ELIZABETHTOWN -- Public officials in Essex County are trying to head off a home-heating crisis they say could have severe consequences this winter.

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The elderly and poor could either be unable to afford heating fuel or could be forced to sacrifice other essentials like prescription drugs to buy oil, County Office for the Aging Director Patty Bashaw said Monday.

County Manager Clifford Donaldson Jr. said that in anticipation of an urgent situation this winter he organized the first of many meetings to develop a response if people are unable to afford heating fuel.

"I asked (county) departments to sit down and begin discussing now what potential problems we face in the county as the result of fuel prices. Last year we had 3,000 people apply for HEAP (U.S. Home Energy Assistance Program). We realize that is most likely going to increase significantly."

He said the county has not received notice of any HEAP allotment increase for this winter.

Donaldson said if the price of heating oil is around $4.50 a gallon now, it may be much higher by wintertime.

"We want to involve the towns, involve the fire departments, involve whoever we need to, to be looking out for people. The idea of bringing elderly parents to live with you for the winter months may be a way to make sure they're safe."

A second meeting of the new energy task force is being held today.

"We're talking about how we're going to position the county to be ready," Donaldson said.

Bashaw said the county may need to look at setting up shelters or having extra beds available at the county's Horace Nye Nursing Home during especially cold periods.

She said she'd also like the county to consider establishing a safety-net fund to buy fuel for people who can't afford it yet don't qualify for HEAP.

St. Lawrence County used $750,000 as a safety net last year, Bashaw said.

Housing Assistance Program of Essex County Executive Director Alan Hipps said the county has 15,000 households, so the 3,000 people who applied for aid last year represent 20 percent of the homes.

"That number could easily rise quite a bit (this year)."