Southampton - In anticipation of Hurricane Earl, now downgraded to a Category 1, official personnel, community leaders, emergency personnel and residents have taken steps, and put into action, plans to assist all in weathering the largest hurricane to near our shores since the ferocity of Hurricane Bob and Hurricane Gloria.

Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst has issued the followng statement regarding preparations for Hurricane Earl:

As Hurricane Earl approaches Long Island I'd like to review with residents and visitors the latest information about the type of weather our area will experience, how to prepare for this storm, and what impacts are expected on the East End.

Weather Forecast
At this time, Southampton is under a Tropical Storm Warning, which means we are likely to experience strong, possibly destructive winds and heavy rain. Rainfall is expected to begin early Friday morning. As many as three to five inches may fall between 11 a.m. and 12 midnight. Gale force winds are expected beginning at approximately 4 p.m. Friday with sustained winds of 45 to 50 miles per hour and gusts of up to 55 to 66 miles per hour. The most severe weather is expected to pass early Saturday morning.

Pease note that this forecast may still change and we will continue to stay in close touch with weather services, emergency personnel and the media to helpful everyone stay apprised of new developments.

Delay Travel Plans Until Saturday
Homeowners and visitors planning to travel to the East End for the weekend are urged to wait until Saturday when the storm has passed to make the trip.

Waves churned up at Ocean Road Beach in Bridgehampton.

Message To Dune Road Residents And Visitors
Although mandatory evacuations are not anticipated based on current projections, Dune Road residents and visitors need to be aware of the routine potential for flooding at times of high tide from the bayside, as well as possible over-wash from the weakened areas on the ocean side. Please carefully consider these issues when making a determination about whether or not to stay on Dune Road during these weather conditions.

Prepare Now
It is critical that residents properly prepare for severe weather in the event the storm strengthens unexpectedly. Please be assured that County, Town and Village officials as well as emergency personnel continue to closely monitor the development of Hurricane Earl and are actively reviewing emergency plans and preparing for whatever actions may need to be taken.

In preparation for the storm I urge everyone to review the Town's detailed Hurricane Guide, which is available on the Southampton Town website at www.southamptontownny.gov. The guide provides thorough information and advice to residents through every stage of a Hurricane including pre-storm preparation, landfall and after the storm.

Key Preparations That All Residents Should Take As Soon As Possible Include
 • Stocking up on five days worth of essential medications.
 • Stocking up on five days worth of food and water. The food should be items which do not need preparation, and drinking water should be stored in cartons.
 • Stocking up on batteries; testing flashlights.
 • Residents with generators should check gas levels and turn on to be sure they are running.
 • Take time to walk your property and tie down or put away furniture or equipment that can blow away.
 • Residents with special needs and seniors should call to pre-register for transportation services with the Town Senior/Special Needs Office at 728-1235.

Be Careful At Beaches
I also urge residents to be especially careful at our beaches. Heavy surf and severe riptides are expected along the East End shores before and after the storm. Swimming in unprotected areas poses a significant danger because it takes emergency crews longer to reach a person in distress and because it diverts resources away from the protected areas.

Beach erosion is a very real concern due to damage from the storm.

Stay Tuned For Future Updates
In the event the town declares a state of emergency, we will activate evacuation procedures. Please stay tuned to the town's website as well as our town phone number (631-283-6000) for a recorded message. Additionally, the local media will broadcast any announcements from the town. These outlets include:

 • Hamptons.com (Editor's Note)
 • SEA TV Channel 22
 • WLNG Radio 92.1 FM
 • WRIV Radio 1390 AM
 • www.27east.com
 • News 12 Long Island

Please also know that County campgrounds have been closed and LIPA is deploying extra personnel to the area to quickly address power outages.

f you need to report a power outage, please call 1-800-490-0075. Please DO NOT call 911 unless is there is a medical or safety emergency. To report a problem that is not a medical of safety emergency, call 631-728-3400.

I urge everyone to make the necessary arrangements and preparations as soon as possible. My staff will be here and available to answer calls from any residents with questions or concerns beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Friday morning. The number is 631-283-6055.

