Towns need firm plans for the next emergency

There is little that tests our resiliency as fiercely as Mother Nature — in all her fury — raging as she did during the recent ice and rain storm that bombarded our region. Our towns and villages certainly suffered, but throughout the ordeal there were also bright spots — acts of kindness and dedication that offered us comfort and relief. We can all be thankful that our trials and tribulations pale in comparision to those living in Japan.Here at home, the loss of power and dangerous conditions for some Harlem Valley residents appeared to cause confusion. This came to a head in the town of North East, where the lack of a real plan led to uncertainty regarding where an emergency shelter should be located. The Millerton firehouse was a command center, as were firehouses in other towns, and could not be offered as a shelter. That left North East with a conundrum — the North East Town Hall, Millerton Village Hall and the nutrition center were all too small. The American Legion was chosen as the best site and it did the job well, but certainly those details should not have been left for the last moment. The Legion and its members should be commended for making their hall available at such short notice, and for doing such a fine service for the community. The Town Board, however, should immediately make a plan of action so there’s no confusion during the next crisis. Lack of emergency planning is inexcusable. Residents young and old rely on their leaders to keep them safe and sound during a state of emergency and provide a sense of security. Despite the challenges, however, when push came to shove the different agencies in North East and Millerton worked together quite well last week — but that is certainly something that should not be left to chance the next time around. Other Harlem Valley towns and villages, like Amenia, Pine Plains, Millbrook and Washington, also did pretty well considering the magnitude of the storm and its aftermath. Yes, there were some glitches, but that’s why emergencies are emergencies and why nature is so unpredictable. But for the most part, the region as a whole dealt with matters adroitly and handled the urgency of the situation well. There was one standout, however, deserving of special mention.In Pine Plains, Jennifer Mosher, who spearheads operations at the Heart of Pine Plains (HOPP) Community Center, on the second floor of the library, took it upon herself to set up an emergency shelter. She was not asked to do so by the county or the town, or by anyone else. She simply brought coffee, snacks and other supplies, got the center up and running and got out word that residents could stop in if they needed to. Before long, HOPP became a Red Cross shelter. The town’s Ladies Auxiliary cooked meals and nearly 50 people were served; 10 even spent the night. With the downpour of a single storm Mosher transformed into the town’s very own Florence Nightingale. What a wonderful service she provided to the residents of Pine Plains and how very deserving she is of a heartfelt thank you.Also deserving of a thank you are firefighters, emergency medical technicians, highway workers, electrical workers and other emergency personnel who helped out during those very wet, tiring and dangerous, hours and days during and following the storm. The number of basements that were pumped out, the total of trees that were moved, or branches trimmed, the sheer quantity of wires that were fixed, the traffic that was rerouted — all of that work was very much appreciated by so many people who will probably never have the opportunity to say thank you in person. But the admiration and gratitude is there, and so let it be conveyed here.