With Hurricane Season In Full Swing, Suffolk Officials Urge Residents To Register With Emergency Alert System

YAPHANK, NY — With hurricane system in full swing, Suffolk fire officials are asking residents to make sure they subscribe to the county's emergency alerts system to both stay informed, and help first responders in the event of an emergency.

Residents should make sure that their government alerts settings are switched on their phones to include emergency alerts and public safety alerts.

The county and the National Weather Service send out alert warnings both to general and specific locales.

In addition to the emergency notifications, officials also strongly encourage people sign up for Suffolk Alert to receive local county emergency alerts.

To sign up for SuffolkAlert, text SuffolkAlerts to 67283 and click here to complete your profile.

The system allows the county to notify the public about emergencies, weather, road closures, or any other information we feel may benefit the public.

SuffolkAlert is free to sign up for online, and residents will receive alerts via text message, email, and voice message. If they receive one of the warnings, it is very important to take it seriously.

If advised to seek shelter or to evacuate, they should do so "calmly and promptly," Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services Commissioner Rudolph Sunderman said.

Fire Rescue Emergency Services Commissioner Rudolph Sunderman noted that "hurricanes get headlines, but people need to remember just how quickly summer weather on Long Island can change."

"People need to stay informed to stay safe," he added.