Volunteers and staff of the American Red Cross in Nassau County will be put to the test when the nonprofit holds a large-scale hurricane drill, Saturday, May 31.

During the drill, shelters will be opened at McKenna Elementary School, Massapequa Park and Locust Valley High School.

The Red Cross will open an emergency operations center at its Mineola headquarters to oversee the exercise.

"Over the past two years, we have gone to great lengths to better prepare Long Island for a major storm by identifying shelters and staging supplies," said Frank Cassano, chief executive officer of the Nassau Red Cross. "Yet the true measure of our success will be the ability of our volunteers to effectively open and run our shelters."

Volunteers can expect to face a number of challenges throughout the event.

"Obviously, no matter how detailed your response plan is, major storms bring a level of uncertainty with them," said Cassano. "We plan on creating many obstacles for the volunteers to overcome, which we hope will make them better able to react during an actual disaster."

A disaster that is long overdue, according to the National Hurricane Center. On average, Long Island historically receives a direct hit from a hurricane once every 17-18 years. The last major coastal storm to pound the Island was Hurricane Gloria in 1985.

The Nassau Red Cross is inviting members of the public to "seek shelter" and act as evacuees at both locations, between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

For more information about the American Red Cross in Nassau County and its efforts to better prepare Long Island this hurricane season, log on to www.nassauredcross.org or call 747-3500.