Government

Winter Storm Warning

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Statement from County Executive Ed Day

The National Weather Service is predicting 5-10 inches of snow for Rockland County and much of the lower Hudson Valley with snowfall rates up to an inch an hour possible. They have also warned of a potential for strong winds with gusts from 25-35 mph.

The County Highway Department is well prepared for this storm. Crews have pre-treated County roads with a brine solution and all of our plow trucks are loaded with salt so they can hit the road as soon as snow starts falling.

Despite our preparations we are asking residents to please stay off the roads if possible and to travel with extreme caution if you must travel. Give any plows you see on the road the space they need to do their jobs safely.

With the high winds forecast we may experience power outages and downed wires. Please review the following safety tips from Orange and Rockland Utilities:

  • Maintain a distance of at least 50 feet from downed wires and anything they are in contact with including puddles of water and fences. Supervise your children so that they are not in the vicinity and keep pets on a leash or otherwise secure.
  • If a fallen wire is draped over a car, do not approach the car and make rescue attempts. Remain a safe distance away and try to keep the occupant of the vehicle calm. If possible, emergency personnel should handle the situation.
  • Pole-top transformers – those small, grey-colored metal drums attached to the wires at the tops of most utility poles – also should be avoided when they have been knocked to the ground.
  • Portable generators pose a serious hazard if used improperly. They should be used and installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions. A wrong connection could feed electricity back through the lines and endanger our repair crews. Never plug a generator into a wall unit, use it indoors or set it up outdoors near open home windows or air-handling vents.
  • Have emergency equipment within reach — portable radio, flashlights, spare batteries, first aid kit, cell phone and important medications.
  • Remember: if the base station of your cordless phone plugs into the wall, your phone will be unusable during a power outage.

If you experience a power outage do not assume that Orange and Rockland automatically knows about it. Please report it and check for your restoration time using any of these options:

  • At www.oru.com/ReportOutage from any computer or web-based mobile device
  • O&R mobile app from your iPhone, iPad, or Android device — download via Apple Store or Google Play
  • Text messaging by texting “OUT” to 69678 (myORU) or
  • Call 1-877-434-4100

Senator Elijah Reichlin-Melnick announces over $90,000 in grants to fight drug addiction for local organizations

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NANUET, NY – Senator Elijah Reichlin-Melnick announced that two Rockland-based organizations fighting drug and alcohol addiction will receive a total of $92,420 in grants to expand their work helping people overcome addiction in Rockland County. 

The Rockland Council on Alcoholism and other Drug Dependence (RCADD) has been awarded $58,720, and Rockland Community Awareness Network For A Drug-Free Life And Environment (CANDLE) has been awarded $33,700 in grant funding through the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) to expand evidence-based addiction prevention services. This funding is designed to support prevention providers who had their services negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul said, “Like many New Yorkers, my family has been affected by addiction. Expanding support services for those dealing with addiction is as vital as ever as we battle the opioid crisis. We will continue to work with local partners to boost preventative measures and treatment to help set New Yorkers on the path to recovery.”

State Senator Elijah Reichlin-Melnick (D-Rockland/Westchester) said, ”Addiction touches all of us, and increasing funding for local organizations who are doing the work on the ground will have the biggest impact in helping those who are struggling with addiction get their lives under control and back on track. I am thankful for Governor Hochul’s leadership on this issue and will continue to work with her to bring more funding back to Rockland and Westchester counties to support families struggling with addiction in our community.”

OASAS Commissioner Chinazo Cunningham said, “Prevention is an important pillar of the OASAS continuum of care, and during the COVID-19 pandemic our prevention providers have faced unprecedented challenges in delivering their services. Providers awarded funding through this initiative have the opportunity to greatly increase their prevention infrastructure and make the changes that they need to continue to provide these lifesaving services in the communities they serve.”

Throughout the pandemic, many providers have had to pivot from in-person services to using remote and virtual services, which presented challenges in continuing to reach individuals and communities in need. Providers can use these awards either as start-up funding to create new services, or to support continued delivery of existing services and update programs. It can also be used to upgrade IT systems and videoconferencing platforms.

Danielle Satow, LMSW, Executive Director of RCADD said, “Through these programs and the information we present, Rockland County youth are empowered to make safe and healthy choices. Additionally, this grant enables us to support teachers, parents, and other school staff with training and customized presentations. The funds will also allow us to continue to educate the community about, and provide options for, safe prescription drug disposal methods. The funding will also be used to upgrade our technology, allowing us to operate more efficiently and make our services more widely available in the current climate. We look forward to continuing to serve the families of Rockland County, as we have for over 45 years.”

Laurel Salmon, LMFT, EMDR, Executive Director of CANDLE said, “Families with children in Rockland are struggling, especially during this pandemic. With this funding, CANDLE will now have the capacity to support the parents and caregivers of the children that we work with.”

New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help and hope by calling the state’s toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day-a-week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (Short Code 467369). 

Available addiction treatment including crisis/detox, inpatient, residential, or outpatient care can be found using the NYS OASAS Treatment Availability Dashboard at FindAddictionTreatment.ny.gov or through the NYS OASAS website. 

If you, or a loved one, have experienced insurance obstacles related to treatment or need help filing an appeal for a denied claim, contact the CHAMP helpline by phone at 888-614-5400 or email at ombuds@oasas.ny.gov.

ROCKLAND COUNTY YOUTH BUREAU SEEKS EMPLOYEES

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Program prepares people ages 14 to 24-years-old for the workforce

New City, NY, – The Rockland County Youth Bureau is now accepting applications for the 2022 Youth Employment Program. The program helps people ages 14 to 24-years-old develop attitudes, skills, and behaviors to help them thrive in the workforce.

Employers from the private sector, local government, and not-for-profit agencies hire these individuals through the program to give them the experience they need for a successful future. In 2021, the Youth Employment Program placed over 250 young people in positions throughout the county, providing over 35,000 hours of paid employment experience to Rockland’s youth.

“This program gives our young workforce the hands-on experience that they need to prosper in their future careers,” said County Executive Ed Day. “I encourage Rockland’s youth to get involved in this fantastic program.”

For more information about the Youth Employment Program, please contact RCYB@co.rockland.ny.us or 845-364-2929.

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