Visiting the Nassau County Emergency Command Center

I met with federal, state and local officials working at the Morrelly Homeland Security Center in Bethpage Wednesday, getting updates about the relief and recovery efforts going on in Nassau County.

I thanked the staff for their service and everything they are doing for the people of Long Island. Getting power back up and the streets safe again are so important right now and a facility like this helps everyone work together more efficiently.

In addition to the restoration of electricity and the clearing of roads, I also relayed concerns about drinking water quality across Nassau County to the officials at the Center.

The Morrelly Center serves as a command center for the Nassau County Office of Emergency Management, where representatives from multiple agencies at all levels of government work in one open bullpen to coordinate efforts and cut bureaucracy and red tape.

Local utilities like LIPA and National Grid also have staff at the Morrelly Center in order to coordinate with officials to clear roads and restore service to customers.

Rep. Peter King, chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, was also at the Center, as was Nassau County Legislator Rose Walker, during my visit.

Carolyn McCarthy is the representative of New York’s Fourth Congressional District. She was first elected in 1996.