Dan's Papers - October 31, 2008 - A "SLOSH Zone" On The North Fork?

Imagine my distress. For years I've been going around telling everyone how special the North Fork is, how beautiful, how friendly, how peaceful. Now here's this guy standing up a few weeks ago in front of a group in the Southold Town Recreation Center in Peconic. And he says most of the North Fork is a "SLOSH zone."

Well, I was furious. Slosh, to me, is dirty dishwater or what's in the bottom of a soup pot left unwashed for a couple of days. Slosh was certainly not a word used to describe the North Fork.

So who was this guy? I'd have to listen closely. If he said anything else bad about the North Fork I'd report him to somebody. I didn't know who, but somebody.

His name is Bob Conklin from New York State Emergency Management office. His official car was right next to mine outside in the parking lot. It had big gold letters on it reading New York State. So I figured it was a safe spot for me to park. Anyway, Bob turned out to be really smart and cheery and I'll tell you more later.

First, though, Assemblyman Marc Alessi welcomed us to Hurricane Preparedness Day. Mr. Alessi said Nassau and Suffolk executives Suozzi and Levy were concerned about hurricane preparedness on Long Island - especially after Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. Mr. Alessi said he remembered Hurricane Gloria in '85. I didn't want to tell anyone I remembered the hurricane of 1938. That one was called the Long Island Express.

"We can't be complacent," said Mr. Alessi, "We have to know what to do if a hurricane comes our way, and we have to be prepared to evacuate."

At that point Mr. Alessi introduced Bob, the sloshman, who fully redeemed himself by explaining that a SLOSH zone is an area that can be inundated with water. In the North Fork's case, with a wall of water from Long Island Sound or Peconic Bay. Bob said evacuation would be our best bet and we should make friends with people who live on a hill or else in the center of Long Island. I already know a family on a hill on Adirondack Drive in Farmingville. The Peconic Bay won't reach me there. So I'm going to call Mary and tell her to expect me anytime now.

Then Bob said we should set up a GO BAG. That's an already-packed bag you can just grab if you have to evacuate. He said keep the bag in one place in your home and let every family member know where it is. That could be under your bed if there's any space there not taken up with other stuff.

In that GO BAG are important things like a wind-up flashlight and radio, water, medicines, a change of clothes, extra eyeglasses, important family documents, a deck of cards, a book, and food.

Get this. On display was something called Heater Meals. The meals are in a box and the food doesn't require heating with electric or gas. You just tear the strip off the box and somehow the food heats up. Don't ask me. I saw a box labeled Pepper Steak with Rice and one labeled Vegetarian 3-Cheese Lasagna. Those sounded good although I'd prefer sauerbraten, which I did not see. I might contact somebody about that.

A Red Cross lady named D.J. Rosenthal spoke after Bob. She told us about shelters (there's a pet-friendly shelter at Suffolk County Community College in Riverhead) and how there are Mass Care kits in place at the shelters. If there's an emergency evacuation, police will let you know what shelter to go to or just listen to your local radio station. She suggested taking cash in a waterproof bag. ATM machines need electricity. She also told us to "get lost." That's what she said. But she didn't really want us to go home - she just wants us to explore local roads so we know alternative routes.

After the meeting, I spoke with Orient's Burke Liburt. He's a firefighter and EMT with Orient Fire Department. These guys are right on top of things and we're grateful.

Remember, hurricane season can go well into November, so if you'd like complete lists of supplies and instructions for your home and car, call the Red Cross or Mr. Alessi at 631-929-5540. You'll be glad you did - especially if you live in SLOSHland.