Bellmore Residents Prepare for Storms

Local residents gathered at the Merrick Library Thursday evening for the Hurricane and Emergency Preparedness forum, hosted by Assemblyman Dave McDonough (R, C, I-Merrick).

The assemblyman and other experts warned that Long Island is overdue for not just category 1-type storms, but category 2 and category 3-type storms as well. Category 3-type storms have seen winds reach up to as much as 130 mph.

"There are a couple of people we don't want to meet and they're called Danielle and Earl," McDonough said. " Those are the hurricanes that are enforced right now or in formation."

McDonough was joined by members of the Nassau County Office of Emercency Management, the American Red Cross and the Hempstead Town Public Safety Department.

Jim Callahan, OEM commissioner, explained how Long Island is expected to get anywhere from 18-21 name-storms (tropical storms) in the whole Atlantic just this year. That means storms with winds at 39 MPH or higher.

"The Atlantic Ocean is a closed system," Callahan said. "It rains less than it evaporates, so as the water evaporates it becomes saltier and saltier and as it gets saltier, it holds more and more warmth. As it holds more and more warmth, more and stronger hurricanes happen."

One audience member said they thought the high prediction of storms was meant for the whole country, not Long Island alone.

That same audience member asked, "Just for comparison, how many were there last year?"

"On an average year, 9 to 11 name-storms," replied Callahan.

Beverly Poppell of the Pet Safe Coalition also spoke about hurricane safety.

"I think most people aren't really as prepared as they need to be because it's something that we don't want to think about," she said.

Poppell suggested picking up a few necessary items at the grocery store each trip in case disaster strikes.

"I've taken some [precautions], but I haven't taken all of them," Poppell continued. "I don't have copies of our documents together, so every time I hear one of these conferences—and that's about every week—I think, 'okay, I have to work on something.'"

According to Callahan, Hurricane Earl is taking a track that has the potential to affect us.

"Timing wise, this would be a Labor Day storm," he said.

One man in the audience brought up homeowners and flood insurance.

According to Callahan, regular homeowners insurance does not cover flood damange, but if a branch goes through your roof causing water to leak in, then homeowners insurance does cover it.

"These are things you need to think about," said Callahan, who then suggested following the adage, "Run from the water, hide from the wind."

To learn more about how to prepare for disasters, e-mail Assemblyman McDonough at mconoughd1@assembly.state.ny.us.