Southampton - Southampton Town Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst has declared a state of emergency for the town as Hurricane Irene barrels toward the East End. Mayors of Southampton Village Quogue do same.

President Obama has declared a state of emergency for New York at the request of Governor Andrew Cuomo. The declaration enables the federal government to provide assistance and resources to New York State, as well as all local governments with support regarding evacuation, shelter, and other necessary measures.

The Village of Southampton has called for a voluntary evacuation of all of Meadow Lane effective at 1 p.m. on Friday, August 26, 2011 with a possible mandatory evacuation effective at 9 a.m. on Saturday, August 27. All beaches will be closed as of 2 p.m. Friday, August 26.

As this large and dangerous storm heads closer to our area, Southampton Town Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst said on Friday morning that a final decision will be made at 8 a.m. on Saturday regarding whether or not those living in flood zones will be forced to evacuate their homes, and that those mandatory evacuations could begin at 10 a.m.

"We will probably start ordering evacuations at 10 a.m. tomorrow in all the flood zones," Throne-Holst said.

Residents are advised that this dangerous storm is expected to impact our area late Saturday afternoon into Sunday night, and should check official websites to confirm whether your home is in a low-lying area.

Officials and emergency personnel are urging residents to plan and prepare for the worse, and pray and hope for the best. The size and ferocity of this storm has not been encountered in our area for decades.

Southampton Town officials are urging residents to begin preparing now for the potential impact of Hurricane Irene. Eastern Long Island can expect high winds and heavy rains arriving as early as Friday evening with more severe conditions Saturday and Sunday.

"The Town is on full alert and monitoring the situation carefully, knowing the storm has the potential to become severe. It is imperative that residents begin to prepare now, while there is time to stock up on supplies, take measures to protect homes, and clearly think through how to best protect family and loved ones should we be facing a strong storm," said Throne-Holst.

Residents should continue to closely monitor the weather report and listen to local news outlets for updates and instructions. Updates will also be posted on the Town website www.southamptontownny.gov.

Residents should take the time to do the following:

 • Contact family members to coordinate storm preparations. If you are in an evacuation zone, make plans with a relative or friend in a storm-safe location outside of the evacuation zone.
 • Check family emergency supplies kit and gather any missing items. This includes:
 • Five to seven days worth of non-perishable food and water on hand.
 • Five to seven days of medications.
 • Stock-up on batteries.
 • Ensure flash lights are working.
 • Charge cell-phone batteries.
 • Bring in outdoor furniture, tools, etc. and tie down any items that may be blown away by strong winds.
 • Tie down or stabilize boats.
 • Test generators.
 • Put up shutters.
 • Assemble a Go Bag for each household member in the event you need to leave.


As a reminder, animals are not permitted in shelters. Residents with questions or who need information about pet-friendly shelters or pet accommodations can call the Supervisor's Office at 631-283-6055.

New York City To Shut Down Mass Transit On Saturday At Noon
With Hurricane Irene pushing relentlessly toward the East Coast, officials made plans to shut down New York City's sprawling subway and bus system beginning at 12 noon on Saturday, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo said.

The commuter rail lines that serve Long Island, Westchester County and Connecticut will also be shut down.

Officials decided to go ahead with the transit shutdown, which they had first mentioned on Thursday as a possibility at a City Hall briefing on Thursday, as the city was evacuating hospitals and nursing homes in low-lying areas. State officials continued arrangements for coordinating emergency services and restoring electricity if the storm does the kind of damage many fear.

Some Important Numbers To Have

1. American Red Cross of Suffolk County: 631-924-6700

2. Suffolk County Office of Emergency Management: 631-852-4900

3. Long Island Power Authority: 1-800-490-0075 (to report downed power lines or electrical emergency)

4. National Grid: 1-800-490-0045 (emergency gas safety)

Additionally, be advised that many local outdoor (and some indoor) events have been or are anticipated to be canceled due to the storm, so be sure to check on whatever event you were planning to attend to find the status of the event.

For information on East Hampton Preparedness Assistance, click below. Also, East Hampton Town officials will hold a meeting at 10 a.m. Saturday to brief the
public about hurricane preparation and procedures. The meeting, to be held at Town Hall, will be broadcast live on LTV (channel 20). Presently, East Hampton Town is under a 'voluntary evacuation' recommendation.

The Hampton Jitney has announced that based on the current storm situation, on Saturday evening the last westbound trips will be:

 • Southampton at 7:30 p.m.
 • Riverhead at 6:40 p.m.
 • Westhampton at 7:40 p.m.

Additional Westbound Cancellations are possible on Saturday. Passengers headed west towards New York City on Saturday should make their travel arrangements as early in the day as possible. The Jitney is expecting major service disruptions and cancellations on Sunday.