Henri Heads For Hamptons, Could Have 'Superstorm Sandy' Power

EAST END, NY — Now upgraded to Hurricane Henri, the massive storm is predicted to make landfall in eastern Suffolk County early Sunday afternoon. Long Island residents are preparing for the Category 1 hurricane's wrath — as Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency for the region and rain already begins to land on the water-soaked region.

Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman said he was "very concerned. There is lots of preparation and coordination going on. Shelters are being prepped. Voluntary evacuation orders are being discussed for Surge Zone 1 areas — identified on the county map — in town," he said.

The MTA will cancel all trains east of Ronkonkoma and Patchogue as of midnight Saturday, Cuomo said; all Cross Sound Ferry service and Fire Island Ferry service will also be suspended Sunday. Fire Island is now under an evacuation order.

Cuomo said the "calm before the storm" Saturday is misleading as to how serious the situation could be. Expected to make landfall on Long Island as a Category 1 hurricane, the storm could pack the same punch as Superstorm Sandy, also a Category 1 event, with wind gusts between 80 and 100 miles per hour and storm surges up to 6-feet, Cuomo said. Up to 10 inches of rain, significant flooding and tidal storm surges are expected.

The Hudson Valley, Catskills and Capital regions will also be impacted, he said.

Governors of the northeastern states joined President Joe Biden on a "hurricane preparedness call" Saturday afternoon.

Unlike Sandy, there was no notice for Henri, as the storm's trajectory changed rapidly, Cuomo said. And, with the storm supposed to hit specifically on Long Island, and closer to Suffolk County and the East End, the effects are potentially serious, Cuomo said.

Residents should expect significant power outages and be prepared; the state is working with power companies, Cuomo said.

New York State is preparing to send heavy equipment to Long Island and the Hudson Valley, including 500 members of the National Guard heading out with the necessary equipment, he said. Federal Emergency Management Agency teams are also being deployed to Long Island.

"We are preparing water rescue teams for Long Island," Cuomo said.

Cuomo declared a state of emergency on Long Island, the Hudson Valley, and New York City Saturday. He also said he spoke to the White House about signing a pre-landfall emergency disaster declaration so the state could apply for federal funding assistance.

"Our priority now is to protect life and safety," Cuomo said.

He agreed with Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, who urged residents of Fire Island to evacuate Saturday.

"If you do not evacuate now, you put yourself in a position of danger needlessly," Cuomo said, adding that emergency responders out in boats, trying to rescue families and babies from windows of homes, are also put in danger. "The main issue is trying to rescue people who have stayed in place. New Yorkers — please take this storm seriously."

According to Dominic Rammuni, meteorologist with the National Weather Service office at Upton, the "current thinking" is that Henri will make landfall. The potential is there for a direct strike." However, he said, as of Saturday morning, there is some hint that it "might pass just to the east of Montauk. We'll just have to see where the center of the storm falls," he said.

Should Henri make landfall as a Category 1 hurricane, it would be the first such an event happened on Long Island since Hurricane Gloria in 1985, Rammuni said.

The East End can expect hurricane conditions Sunday, Rammuni said. Conditions are expected to deteriorate late Saturday night, with tropical storm winds approaching land probably between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m., Ramunni said. Storm surges around the coast are expected to reach 2-to-4 feet of water rise above high ground, and up to 5-feet in vulnerable spots locally, he said.

Sustained wind speeds of 50 to 60 miles per hour an hour, with gusts of up to 70 to 80 miles an hour, are expected Sunday morning and late afternoon.

The East End can expect rainfall totals of 2-to-4 inches with up to 5 inches locally; flash flooding is a concern, Ramunni said. Widespread dune erosion is expected, with overwash issues in areas including Orient Point; isolated dune breaches across barrier islands are also possible, he said.

Ocean seas are expected to be as high as 20-feet Sunday, Ramunni said.

Residents should be prepared, he said. "If you haven't made preparations at this point, today is the day to do it," Ramunni said. He said all outdoor objects should be secured, with items raised in areas expecting water level rise.

Residents should be prepared to be without power for several days and have supplies to handle that scenario, he said.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone urged all residents of Fire Island to voluntarily evacuate Saturday; there will no ferry service Sunday. He also said depending on conditions, ferry service may be suspended for some time so residents would need to prepare Saturday with a focus on safety. "If they do not leave the island today they will be stuck on the island," he said.

There will be no Suffolk County bus service on Sunday; emergency shelters will open countywide, including at East Hampton High School, Hampton Bays Middle School and Riverhead High School, he said. County campgrounds will close at dusk with reservations canceled, he said.

Equipment is being staged in key locations and the town's emergency operations center will open after midnight.

In Southold Town, Police Chief Martin Flatley, the town's deputy emergency manager, said officials have already begun to adjust manpower needs for Saturday night into Sunday.

"Right now we are expecting high winds and significant rain and possible power losses in vulnerable areas throughout town," he said.

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 ready 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.