Hauppauge, NY - January 22, 2016 - In anticipation of the pending blizzard warning issued by the national Weather Service, Island Harvest Food Bank today announced the activation of its emergency response protocols due to the blizzard conditions forecasted throughout the region beginning early Saturday morning and continuing throughout the day.
A blizzard warning is in effect for Long Island from 4:00 a.m. Saturday until noon on Sunday. According to the National Weather Service, Nassau and Suffolk counties can expect between 6 and 10 inches of snow with slightly lower amounts on the Twin Forks. Coastal flooding and high winds are also forecasted.
Island Harvest currently has stockpiles of bottled water and MREs (meals, ready to eat) at its Hauppauge Distribution Center. The product is ready to be distributed to areas impacted by the storm, should the need arise. Island Harvest will also maintain drivers and staff to deliver the supplies if needed, and to assist first responders in affected areas with food, water and other vital supplies.
Island Harvest will remain in contact with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the American Red Cross, and the emergency management offices of both Nassau and Suffolk counties, and the Long Island Voluntary Organization Active in Disaster (LIVOAD) throughout the weekend. The organization is also in communications with Feeding America, a national network of food banks; in the event aid and assistance is required in other parts of the east coast also facing severe storm conditions due to Hurricane Joaquin.
The National Weather Service further advises that travel could be extremely dangerous with whiteout conditions during the storm and that roads may become impassable, and high winds could bring down electric lines and tree limbs and Island Harvest echoes the advice of officials in urging Long Islanders to stay home, if possible, during the storm.
Island Harvest’s regularly scheduled distribution of food to its member agencies across Long Island on Monday will commence as usual. Agencies will be notified of any changes, should they occur, or can contact Island Harvest at 516-294-8528, extension 117.
Island Harvest will issue updates accordingly and as necessary. For more information visit online, or call 631-873-4775.
About Island Harvest Food Bank
Island Harvest Food Bank is a leading hunger-relief organization that provides food and other resources to people in need. Always treating those it helps with dignity and respect, its goal is to end hunger and reduce poverty on Long Island through efficient food collection and distribution; enhanced hunger-awareness and nutrition-education programs; job training; and direct services targeted at children, senior citizens, veterans and others at risk. Approximately 94 cents of every dollar donated to Island Harvest goes to programs that support more than 316,000 Long Islanders. Island Harvest is a lead agency in the region’s emergency-response preparedness for food and product distribution, and is a member of Feeding America, the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity. More information can be found at www.islandharvest.org.