Suffolk Executive Steve Levy announced earlier this week that "Cooperative planning among local, state and federal officials, along with proper public education, are crucial to mitigating the potential impact of 'Hurricane Earl'." The county executive also announced that a new, high-speed notification 'Code RED' system is available to residents seeking phone, e-mail and/or text messages about actual or impending emergencies, such as the hurricane. Residents can sign up for the Code RED messages and get tips for pre-and post-hurricane planning via the Suffolk County Mitigation Education for Natural Disasters (MEND) website.

Levy was joined at a news conference by Suffolk's Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services (FRES) Commissioner Joseph F. Williams and Suffolk Department of Public Works (DPW) Commissioner Gil Anderson while briefing the media on steps taken by the county in preparation for the hurricane season.

Suffolk FRES unit has contracted with Emergency Communications Network to license the latter's Code RED high-speed notification system. The Code RED emergency notification method is an utilizes a high-speed telephone communication service to deliver customized, pre-recorded emergency messages directly to Suffolk County homes and business at the proven capacity of millions of calls per day. Code Red also has high speed email and text messaging capability

Individuals who do not have Internet access may call the Office of Emergency Management's Customer Service Center at 631-852-4900, from Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., to receive Code RED information over the phone.

Through funding from a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant that is administered by the NY State Emergency Management Office, the Suffolk County M.E.N.D. website offers numerous tips to residents for pre and post-storm actions. Prior to this hurricane season, nearly 100,000 M.E.N.D. brochures had already been mailed to Suffolk County addresses located within a hurricane flood surge zone.

Depending upon the severity of a storm, the county may open shelters for use by residents. The media will be notified in such an event about which shelters are being opened and at what times. Shelters are opened based on the nature, severity of an emergency and the number of residents impacted. County Executive Levy noted that shelter locations are also available to residents who visit www.SuffolkCountyNY.gov.

FRES Commissioner Williams noted that a series of steps have already been taken in preparation for "Hurricane Earl," including participation in conference calls with New York State Office of Emergency Management officials; storm tracking through the National Hurricane Center, and testing of all equipment, computers, phone lines, internet and audio/visual equipment in the FRES Emergency Operations Center (EOC).

DPW Commissioner Gilbert Anderson said DPW staff will be on standby in the event that severe weather conditions, such as flooding, pose a threat to safe roadway safety.

Anderson advised residents to stay inside and under shelter during stormy weather, and never touch any downed wires or utility poles. Residents who live in low-lying flood prone areas should, as directed, seek shelter at higher elevations, according to Anderson, and residents who have sump pumps in their homes are reminded not to connect them into sanitary house connections that in turn connect to public sanitary sewers.

Southampton Town Emergency Preparedness in conjunction with the Town Supervisor's Office would also like to encourage residents and visitors alike to pay attention to the development and projected track of Hurricane Earl during this coming week. Although projected to stay off shore, in addition to heavy surf conditions it is very possible we could experience the effects of outer bands of winds towards the end of the week.

This is also a good time to scan through your copy the 2010 Town of Southampton Hurricane Survival Guide. For those who do not yet have a copy of the Southampton Town Hurricane Survival Guide one can be picked up at Southampton Town Hall or downloaded from the Town's website www.southamptontownny.gov.

UPDATE FROM SOUTHAMPTON TOWN POLICE
Southampton Town Emergency Preparedness in conjunction with the Town Supervisor's Office would like residents to know that Southampton Town Officials and Department Heads and staff continue to address storm preparations and to monitor the development and projected track of Hurricane Earl. Residents should do the same.

Secure loose yard items, charge batteries, purchase necessary supplies, have cash available, be prepared to leave if necessary, don't wait to the last minute. With Tropical Force winds many areas are likely to experience power outages and trees down along roadways.

The current NWS projected path and wind swath of Hurricane Earl indicate we should anticipate tropical force winds and effects.

Town officials are in direct contact and continually reviewing updated information from the NWS Suffolk County Emergency Management and other town and village officials.

If a mandatory evacuation were to become necessary the location of any American Red Cross shelters would be announced by local broadcast media.

All residents are urged to remain calm, be prudent and allow any and all emergency personnel to focus on keeping our area and ourselves safe.