St. Anthony’s High School Conducts Disaster Evacuation Drill

Huntington Community First Aid Squad’s (HCFAS) Chief Dominic Heavey and Captain Mark Cappola participated in St. Anthony’s High School “Evacuation in Place” drill along with representatives from Suffolk County Police Department’s 2nd Precinct and the Huntington Manor Fire Department on Wednesday, October 29th.

The drill, coordinated by Michael Savallo, Director of Security at St. Anthony’s, was conducted to prepare students and staff for a natural or other disaster that would require students to evacuate the school building – but remain onsite.

Chief Heavey said, “As we note the second anniversary of Hurricane Sandy, and remember the loss of life and devastation to Long Island, we are more determined than ever to see our communities prepared for natural and other disasters. Our work here, today, with our fire department and law enforcement partners reinforces our commitment to protect our neighbors not just with on-scene aid, but with advanced planning to mitigate preventable harm.”

All 2,400 students and faculty were evacuated to the lower level of the school’s Student Center. HCFAS, SCPD, HMFD, and faculty then reviewed the protocols and made recommendations that would enhance the school’s ability to shelter students and faculty in place for a prolonged period of time if needed.

Huntington Community First Aid Squad provides Advanced Life Support Ambulances and Emergency Medical Services to residents within the town of Huntington, New York, since 1967. All-volunteer, on-duty crews are in-house, ready to go 24/7, 365 days a year, good and bad weather, including holidays, to answer the call from neighbors in need. The Huntington Community Ambulance District covers an area from Lloyd Harbor and Lloyd Neck in the North – to Melville in the South and from the Nassau/Suffolk border and Cold Spring Harbor in the West – to Greenlawn and Dix Hills in the East. Over 280 volunteer members responded to more than 5,700 calls in 2013.

Submitted by:

Andrea Golinsky, Public Information Officer