Local officials gear up for the arrival of Sandy early next week

Riverhead officials are preparing for the arrival of Hurricane Sandy — in whatever form the massive storm may take.

Supervisor Sean Walter called an emergency operations committee meeting at town hall this morning, where Chief of Police David Hegermiller briefed school and town officials and representatives of local emergency services organizations.

Hegermiller said the local area could start to experience impacts early Monday from the rare October Atlantic hurricane bearing down on the East Coast.

Forecast models show the center of the storm making landfall somewhere between Delaware and Long Island, he said.

The National Weather Service in Upton is warning of the “potential for a dangerous coastal storm early next week.”

“The storm is very large and regardless whether it is tropical or not it will still be a powerful and historic storm in the northeast/mid-Atlantic region,” the weather service said in a statement issued at 11:35 a.m. Friday.

Currently Sandy is a category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds near 80 mph, with higher gusts. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 275 miles, according to the weather service.

The chief said he is monitoring National Weather Service briefings and forecast discussions and will be keeping a watchful eye on the weather system throughout the weekend.

“The full moon on Monday is a concern,” Hegermiller said. “Tides are predicted to be two feet above normal,” he said. That may cause significant coastal flooding, and, depending on the location and timing of landfall, could cause significant erosion problems.

Schools superintendent Nancy Carney said the district is prepared to open the high school as an emergency shelter in case it is needed for evacuations. The district will be ready to provide buses to transport people to the shelter also, as it did during Tropical Storm Irene last summer. Carney attended the meeting with assistant superintendent Sam Schneider and transportation supervisor Amala Cain.

“As of right now, all we can do is watch, wait and be ready,” the police chief said. He urged residents to “remember the three Ps: plan, pack, pay attention.”

People should take care to secure all loose, lightweight items in their yards, make sure they have nonperishable food and medications on hand, a supply of one gallon of water per person per day, and assemble an emergency kit, including flashlights and extra batteries. Ensure that all cell phones are fully charged before the storm’s arrival and check on neighbors, especially the elderly to see if they need help getting ready.

The town will maintain an emergency operations center at the police department beginning Sunday and for the duration of the storm, which is a slow-moving system and could be affecting Riverhead and the East End for up to three days, the chief said.

Residents can reach the emergency center by calling the police department’s main number, 631-727-3200 extension 767 (“SOS”.)

Water district superintendent Gary Pendzick asked that residents inform the EOC of any washouts in local roadways, especially in low-lying, flood-prone areas. Washouts could undermine water mains and cause breaks and failures, Pendzick said.

Highway department crews are clearing storm drains of fallen leaves in advance of the storm, getting trucks and equipment ready and are prepared to work around the clock as needed to address flooding and fallen limbs, said highway deputy superintendent Mark Gajowski.

The supervisor said the Long Island Power Authority has assigned a representative as liaison to the town. There are two LIPA trucks standing by in the Osborn Avenue highway yard, Gajowski said.

Area volunteer fire departments are ready with pumps to assist the town with flooding, according to fire district representatives at this morning’s meeting.

Peconic Bay Medical Center has secured additional generators to supplement its existing emergency power plant, said president and CEO Andrew Mitchell. “We are stocking up on additional medical/surgical, food, linen and associated supplies,” he said. “We will be coordinating closely with local, county and state emergency operations centers as well as other hospitals in the region to ensure full medical services in the event of a major weather event.”

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