'Be On Alert': East Hampton Town Offers Hurricane Prep Tips

EAST HAMPTON, NY — The first hurricane watch in a decade has been issued for the East End, with the current trajectory showing the storm slated to track 50 to 100 off the coast of Montauk.

East Hampton Town Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc asked that residents be on the alert for emergency weather advisories during the coming weekend, and also, to be eady to make safety preparations in advance of a possible hurricane.

East Hampton Town’s emergency preparedness team, he said, "is closely monitoring forecasts and coordinating with county emergency services in advance of the storm."

Advisories issued from East Hampton Town could likely include beach closure notices based on rough surf and possible tidal surges, Van Scoyoc said.

Property owners are advised to prepare for possible high winds by securing outdoor objects, and
if necessary to follow hurricane preparedness tips here.

To sign up for emergency weather alerts, and access additional preparedness information, click here or sign up for East Hampton Patch newsletter and alerts here.

Advisories will also be posted on the town website at EHamptonny.gov, and on the town’s social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, Van Scoyoc said.

“Our emergency preparedness team has been activated, and is closely following the developing storm. We are urging the public to take this seriously and make preparations well ahead of the storm’s potential landfall," Van Scoyoc said.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said storm surges and hurricane-force winds, with 8-to-12-foot waves, and 74-to 90-miles-per hour winds, are possible.

Flooding is a concern, he said, and if trees come down a significant number of power outages could follow, Bellone said. Flooding, with 2-to-4-feet of surge inundation, that could swell to 3-to-5 feet, is also possible, Bellone said, with the potential for significant damage in low-lying shore areas.

Residents, Bellone said, should keep an eye on Sunday morning's high tide. "We're already expecting an astronomical high tide due to the full moon," Bellone said.

Suffolk County's Department of Public Works "will be working round the clock" to clear out storm drains and remove downed trees and branches as the storm progresses, he said.

The Suffolk County Parks Department is also monitoring potential impact on campers who are on the outer beaches, he said.

Residents should expect "dangerous rip currents" throughout the weekend, Bellone said.

Those with a power outage should text "OUT" to 773454, he said, or go to https://www.psegliny.com/. Residents should only dial 911 for life-threatening emergencies, Bellone said. He added that people in low-lying areas should move vehicles to higher ground and all residents should put away or tie down backyard furniture.

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