By Karenlyn Barone
A scene out of summer's latest action flick? No, this was a drill staged by the Emergency Management Committee of Malverne to simulate the village's response to a potential disaster. The brainchild of Village Trustee James Callahan, who was named coordinator of the program in April 2001, the drill's purpose was to measure the village's preparedness for an emergency.
In just two years, with the help of his fellow committeemen, Callahan has pioneered an emergency-reaction plan that is the envy of Nassau County and the pride of the village. The EMC is ready with a realistic, workable, planned response to hurricanes, tornados, floods and the threat of terrorist attacks.
"People refer to me as Mr. Doom and Gloom," said Callahan with a smile. "But village government is the government closest to the people, and I feel responsible for my community."
Coordinating the efforts of all emergency-response vehicles and volunteers has become a labor of love for Callahan and a vital safety net for residents. "I took an oath to protect and defend the residents, and I take that very seriously," explained Callahan, the smile now gone from his face.
Initially, a hazard analysis was done for Malverne that detailed a 50-year history of the kinds of disasters that have taken place there. The most prominent and repeated occurrences have involved oil spills, propane leaks from trucks moving through the village and the occasional leaked contamination from the Long Island Rail Road. Another important component of the study was whether or not an accident causes cascading effects.
It took a full year to develop a written plan for possible disasters, and the committee was responsible for determining the best location for triage units, shelter and the temporary care of residents evacuated from their homes during a disaster. An emergency operating center was secured in the Village's Department of Public Works building, an obvious choice since it houses vital communication equipment, televisions, radios, fax machines, maps and charts, all essential to a recovery effort.
"The EMC encompasses all departments of the village and touches every part of village government," said Callahan.
Fliers providing vital information about emergency response are sent to residents on a regular basis, and Callahan and his committee speak at civic group meetings, sharing their survival knowledge.
"If we can get people to be prepared for a disaster and get them to take care of themselves, then we can concentrate on aiding those who are elderly or hurt," he said.
Once Malverne had its emergency plan in place, officials recognized that it was important to coordinate efforts with surrounding villages. Malverne's EMC invited East Rockaway, Lynbrook, Valley Stream and Freeport to participate in its plan.
The committee had broadcast its disaster-preparedness messages on the village's cable network, but not everyone in Malverne has cable, and the surrounding villages don't have access. In response, the group has secured an AM radio station, WPXX -- 1620 AM -- to help get the message to residents. The station should be up and running within the next couple of months.
"We take our job very seriously," said Callahan. "We will continue to work together in the best interest of our residents."
With concerted effort and a keen sense of safety, Callahan has come up with a plan that is a source of pride for him and a psychological safety blanket for all who reside in his committee's jurisdiction.
