It is our hope that this letter finds you and your family doing well in the face of our current events. We want to reach out to our community and share some important information with you

The members of the Center Moriches Fire Department will continue to serve and protect our residents during these uncertain times. The Coronavirus Pandemic will likely be a long event that will disrupt the lives of many within our community.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, we are taking no chances when it comes to the safety and well being of our members and the citizens we serve.

We are gathering information several times a day as the information with the virus continues to evolve. We will continue to follow instructions from the State Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control. We are also working closely with our local hospital systems to ensure individuals potentially infected with the Coronavirus receive the appropriate care as per the CDC guidelines.

The Suffolk County 911 system will begin to screen medical calls to help identify potential COVID-19 patients. If you have a non-emergency or a question as it relates to the Coronavirus, please dial 311 this will help free up 911 Dispatchers for emergency calls.

When we arrive at your house or business for ANY type of alarm our responders will be asking the following questions before we enter:

• Are you or anyone in the house currently under quarantine or observation for the COVID-19 virus ?
• Do you or anyone in your house / business have a fever?
• Do you or anyone in your house / business have a cough?
• Do you or anyone in your house / business have a sudden onset of respiratory distress?
• Have you or anyone in your house / business traveled out of the country or been in contact with anyone who has in the past 2 weeks ?

Our members will be wearing personal protective equipment including protective face masks, goggles, gloves and if needed, protective gowns or Tyvek suits. To protect our responders, we will no longer be able to transport family or friends with the patient to the hospital. In the case the patient is a minor, a single legal guardian will be allowed to accompany the patient to the hospital.

The Center Moriches Fire Department has successfully faced many challenges with regards to emergency situations for over 130 years. We will continue to reinforce our membership to ensure they take the necessary precautions to keep them safe.

How can you help …

Follow the CDC’s recommendation and take the necessary precautions to protect yourself and the health of others. Wash your hands often, avoid close contact with others. Cover coughs and sneezes, and please stay home especially if you’re sick.

As a community we will get through this trying time together, however we all must do our part to prevent the spread of this virus.

Center Moriches Fire Department