Vernon Mayor Has Emergency Surgery Monday, Works on Hurricane Sandy From the Hospital

Mayor George Apel not only braved Hurricane Sandy on Monday, but emergency surgery as well.

Town Administrator John Ward released the following statement Tuesday morning:

"Please be advised that Mayor Apel underwent emergency surgery at Rockville General Hospital late Monday afternoon. I am pleased to announce that he is out of surgery and doing well.

On behalf of Mayor Apel, I would like to thank all of the Town and Board of Education employees and volunteers, including the Firefighters and CERT for their top quality work.  A full after-action report will be provided to Mayor Apel."

Apel was physically absent from the Emergency Operations Center on Monday for both the pre-storm preparations and the storm response itself, but was fully involved in both, Ward said. He signed the town's emergency declaration from the hospital, Emergency Management Director Michael Purcaro said, and Ward was in constant contract with him on Monday - before and after his surgery.

"The mayor was fully involved in all aspects of the storm preparation and was in contact with us throughout the day," Ward said.

Apel is in his mid-70s and recently underwent gall bladder surgery. Ward did not say whether Monday's emergency surgery was related to that procedure.

Over the summer, Apel and Purcaro had revamped the EOC to make it more electronic - and more efficient. Purcaro said the new system was a testament to the "quick responses" to the calls that came in.