NEWS RELEASE

Immediate: November 12, 2012Media Contacts:Chuck Cutolo: 516.572.7811; chuck.cutolo@ncc.eduAlicia Steger: 516.572.9634; alicia.steger@ncc.eduncc.edu/newsreleases

Nassau Community College Provides Relief in the Aftermath of Hurricane Sandy

 

Garden City, NY – During and after Hurricane Sandy, Nassau Community College has been proud to play a significant role in providing relief to victims and evacuees. The College is currently the host site of the largest evacuation center in Nassau County, which is located in the Physical Education Building. That center is administered by the American Red Cross. NCC also hosts a special medical needs shelter, administered by the Nassau County Department of Health. Several agencies of the Federal government have utilized space in the College Union Building, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Small Business Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services.

The students, faculty, administrators and staff of the College — some of whom have been victims of the storm themselves — have also been organizing donations and volunteering their time to assist victims of the storm. Many have brought clothes, toiletries and other items to the shelters located on campus to provide for evacuees. Others have volunteered to help sort these items. NCC's Student Government Association has been of great help in organizing donation efforts on campus. "We all recognize that this is a time of special need for our county and its people, and we stand ready to be part of that effort," said Dr. Kenneth Saunders, Officer in Charge of Nassau Community College. "So many have worked in different and yet equally real ways, both as individuals and collective groups, to make the College's response to Hurricane Sandy a tremendously caring and effective effort." Michael Duarte, NCC Shelter Manager for the American Red Cross, agreed, and said, "The College has been terrific. It has helped us in so many ways. We recognize the sacrifice that Nassau Community College has made for us." The Nassau County Department of Health "has had an excellent partnership with Nassau Community College during these challenging times," according to Carolyn McCummings, Shelter Manager. "NCC has gone above and beyond what it has been called to do, and it has been a tremendous help to us." Linda Garrow, Disaster Assistance Center Manager for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, noted that "Nassau Community College has been extremely accommodating to us." She said NCC officials have demonstrated overwhelming compassion for Hurricane Sandy's victims. "We have found that the College has been incredibly supportive," said Bill Mastrianni, Commander of the federal Disaster Medical Assistance team (DMAT). DMAT works closely with state and local health and medical officials before and after any disaster.

About Nassau Community College Nassau Community College, part of the State University of New York, is an institution where nearly 24,000 full- and part-time students and almost 15,000 continuing and professional students start and continue their successful journey through higher education. More than 70 fields of study are offered on a 225-acre campus located in the center of Long Island. As the largest single-campus two-year college in New York State, Nassau Community College maintains a national reputation for excellence.

Ref: 1635.11/12/12.175