, NY 11001. If you require further assistance call the Nassau County Department of Health at 516-227-9692 or after hours number at 516-742-6154. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1(800) 426-4791.

Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

REACH Silver Alert

ISMAEL CRUZ
Disability: BI POLAR/SCHIZOPRENIA

Age 20
Race OTHER
Sex M
Height 5'08''
Weight 240 LBS
Hair
Eyes
Language ENGLISH
LIGHT SKIN, 5'9", CHUBBY WITH NO FACIAL HAIR AND RED PIMPLES
ISMAEL IS MALE ON RIGHT IN PHOTO
LAST SEEN AT 1 TUDOR CRESCENT, ELMONT ON 7/12/2011 AT 06:30 WEARING RED, WHITE, BLACK POLO SHIRT, BLACK SHORTS AND BLACK SNEAKERS

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

IMPACT

Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano, District Attorney Kathleen Rice and Acting Nassau County Police Department Commissioner Thomas Krumpter announced today (June 23rd) the results of Operation IMPACT and the Criminal Intelligence Rapid Response Teams (CIRRT) initiative. Over a two month time period, law enforcement agencies throughout Nassau County utilized Operation IMPACT and forfeiture funds to conduct a Gun Buy Back Program, a week long warrant sweep and a DNA collection that resulted in 87 guns, 100 warrant arrests and 125 DNA samples in addition to arrest of 201 individuals, the generation of 164 case reports, the issuance of 547 tickets, the issuance of 106 appearance tickets, 388 field interviews and three gun arrests.


“Utilizing both state grant funds and asset forfeiture funds our officers have made one of the safest counties in the nation even safer,” said County Executive Mangano. “Using intelligence led policing in conjunction with partnerships among our law enforcement agencies we can and have made a tremendous difference in the quality of life enjoyed by our residents.”

“The streets of Nassau County are safer today because our law enforcement agencies are committed to not just being tough on crime, but smart on crime as well,” said District Attorney Kathleen Rice. “By getting guns out of our neighborhoods, collecting more DNA samples, and arresting dangerous criminals, we are taking proactive steps to ensure the safety of every community.”

Operation IMPACT is an intelligence-led enforcement initiative aimed at combatting gangs, guns and violence. This is the 7th year that Nassau County has participated in the program. Funding for these initiatives were supplied by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services under Operation IMPACT and when needed Nassau County Police Department asset forfeiture funds were utilized. Operation IMPACT supports strategic crime-fighting and violence reduction initiatives in the 17 counties outside of New York City that account for 80 percent of the crime upstate and on Long Island. Key principles of Operation IMPACT include information sharing and partnerships among law enforcement agencies, intelligence-based policing, timely use of accurate crime data and involvement of community organizations.

"Through the effective utilization of IMPACT grant funding and asset forfeiture funds, and with the assistance of our law enforcement partners, the Department continues to drive serious crime to its lowest level in decades,” said Acting Police Commissioner Thomas Krumpter. “Initiatives such as CIRRT leverage our adoption of an Intelligence Led Policing philosophy. The results of our latest collaboration with other law enforcement agencies are illustrative of the benefits of continuing to further such relationships. The membership of this Department and our partners have once again served the residents of Nassau well in our endeavors to keep our citizens safe.”

County Executive Cup

Mangano Announces 2011 Nassau County Executive Cup


Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano announced that on July 23, 2011 Nassau will be hosting the County’s top high school and adult soccer players to participate in the First Annual Nassau County Executive Cup, which will be held at Mitchel Athletic Complex.

The finest high school boys’ soccer players from around Nassau County will showcase their talents in front of college coaches from the tri-state area. This event will provide high school athletes the opportunity to compete with the best in the county.

This night is essentially a showcase of the stars. Beginning at 4:45 p.m., 40 Nassau County High School athletes will be competing in the College Showcase Event. These 40 athletes have endured 3 rigorous tryouts that attracted 162 athletes, to be named one of Nassau County Executive Cup participants.

“Nassau County has some tremendous athletes,” said County Executive Mangano. “I am very proud of these young competitors as they are a true representation of the wonderful athletic programs Nassau County enjoys today. These young stars will have the opportunity to showcase their abilities in front of a myriad of college coaches invited from all over the tri-state area, as they continue their pursuit of playing soccer at the collegiate level.”

