ENTER THE SEASON PREPARED
Since you live in a coastal area, plan a flood-free evacuation route.
Islip's hurricane preparedness plan includes designated safe areas, areas
to be evacuated during a hurricane emergency, and safe evacuation routes
to shelter. Get information on emergency planning in your area by
contacting the Town of Islip Public Safety Office at 224-5300.
Hurricanes can cause
extensive flooding, not just along the coastline, but far inland as well.
Flood insurance is valuable financial protection. You should be aware that
your homeowner's policy probably does not cover damage from flooding.
Check into the availability of flood insurance through the National Flood
Insurance Program by contacting your local insurance agent or broker.
Prior to the hurricane season, check to see that you
have an adequate supply of non-perishable food, a first aid kit, fire
extinguisher, battery-powered radio, flashlights, and extra batteries and
candles.
ADVISORIES
AND WARNINGS
Thanks to modern detection and tracking devices, the National Weather
Service can usually provide 12 to 24 hours of advance warning. Advisories
are issued by the National Weather Service when hurricanes approach land.
A HURRICANE WATCH WATCH is issued whenever a
hurricane becomes a threat to coastal areas. Everyone in the area covered
by the "watch" should listen for further advisories and be prepared to act
promptly if a hurricane warning is issued.
A HURRICANE WARNING Is issued when hurricane
winds of 74 miles an hour or higher, or a combination of dangerously high
water and very rough seas, are expected in a specific coastal area within
24 hours. Precautionary actions should begin immediately.
LEAVE EARLY from low-lying beach
areas that may be swept by high tides or storm waves.
BE AWARE that some areas may
flood long before the arrival of the storm. Your escape may be further
complicated by the fact that the density of population of some areas makes
it mathematically impossible for the few roads or ferries to accommodate
everyone within one day. Don't get caught by the hurricane in your car on
an open coastal road.
· If local government advises evacuation of your area,
DO SO IMMEDIATELY. Keep your car radio on to listen for further
instructions, such as the location of emergency shelters.
· If you live inland away from the
beaches and low-lying coastal areas, your home is well constructed, and
local authorities have not called for evacuation in your area, stay home
and make emergency preparations.
· Be alert for tornado watches and warnings as
tornadoes are often spawned by hurricanes. Should your area receive a
tornado warning, seek inside shelter immediately, preferably below ground
level.
GETTING READY FOR THE
HURRICANE
1. Check battery-powered equipment. Your
battery-operated radio could be your only source of information, and
flashlights will be needed if utility services are interrupted.
2. Keep your car fueled in the event an evacuation is ordered.
Also be aware that service stations may be inoperable after the storm
strikes.
3. Store drinking water in clean bathtubs, jugs, bottles, and
cooking utensils, as your water supply may be contaminated or damaged by
the storm.
4. Board up windows or protect them with storm shutters or tape.
Danger to small windows is mainly from wind-driven debris. Larger windows
may be broken by wind pressure. Use of tape is an effective way of
preventing flying glass.
5. Secure all outdoor objects. Garbage cans, garden tools, toys,
signs, porch furniture, and a number of other harmless items become deadly
missiles in hurricane winds.
6. Moor your boat securely before the storm arrives or move it to
a designated safe area.
DURING THE
HURRICANE
Remain indoors during the hurricane. Blowing debris can injure and kill.
Travel is extremely dangerous. Be especially wary of the "eye" of the
hurricane. If the storm center passes directly overhead, there will be a
lull in the wind lasting anywhere from a few minutes to a half hour or
more. At the other side of the "eye," the winds will increase rapidly to
hurricane force and will come from the opposite direction.
IF AN
EVACUATION IS ORDERED
1. Listen to your local radio station (see: Emergency
Information) for evacuation notification.
2. Call the Town of Islip
Public Safety / Emergency Management Office (224-5300) for the nearest
evacuation center location and, if necessary, the location of the
evacuation center staffed with medical personnel.
3. Fire Island residents should
prepare for departure from nearby ferry terminals. Ferries will be
provided to the mainland where bus transportation will take residents to
evacuation shelters.
4. Evacuees are reminded that the following items are
not per mitted in an emergency shelter: alcohol, non-prescription
controlled substances, weapons, and animals. Provisions will be made at
the Town of Islip Animal Shelter for pets.
AFTER THE HURRICANE HAS PASSED
Keep tuned to your local radio or television station for advice and
instructions from local government about emergency medical, food, housing,
and other forms of assistance.
Stay out of disaster areas which could be dangerous and where your
presence will interfere with essential rescue and recovery work.
Do not drive unless you must. Debris-filled streets are dangerous, and
roads should be left clear for emergency vehicles. Along the coast, soil
may be washed from beneath the pavement, which could collapse under the
weight of a car.
Avoid loose or dangling wires and report them immediately to LILCO, the
police, or the fire department.
Report broken sewer mains to the Southwest Sewer District, and report
contaminated water mains to the water authority which serves your area.
Hurricanes moving inland can cause severe flooding. Stay away from river
banks and streams until all potential flooding is past.
If power has been off, check refrigerated food for spoilage. Be suspicious
of water that may have been contaminated.
When operating a portable stand-by generator, make sure it is not directly
connected to your home wiring. Improperly connected generators can present
severe hazards to work crews and to your generator.
If you are in a public shelter, remain there until informed by those in
charge that it is safe to leave.
Make your plans and preparations for a hurricane emergency the subject of
a family discussion. Share your family's plans with friends and relatives.
Hurricane preparedness is a team effort for everyone in the neighborhood
and community.
EMERGENCY INFORMATION
Keep tuned to B-103 (103.1 FM), WALK (97.5 FM, 1370 AM), WBAB (102.3FM,
1240AM), or WBU (106.1 FM) for the latest weather advisories as well as
special instructions from local government.
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
Public Safety / Emergency Management ..... 224-5300
Street Flooding and Road Repairs .................224-5600
Local Police, Fire, Ambulance ..........................911 or "0"
Brentwood Water District
Emergency Service ..........................................231-6880
Suffolk County Water Authority
Emergency Service ..........................................685-0683
Southwest Sewer District ................................587-5000
American Red Cross Disaster Relief ..............924-8911
LIPA .......................................................(800) 490-0075
Reproduced as a public service from Town of Islip: Hurricane & Natural
Disaster Information, 1998. Please call the Town of Islip Public Safety
Department at (631) 224-5300 for the most recent and updated materials and
recommendations.
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