Video: Watch the StoryDisaster Preparedness Tips from the American Red Cross
There is no way to tell yet exactly where or if Isabel will make landfall. Still, coastal residents along the eastern seaboard are being urged to prepare. In our area on Saturday, emergency teams put their own skills to the test.
Eyewitness News visited an interesting drill on Long Island on Saturday. They had public and private groups working together to see if they could assist the military. Not just if there is a hurricane but any kind of natural disaster. They found that you can never be too ready.
The simulation exercise is designed to test whether Long Island's emergency teams could respond to a disaster scenario where hospitals have been devastated by a hurricane and would need to airlift patients to other regions.
Emergency response teams from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts coordinated the drill to see how they would first ID, then move patients and medicine by helicopters quickly.
The most critical step was getting all the agencies on the same radio frequency so they could communicate during a catastrophe.
Dr. Joe Carozza, National Burn Victim Foundation: "It's obvious that if we have another disaster like 9/11 we need all the resources we can get. This is the first time we've been able to coordinate all the hospitals, emergency vehicles, airports, and private aircraft."
The drill was scheduled before the threat of any hurricane was on anyone's radar. But now is seen as an opportune time to fine tune the region's aerial lifeline.
Stephen Williams, Republic Airport Manager: "It absolutely is preparation for a natural disaster such as what might be occurring here in the next couple of weeks. So it is a good opportunity for us to test all of our resources from not only Long Island but in the areas."
The American Red Cross is always in a state of readiness anticipating natural or terrorist disasters. National coordinators are mobilizing on the East Coast in case Hurricane Isabel strikes land and packs the devastation of past storms.
In our area if the high winds and rains come, the Red Cross's motto is be ready.
Neal Gorman, American Red Cross: "Bring in furniture...you don't want things flying around. Also, have an emergency supply kit ready. Preparing before hand has been proven to calm people during an emergency, so we really believe that preparedness is really the best antidote to any situation."
