Update: Village Gets Ready for Irene

The Village of Massapequa Park has begun Battening down the hatches for Irene.

"We're hoping for gthe best and preparing for the worst" Mayor James Altadonna said Friday.

The mayor said officials met Thursday night to plan storm preparation.

Steps taken included the acquisition of porta-potties in case the water supply is disrupted.

They're also bringing in ready to eat meals as a precaution in case power is disrupted.

The village will also be dispersing some of its emergency equipment to other locations, in case some of the storage areas are unreachable.

Officials will be keeping an eye on several parts of the village including the Bar Harbour Section and areas between Sunrise Highway and Merrick Road.  

Although mandatory evacuation has been announced as of 2 p.m. Friday, Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano has asked residents who live south of Sunrise Highway  to find friends and family to stay with,

"I echo that sentiment," Altadonna said. Later, the mayor said that he believed a county hurricane shelter at McKenna Elementary school would be operational at 7 p.m. Friday.

will be staffed and open this weekend , according to the mayor.

The Massapequa Fire Department is also gearing up for the storm and Fire Chief Peter Anglim is urging residents "to pay attention to the [Nassau County] Office of emergency management and local news reports." 

While Anglim said "we're ready" for the storm, he wants residents to know that once sustained winds reach 50 to 55 mph fire trucks and ambulances won't be able to go out  because conditions will be too dangerous.

People with disabilities and special medical needs should contact their doctors and consider staying with friends or family.

The department also have a plan in place to relocate staff at the East end fire house on Merrick Road, should it get flooded.

There are no events scheduled at Massapequa schools this weekend. The Massapequa Public Library was scheduled to be closed already on Sunday, bur as of 2:30 p.m. Friday, the library had no plans to close Saturday.