NYC EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ANNOUNCES NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH RESORTS WORLD CASINO

New partnership allows NYC Emergency Management to use part of Resorts World's parking lot as an operational site for deployment of critical supplies and equipment after an emergency

May 20, 2016 — Ahead of the 2016 Atlantic hurricane season, NYC Emergency Management today announced a new partnership with Resorts World Casino that allows the City to use part of the casino's parking lot as a Logistics Staging Area (LSA) for the deployment of critical commodities, supplies and equipment after a hurricane or an emergency event. The LSA is a way-station designed to receive, stage, track, and deploy shipments of these critical resources ranging from baby formula, blankets, bottled water and fuel to equipment such as light towers, generators, pumps, and shipping containers to be used to assist in response efforts to affected communities. Resorts World Casino is a borough-based site that targets emergency support to Howard Beach, the Rockaways and other sections of Queens.

"Our goal after any type of emergency is to help residents get back to a sense of normalcy in a safe, effective and efficient way," said NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Joseph Esposito. "The Logistics Staging Area is important to the recovery process because we're able to set up critical equipment and supplies close to the affected neighborhoods. We are proud to name Resorts World as the newest partner in helping our agency respond to emergencies in this city.

"Resorts World is grateful for the opportunity to partner with New York City Emergency Management and provide our parking lot as a Logistics Staging Area in the event of a disaster," said Ryan Eller, President, Resorts World Casino New York City. "This important partnership will help ensure the safety of our local community members when disaster strikes – and at a moment's notice. As this new collaboration demonstrates, Resorts World is committed to helping the community in any and all ways that it can."

NYC Emergency Management, in partnership with other City agencies and non-profit partners may operate numerous recovery programs in conjunction with a LSA, including a Commodities Distribution Program, Emergency Fueling, and Vegetative Debris Management. If Resorts World is used for vegetative debris management it will include tree chipping, storage of downed trees, limbs and stumps, and mulch storage and export.

During the event, NYC Emergency Management worked with the New York City Police Department (NYPD), New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), and the Department of Transportation (DOT) to stage a small-scale example of a LSA. The City agencies provided trucks, light towers, pumps, generators and a wood chipper.

NYC Emergency Management has identified numerous sites that can serve as LSAs throughout the five boroughs including Citi Field, Floyd Bennett Field, Belmont Raceway, Staten Island Mall, Fort Hamilton, Orchard Beach, and The Bronx Zoo, among others. Resorts World Casino is the latest partner to work with the City to provide post-disaster space to serve the residents of Howard Beach, the Rockaways and other areas in Queens.

"In the event of a crisis, it is vital that everyone in the community works together to stay safe. With the Resorts World parking lot now being opened up as a staging area for supplies after an emergency, more people across Queens will have access to crucial resources they need to make sure they stay out of harm's way and return to normalcy as quickly as possible," said Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach). "I am proud to represent Resorts World in my district and thank the casino for its dedication to the community surrounding the facility."

"As Sandy showed us, the ability to quickly mobilize people and resources is vital to our recovery from major disasters. Placing this new Logistics Staging Area at Resorts World is a natural fit given its proximity to transit and the casino's strong continued partnership with our community. I commend Resorts World and Commissioner Joseph Esposito at Emergency Management for this new partnership that will ensure our families are prepared and our communities remain strong," said Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder.

"On October 28, 2012, Resorts World Casino celebrated its first anniversary as part of our community. At that celebration I commented that Resorts World was our neighbor and had proven itself to be a very good neighbor during that first year. Literally the next day, Superstorm Sandy hit, bringing devastation to a large part of Community Board 10," said Betty Braton, Chairperson, Community Board 10 Queens. "Our good neighbor and great community partner, Resorts World, immediately stepped up and provided its facilities and resources to assist in the recovery effort. Today, Community Board 10 is very pleased that one of our other excellent community partners, New York City Emergency Management, is entering into this relationship with Resorts World that will enhance preparedness for our area as well as other parts of our city."

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