Following the high school showcase, Long Island’s own professional soccer club, The Long Island Rough Riders will play a match against the 2011ENYSSA Manning Cup Champions, The Mineola Portuguese Soccer Club. The Mineola Portuguese Soccer Club was the 2009 & 2010 Long Island Football League Champions as well as a 2009 Eastern New York State Cup finalist. The Long Island Rough Riders were victorious in the 1995 & 2002 United Soccer League Championship. These two powerhouses will square off at 7:15 p.m., during which the fans and young stars will get an opportunity to view our current stars play for the Executive Cup’s Trophy. These established men are tremendous soccer players, and will provide an entertaining atmosphere for people of all ages.

With over 3.5 billion fans and thousands of professional clubs spanning the globe, soccer reigns supreme as the world’s most popular sport. While other sports may seem more popular in the US, no other game rivals the excitement, patronage, and competitive spirit that soccer fans enjoy.

“Due to soccer’s close relationship with our beloved Nassau County, I am proud to announce that we will be holding the 1st annual Executive Cup Showcase on Saturday, July 23rd, displaying the absolute best soccer talent in Nassau County! This free event will be held at the Mitchel Athletic Complex (Stadium Turf Field), with gates opening at 3:30 p.m.,” said Mangano.

The 1st Annual Nassau County Executive Cup is organized and executed by and GO Sports, university placement specialists for student-athletes. For more information, please visit www.andGOSports.com. We ask for your support and assistance in making this event a success today and in future years to come.

The 49-acre Mitchel Athletic Complex centrally located just west of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, hosts a variety of local high school and collegiate athletic events, as well as local sports leagues annually. The facility includes a track and field stadium (nine lanes) with an oval containing a synthetic field suitable for football, soccer and lacrosse.

Know the Signs

Know the Signs


Summer is here and along with it comes hot and humid conditions. Rising temperatures, and upcoming heat waves can create a dangerous environment for the residents and visitors of Nassau County. In an effort to help prevent heat related medical conditions, we have put together some tips to keep Nassau residents aware of the signs and symptoms of heat related medical conditions such as dehydration, heatstroke, and heat exhaustion. In addition, we have also listed some tips on how to prevent heat stroke and dehydration and how to treat heat stroke and heat exhaustion.

We would like to remind residents to dial 911 at the first sign of a medical emergency,” “In addition, we'd also ask that residents check on their family, friends and neighbors, especially if they are senior citizens.”

Signs & Symptoms:
Heat Exhaustion
· Severe thirst
· Fatigue
· Muscle cramps
· Aches
· Muscle weakness
· Nausea and/or vomiting
· Fast, shallow breathing
· Irritability
· Headache
· Increased sweating
· Cool, clammy skin
· Elevation of body temperature to 105 degrees Fahrenheit or higher

Heat Stroke
· Severe throbbing headache
· Dizziness
· Disorientation, agitation or confusion
· Sluggishness or fatigue
· Seizure
· Hot, dry skin that is flushed but not sweaty
· A high body temperature
· Loss of consciousness
· Rapid heart beat
· Hallucinations

Dehydration
· Thirst
· Less-frequent urination
· Dry skin
· Fatigue
· Light-headedness
· Dizziness
· Confusion
· Dry mouth and mucous membranes
· Increased heart rate and breathing

In children, additional symptoms may include dry mouth and tongue; no tears when crying; no wet diapers for more than 3 hours; sunken abdomen, eyes or cheeks; high fever; listlessness; irritability; skin that does not flatten when pinched and released.

How Heatstroke Can Be Prevented·
Drink plenty of fluids during outdoor activities; water and sports drinks are preferred; tea, coffee, soda and alcohol should be avoided

· Wear lightweight, tightly woven, loose-fitting clothing in light colors
· Schedule vigorous activity and sports for cooler times of the day
· Protect yourself from the sun by wearing a hat, sunglasses and using an umbrella
· Increase time spent outdoors gradually get your body used to the heat
· During outdoor activities, take frequent drink breaks and mist yourself with a spray bottle to avoid becoming overheated
· Try to spend as much time indoors as possible on very hot humid days

How dehydration Can Be Prevented
· Drink plenty of fluids, especially when working or playing in the sun
· Make sure you are taking in more fluid than you are losing
· Drink appropriate sports drinks to help maintain electrolyte balance
· Infants and children should be given Pedialyte to maintain their electrolyte balance

How to treat Heatstroke and Heat Exhaustion
· Bring the person indoors, or into the shade immediately
· Remove their clothing, and gently apply cool water to the skin followed by fanning to stimulate sweating
· Apply ice packs to the groin and armpits
· Have the person lie down in a cool area with their feet slightly elevated

Governor Cuomo Signs Law Strengthening Enforcement Against Drivers Caught Using Handheld Electronic Devices

New Legislation Makes Using Handheld Electronic Devices while Driving a Primary Traffic Offense; Additional Regulation will Increase Penalty from 2 Points to 3 Points for Cell Phone and Electronic Device Usage While Driving

Albany, NY (July 12, 2011)

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today signed a new law that strengthens the enforcement against drivers who use handheld electronic devices for activities such as texting while a vehicle is in motion. The legislation makes this action a primary traffic offense, giving law enforcement the power to stop drivers solely for engaging in this activity.

