Hurricane Seminar Explores Post-Irene Lessons

A Hurricane Preparedness Seminar which recently took place at the on was fortuitously scheduled several weeks prior to Irene. What was slated to be a routine presentation regarding possible emergency scenarios, took on a whole added dimension in light of the recent Tropical Storm Irene which rattled the area.

Senator Lee Zeldin and Assemblyman Dean Murray were joined by Mike Visgauss, a State Farm insurance representative who has been inundated with thousands of claims, most relatively minor, since 8 a.m. Sunday morning after the storm hit.

Zeldin explained that this seminar was one of many events planned, involving an one-on-one opportunity for constituents to come in and share experiences and issues that still need to be resolved in the wake of Irene, while reflecting on lessons learned to prepare for next time.

Patchogue resident Nan Jessup, 70, a retired registered nurse was one of those in attendance.

"It's been a long time since I've done disaster nursing; I thought this would be a good refresher. If I learn one thing that helps me out next time, I'll be glad I came. I want my neighbors to be safe," Jessup said.

During Irene, Jessup heeded the evacuation warning issued for her area, and sought shelter at a friend's Holbrook home. Luckily, her home suffered no damage. Jessup said she also has a home in Vermont, which was also hit hard by the storm.

“We lucked out twice. We have a place in Vermont, right across from the Black River. We hear our home there is fine," Jessup said.

Assemb. Murray asked Jessup whether she felt the government had been too cautious or not cautious enough, when it came to hurricane preparedness. He had heard both opinions on the matter. Jessup felt the precautions taken were "just right."

"I'd rather be too prepared. The other way could have been tragic," Murray said.

The slow restoration of power to homes that lost it was also discussed at the seminar. Murray called restoring power to Long Island a "Herculean task."

"My biggest complaint with LIPA is not the work, they're doing the best they can, it's the lack of communication with us and others," said Murray. "When you don't hear anything, and don't see crews out there, I understand people's frustration."

Visgauss encouraged people to be more proactive in preparing for hurricanes long before they strike. He explained that most insurance policies have a fixed deductable of $500 or $1000, which is standard. However, for a windstorm or hurricane, insurance operates under a different standard: five percent of the amount for which the home is insured.

"People have to save up money, serious money, for when they do have a hurricane impact ... If people started saving a little money over time, they would have a bank account," Visgauss said. "This is what it's going to come down to one day."

Anyone who still doesn't have power can contact Senator Zeldin's district office at 631-585-0608.

Another Emergency Preparedness Seminar is slated to be held in Patchogue sometime in October.