Changed by 9/11: East Farmingdale Fire Department

Things changed after 9/11 at the

"After 9/11 there is more of a mindset that we don’t take anything for granted," said Joseph Scura, district administrator for the department.

The 170-member company covers a 16 square mile fire district on the Nassau/Suffolk County line. Since 9/11 there are stricter security practices at its three fire stations and more video surveillance, Scura said.

The department also undergoes training that did not exist prior to 9/11.

"We have procured radiation detectors, and train constantly on how to handle terrorist type of activities like explosives, suspicious packages, etc.," Scura said. "We have also made some changes to our operating procedures to address the potential for an incident being a terrorist type of event."

The department also now partners with neighboring departments like South Farmingdale, Lindenhurst and North Massapequa on a regular basis for training, in case a large-scale event strikes Long Island.

"[9/11] was a reminder that there is no such thing as a 'routine' emergency," Scura said.

This story is part of Patch's "How did 9/11 change you?" series. Share your personal story in the comment section below.