By Angela Marshall
The Police Department has increased patrols at schools, religious institutions and the village's own buildings. Village employees have been asked to inspect the facilities they work in and to report anything suspicious or unusual. Village Administrator Ronald Wasson, former commanding officer of the New York City Police Department's Emergency Service unit, said that 99 percent of the time, a suspicious item turns out to be someone's clothes or personal bag. Village department heads have also been asked to review emergency procedures with their personnel.
South Side High School had a mandatory meeting for all staff to do that as well last week, and the rest of the district has plans for similar meetings after this week's vacation.
Reaction by village and emergency responders will vary depending on the type of emergency. "You have to make decisions as events dictate," Wasson said.
As soon as they learn of an emergency, residents should watch TV for instructions, he said. Always keep a battery-operated radio in case of a power outage. In many types of emergencies, Wasson said, the best thing to do is stay where you are and shut the doors and windows. In chemical attacks on a windy day, the agent "dissipates very quickly," he said.
The village has three designated shelters, the Rec Center on North Oceanside Road, the Sandel Senior Center on Park Avenue and the Martin Luther King Jr. Center on Centre Avenue. The schools would also act as shelters in an emergency.
Village Trustee Mary Bossart urged residents to create disaster supply kits, which should include food, water, first-aid supplies, clothing and bedding, tools and any special items a family member might need. A complete list of supplies can be found on the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Web site, www.fema.gov.
Many residents are stocking up on duct tape, as recommended by Homeland Security, though there is a debate as to whether the tape provides any real barrier to chemical or biological agents. It was selling fast at Rockville Hardware last week. Owner Dave McDonald said he thought he had bought enough duct tape in January to last until July, but it was all gone by the beginning of the week. He had already reordered twice by the time the Herald stopped by last Friday.
McDonald said that on an average day, he usually sells three or four rolls. Last week he sold 70 to 80 rolls a day.
But McDonald was not praising the increased profits created by the run on duct tape. "It's not really the way you want to stay busy," he said.
Other businesses in town saw an increase in traffic due to the federal alert. King Kullen on Sunrise Highway has seen a run on water and batteries, according to company Vice President Tom Cullen. He said some of the sales could be attributed to the frigid weather and Monday's blizzard, and added that the store would continue to restock daily to meet the growing demand no matter what the cause.
LI Outdoor on Sunrise Highway saw an increase in demand for some unusual items. Residents driving by the store can see a big sign made out of neon-green poster board proclaiming "gas masks here." "It's a security blanket for people," said Donna Greco, who has owned the store for 14 years. Gas-mask sales aren't as high as during the months following the Sept. 11 attacks, but they are up.
Greco said some customers buy the masks, which sell for $69.99, for everyone in their family. Customers are also stocking up on MREs, packaged meals created by the military for soldiers; anti-radiation tablets, water-purification tablets and guns.
Gun sales to women have doubled since Sept. 11, according to Greco. "They're a little taken aback," she said. "They never thought they would have to encounter such a purchase."
Greco recommends shotguns, which can be purchased in a kit for less than $300. She also suggests proper training. "Safety is an extremely big part of purchasing a firearm," she said.
