Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone has declared a state of emergency for the county, in preparation of Tropical Storm Hermine.
“This is a potentially dangerous storm that could produce significant flooding on Fire Island and along the South Shore,” Bellone said in a statement issued this evening.
Hermine is expected to remain a powerful cyclone off the Mid-Atlantic coast for the next few days, according to the National Weather Service.
“Although this storm will not hit us directly, the storm could potentially be worse in some ways. It appears the storm will sit off the coast for two to three days,” Bellone said. “As we continue to monitor the track of the storm today and into tomorrow morning, we want people to be aware of the potential for significant flooding and encourage our residents and visitors to stay tuned to updates.”
The county’s south shore has been placed under a flood watch. National weather experts are anticipating storm surges of 3 to 5 feet along shoreline communities and are preparing for heavy rains, strong sustained winds and beach erosion.
Suffolk has also issued a voluntary evacuation of Fire Island by 1 p.m. tomorrow to ensure the safety of all residents and visitors in the event of conditions worsening.
Suffolk County beaches will be closed to swimming starting tomorrow for an indefinite period of time, the county executive said. The Suffolk County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation is currently monitoring campsites.
Suffolk County is also in continuous communication with the American Red Cross. Fourteen temporary assistance shelters are available and ready to be opened on an as-needed basis.
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