Brace for a stormy weekend. The National Hurricane Center issued a hurricane warning for Long Island and the Long Island Sound Friday.
As of 11 p.m. Hurricane Irene, a Category 2 storm packing winds up to 100 mph, is 140 miles south of Cape Lookout, N.C. The core of the storm is expected to reach the North Carolina coast overnight.
The hurricane warning extends from Little River Inlet, N.C. to Sagamore Beach, Mass. Long Island should start to see outer bands from the storm late Saturday.
The National Weather Service has also issued a coastal flood hazard with comunities along the Long Island Sound in a high impact zone. Most of Nassau and Queens are listed as high to extreme inland flood hazards.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency on Thursday. It started a cascade of emergency measures, including:
- The MTA announced the Long Island Rail Road will suspend fare collection, effective immediately on all westbound trains on the Far Rockaway, Long Beach and Montauk/Babylon Branches to facilitate evacuation. Conductors will view tickets for monthly/weekly ticket holders, but will not collect a fare for those under the evacuation orders. Also, pets will be allowed to accompany evacuees on trains when leashed or in a container.
- The MTA has also said it will start suspending service for buses, subways and trains beginning at noon Saturday.
- Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano announced a mandatory evacuation order for all residents living south of Sunrise Highway, from the Queens line to Rockville Centre and south of Merrick Road, from Rockville Centre to the Nassau-Suffolk border. All those residing in these areas must evacuate by 5 p.m. Saturday.
- North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman said low-lying areas and storm surge zones need to be evacuated, including parts of Manorhaven, Manhasset Isle, and residents that live along shore road along Manhasset Bay.
- Brookhaven Town Supervisor Mark Lesko announced a mandatory evacuation effective 8 a.m. Saturday for those who reside in the town's South Shore flood zones, from Center Moriches to Patchogue.
- Islip Town mandatory evacuation of low-lying areas south of Montauk Highway will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday.
- Fire Island mandatory evacuation began 3 p.m. Friday.
- Asharoken Mayor Patricia Irving has urged residents to evacuate.
The 48 hour outlook places the storm track squarely through Long Island, with much of the East Coast in the forecast cone. At the current estimate, Irene could make landfall on Long Island at some point Sunday.
According to NOAA models, Long Island faces up to an 70-percent probability of seeing tropical storm-force winds up to 74 mph. The model also shows the Island has a 20-percent chance of facing hurricane force winds.
You are sounding like the 23 year old unemployed kid that you are. No "State of Emergency" declared or undeclared gives anyone the power to infringe on anyone's rights. In America, the Constitution can't be "suspended". If you don't like that, move to Cuba. Your ignorance is showing!
It should be an individuals choice whether he wants to evacuate or stay put to protect his home and family. But the local authorites are under no obligation to bail him out if he fails to follow their evac orders. So he's on his own. If you choose to leave, Marc, then that's fine for youm but you shouldn't order your neighbors to do the same. I left town because my gal/pal kept noodging me to move to higher ground and safety. She's afraid we;ll get flooded out here in L.B and lose our electric too. I know which side my bread is buttered, so I gave in to her.
If a resident calls 911, he will get help, no matter where he is, no matter if he evacuated or didn't. Once again, do your homework and don't pontificate about things that you've only read in Newsday. The Bill of Rights isn't suspended, public services are not being rationed. Those of us who have earned what we have and pay for what we get have no problem exercising our rights. Many of us are much better experienced, educated and trained in protecting our properties than are the police and volunteers. One day, when you move out of Mom's basement and get a job and earn your own keep, you too will resent "experts" who try to take away your rights and earnings. Keep an open mind Marc. There's still plenty that an unemployed 23 year old can learn.
If what you are saying wasn't so dangerous, I'd call you an idiot.
You're a smart man.
You will be rescued IF and When they can!" Enjoy your liberties!
:-)
Second, Clem, though I disagree with Rosen on basic principles of freedom, when the government decides to have "mandatory evacuations", there is a chance that the officials simply won't come after you. I don't necessarily care, it's pretty simple: if you live under the sea level, or whatnot, just get out, you probably know what's best for you, not some government, unlike what Rosen believes. Furthermore, the police, and though I'm not sure, other services, are not constitutionally required to "protect" us normals.
Are you learning anything yet? After your previous remarks indicating zero knowledge of the Bill of Rights, we'd think you'd at least take a few minutes to look things up before blurting them here as fact.
Back to the storm -- Beach is just about gone with water washing all the way up the beach; sump pumps started about 4 AM. Electric still on in most of Long Beach, as I can see. Lots of wind but rain not to heavy. No serious street flooding. Wind 45. Cops checking ID at Long Beach Bridge, turning away non residents. I'm sure your stuff is fine here Lloyd.
At 6 AM, the Hurricane Center downgraded the winds to a 20% chance of over 74MPH, so we're looking at a tropical storm here with probably 65 MPH. We're seeing gusts up to that now in Long Beach. Unfortunately the storm surge was upgraded to 90% of 3 feet and 40% of 4 feet, so you gals on canals will probably see some flooding. Most modern bulkheads are a little below that. Here's the site for the National Hurricane Center. The nonsense on TV is all exaggerated hype: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/index.shtml?#IRENE
No damage to boardwalk. Lifeguard shed floated north against boardwalk. Ocean water down some streets. Ocean made it up Laurelton to Park. Otherwise, power is on in most of Long Beach. One block outage by Granada Towers. Lots of flooded basements, I'm sure. Lots of new roof leaks. Government out of control.