Fire, police, hazmat respond to Suffolk DSS after employee opens envelope with white powder

Multiple emergency service agencies responded Friday afternoon to the Suffolk County Department of Social Services building, after an employee opened an envelope containing white powder, police said.

"Three people were exposed," police said in a release, which did not elaborate. "The substance is being tested and at this time, there do not appear to be any injuries related to the substance."

People with appointments at DSS were turned away for the rest of the day and employees left the building at about 2:30 p.m. Police responded at 12:50 p.m.

More than a dozen members of the Hauppauge Fire Department, plus Suffolk police officers and members of the Central Islip-Hauppauge Volunteer Ambulance Corps. responded to the social services facility at 400 Wireless Boulevard.

A police officer at the scene informed a handful of people waiting for an appointment to reapply for benefits that the facility would be closed for the remainder of the day.

At 2:30 p.m. DSS employees left the building.

Earlier, several Hauppauge firefighters climbed a latter to reach the roof of the facility.

A Central Islip-Hauppauge ambulance backed into the facility’s driveway. A single stretcher was rolled to the rear of the building.

At approximately 1:55 p.m., acting Suffolk County Fire Commissioner Rudy Sunderman and the Town of Islip hazmat team entered the scene.

Check back for updates on this developing story.