UPDATED: Northport Village Releases Emergency Plan

UPDATE: HART buses will provide transportation to the Walt Whitman High School hurricane shelter from beginning noon Saturday for all those wishing to be voluntarily evacuated. The bus will then stop at the on its way to the shelter. Additional buses will provide transport on an as-needed basis.

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Northport Village announced Friday that Northport and departments will transport residents to the on Main Street in the case of evacuation for Hurricane Irene.

Evacuees will be met by HART buses at the church for transport to Walt Whitman High School, currently the only operating emergency shelter in the Town of Huntington. 

The police and fire departments will run on a generator in the case of a power outage and have a supply of oxygen for anyone with medical requirements.

A five- to eight-foot storm surge is possible if Hurricane Irene hits. In the case of flooding, Northport Police will likely close off Main Street, Municipal Lot #1, Constitution Square west of Bayview and Woodbine Avenues, and the .

Residents of Main Street will be allowed to come and go, but unnecessary traffic will be curbed to prevent wakes from pushing water into store fronts.

"I'm confident that the plans are laid out and I think people in this area are experienced and intelligent enough that when definite instructions and advice come down about evacuation, people will follow it and follow it promptly," said Village Trustee Henry Tobin. 

Tobin added that it is important for all homes to have a battery operated radio to receive emergency communications in the case that cell phone and land line communications are knocked out.

Northport Village Police urge residents to reserve 911 calls for true emergencies. Residents who have questions regarding the impending storm can call the Northport Police Department at 631-261-7500.