Local leaders tracking the storm

Posted at: 10/29/2012 6:54 PM
By: Ray Levato | WHEC.com

Local leaders are tracking the storm at the county's emergency communications center. This is the county's nerve center during emergencies. County Executive Maggie Brooks declared a state of emergency at 11:30am Monday morning.

Mayor Richards followed with a similar declaration for the city of Rochester at 1:10 Tuesday afternoon.

There are eighteen public agencies. They have instant communications with their agencies. They can follow the day's events and coordinate responses where need be. Right now, the main concern is for high winds and downed trees and power lines. Four giant TV screens on the wall help track the storm.

Some tips from the county's emergency preparedness officials:

Do not approach downed power lines. Report them instead.

9-1-1 is for emergency calls only.

Check on neighbors espsecially the elderly, the homebound and people with disabilities.

If power goes out - do not operate any generators or gas powered equipment inside your home or garage.

In case you were wondering - the last time a state of emergency was declared in Monroe County was in 2003 for that major northeast power outage during the PGA golf tournament at Oak Hill.

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