Community Corner

East Hampton Prepares for Hurricane

Supervisor asks residents to look out for one another.

As Hurricane Irene moves through the northwest Bahamas on Thursday morning, East Hampton Town Supervisor Bill Wilkinson said the town is busy preparing for the storm to make its way up the East Coast.

"We're following Irene very carefully," Wilkinson said on Wednesday.

"We've had meetings with police, marine patrol, lifeguards, parks, highway, building services and human services departments," he said. 

Find out what's happening in East Hamptonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Bruce Bates, the town's emergency preparedness coordinator, said those departments are gearing up. "Highway is checking saws and making sure storm drains are clear," he said.

He said the town will have to make some decisions by Friday so that employees are on-call for the storm, if it is going to hit the East End on the weekend.

Find out what's happening in East Hamptonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"Right now people should be preparing for the storm; getting flashlights, batteries, food and water if they are held up in their house for a few days, securing items on their property like patio furniture," he said.

Bates said residents should check with the local media for updates. Public service announcements during the storm will be on WLNG Radio 92.1 FM.

Public schools will acts as shelters, if the Red Cross deems it necessary to open them.

The is getting its list together of seniors who need care during an emergency. He said anyone who requires help should contact that department.

The supervisor asked that residents look out for each other. "Take care of your neighbors," he said.

Wilkinson called Hurricane Earl of last season "a great exercise" as the town was prepared for the storm, which turned out not to be much.

"The thing that scares me the most is the ocean. It's before Labor Day, we have a tremendous amount of visitors and people who aren't used to storm conditions at the ocean," he said.

"There's a tremendous attraction to the ocean during a storm, but people need to realize the currents, waves and tides can come up quick," he said, adding that part of what's being discussed are extra lifeguards and police patrol at the ocean beaches leading up to the storm.

Check back with East Hampton Patch for updates from the town on the storm.


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