The Governor also announced today that he will increase the penalty for using a cellular phone without a hands-free device or a handheld device while driving from two to three points through changes in state regulations.

"I am proud to sign this bill today, both as the Governor and as a father of three teenagers," Governor Cuomo said. "It's plain and simple: distracted driving leads to tragedies that have affected families all across New York. This new law will help ensure that drivers keep their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel. I thank Senator Marcellino and Assemblyman Weisenberg for their hard work on this legislation."

Before this law, it was illegal for drivers to use handheld electronic devices while their vehicle was in motion, but it was a secondary traffic offense -- meaning a driver had to be stopped for another violation in order to receive a ticket.

The new law makes it a primary traffic offense and it will go into effect immediately. The monetary penalty for a violation of this law continues to be a fine of up to $150.

Illegal activity includes holding an electronic device and:

Composing, sending, reading, accessing, browsing, transmitting, saving, or retrieving electronic data such as e-mail, text messages, or webpages

Viewing, taking, or transmitting images

Playing games

The law does not penalize drivers using a handheld electronic device that is affixed to a surface or using a GPS device that is attached to the vehicle. The law also exempts police officers, fire fighters, or emergency vehicle drivers while they are performing their duties. In addition, a driver is exempt from the law if the driver is communicating or attempting to communicate with law enforcement, the fire department, or medical personnel during an emergency situation.

New York State Senator Carl L. Marcellino said, "With this new legislation, New York State driving laws have finally caught up with today's technology. Our new law will strengthen enforcement against drivers using handheld electronic devices and help keep drivers, passengers, and pedestrians safe. I am proud to stand with Governor Cuomo as he signs the bill I sponsored into law and we finally make distracted driving a serious offense."

New York State Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg said, "As a former police officer, I've seen the devastation caused by distracted drivers. Today, we are giving law enforcement the tools they need to keep our roads safe and prevent future accidents. These changes will save lives. I'd like to thank Governor Cuomo for supporting this law and I look forward to our continued work together."

New York State Police Superintendent Joseph A. D'Amico said, "Motorists should now realize the dangers of operating a motor vehicle while texting on mobile devices or talking on a cell phone without an approved hands-free device. This change in the statute will allow law enforcement to continue the battle against distracted driving. Distracted driving is dangerous driving and drivers must reduce diversion and behaviors that take their attention from the road. Attentive, responsible, defensive driving is the key to avoiding crashes and keeping our highways safe."

New York City Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly said, "It's no secret that violations of the no-texting and no use of hand held devices while driving rules are widespread despite their nexus to accidents, including fatalities. This legislation is a welcome step toward saving lives."

President of AAA New York State Thomas Hoy said, "With nearly 2 trillion text messages sent last year, texting represents the most dangerous form of distracted driving. We applaud the Governor and lawmakers for stiffening the consequences for those who jeopardize the rest of us with their careless conduct."

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 16% of fatal accidents in 2009 were due to distracted driving and 20% of people injured during a crash were involved in a crash where distracted driving was reported. A study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that truck drivers who were texting were 23 times more at risk of a crash or near crash.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Thanks to 5th Precinct Dedicated Crossing Guards

Deputy Presiding Officer John J. Ciotti Thanks Crossing Guards for Dedicated Service

Deputy Presiding Officer John J. Ciotti and Legislator Vincent Muscarella were proud to join with members of the Nassau County Police Department’s Fifth Precinct to thank three outstanding crossing guards, who retired at school’s end, for their years of dedicated service.

“The crossing guards, who keep our neighborhood children and other pedestrians safe each day, deserve to be honored for all they do.” Legislator Ciotti said.

Pictured along with the crossing guards from the Fifth Precinct are: Deputy Presiding Officer Ciotti, Legislator Vincent Muscarella, and honorees Benedetta Sterling, Angela Goldman, and Jeanne Cannella.