THOMAS R. SUOZZI COUNTY EXECUTIVE  Office of Emergency Management  RICHARD A. ROTANZ COMMISSIONER         HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS FOR NASSAU COUNTY RESIDENTS                 A Message from the County Executive In Nassau County, we are making concerted efforts to ensure the safety and well being of you and your family in many different ways. As part of this effort, I am pleased to provide Nassau residents with this brochure on how you and your loved ones may prepare for hurricanes. While the County does have hurricane preparedness plans, it is vital that each resident is educated on how to be prepared for and what to do should a hurricane strike. This guide will help get you started. Together, we can make Nassau County more prepared and a safer place to live     . Introduction As Long Islanders, many of us may not feel threatened by hurricanes considering we survived Gloria, Floyd and others. However, given our location as an island left vulnerable to the Atlantic Ocean, Nassau County is very susceptible to the powerful and destructive nature of hurricanes. Long Island has been threatened by, and at times hit with, hurricanes. And while it is estimated that 80-90% of people living in hurricane prone areas think they have experienced the worst of a major hurricane, most likely they have not. This can give people a false sense of what a major hurricane actually is or the potential damage it can cause. This is why it is important for residents to understand what a hurricane is, how hurricanes can affect our lives, and ways to better prepare in the event one strikes our area. Hurricanes According to the National Hurricane Center, the term “hurricane” refers to tropical cyclones occurring in the Northern Hemisphere (“typhoon” refers to tropical cyclones in the Pacific). A hurricane is described as a powerful coastal storm with sustained winds above 74 mph and is defined by its immense size, duration, and destruction. Hurricane season is from June to November. When there is an impending hurricane, the National Weather Service (NWS) will monitor the potential storm and keep local emergency managers updated. When necessary, the NWS may issue either a hurricane watch or a hurricane warning: Hurricane Watch Issued for coastal areas when hurricane conditions are threatening to hit within 24-36 hours Hurricane Warning Issued for coastal areas when hurricane conditions are threatened to hit within 24 hours or less Destruction of Hurricanes Hurricanes have many after-effects including severe destruction and can cause additional hazards including: • Wreckage from buildings and downed trees, which may cause obstructions. • Severe flooding causing possible injury or death and property damage. Some homes may become destroyed or unlivable. • Damaged transportation infrastructures causing roads and railroads to be impassable. Road signs and traffic lights may be down or not working making travel difficult. • Businesses may take several days to reopen and utilities, including electricity, gas, water, and telephone service, may be inoperable for a while. • You may have difficulty reaching police, fire, and emergency departments, doctors, pharmacies, veterinarians, homecare providers, and other health agencies. The level and intensity of Hurricanes are categorized by the Saffir-Simpson scale and are as follows: Category 1 Winds of 74-95 mph with damage to shrubbery and flooding on coastal roads. Category 2 Winds of 96-110 mph with the above and considerable damage to housing. Category 3 Winds of 111-130 mph with the above with damage to buildings. Evacuation of low-lying residences within several blocks of shoreline possibly required. Category 4 Winds of 131-155 mph including the above and a mass evacuation of residential areas may be necessary. Category 5 Winds greater than 155 mph including the above with more excessive damage such as overturned housing and buildings. Massive evacuation of residential areas may be necessary. A Quick History of Hurricanes on Long Island       The New England Hurricane (also known as the Long Island Express) hit Long Island on September 21, 1938 as a Category 3 (winds 111-130 mph) and devastated the coast of Long Island with storm surges of 10 to 12 feet and was responsible for, in total, 700 deaths, $308 million in damage, and 63,000 people homeless between Long Island and New England. The LI Express was so powerful that it created the Shinnecock Inlet and widened the Moriches Inlet in Suffolk County.     • The Great Atlantic Hurricane of 1944 was a Category 3 (winds 111-130 mph) • Hurricanes Carol and Edna of 1954 were both Category 3 hurricanes when they hit Long Island and Connecticut. • Hurricane Donna of 1960 started as a Category 4 and hit Nassau County as a Category 3 (winds 111-130 mph).       Hurricane Gloria of 1985 began as a Category 3 hurricane when it hit Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, but was considered a Category 1 (winds 74-95 mph) when it reached Nassau County. Gloria devastated the U.S., including serious damage to Nassau County.     Being Prepared Although we cannot prevent hurricanes, we can certainly prepare for them. Creating an emergency plan ahead of time for you and your family will help you stay organized if a hurricane strikes. Your emergency plan should include a communication system, disaster supply kit, and an alternate meeting place if your home is unsafe. Depending on the severity of the hurricane, you may need to evacuate where you live. When instructions are given to evacuate you will be directed to a temporary, emergency refuges that will provide a safe haven for the duration of the storm. However, it is recommended that you seek refuge with a friend or family member located away from the affected area. Survival kits should contain information and supplies for your home and to take with you to an emergency evacuation shelter. Items marked with an asterisk (*) should be included in your Grab-N-Go kit in case you are evacuated. FEMA and Red Cross recommend the following for your kits: Photo identification and proof of address *Insurance policies *Banking and credit card information *Emergency contact information including names and phone numbers of those in your personal support network, family members, doctors, equipment suppliers, and utility companies One-week supply of non-perishable canned/packaged food Bottled water (gallon/day) Manual can opener Flashlight with extra batteries Plastic trash bags Battery operated radio/TV with extra batteries *Family photos First Aid Kit Toiletries *Blankets and pillows *Change of clothes *Childcare items *Cell phone w/ spare batteries *Hard soled shoes *Money *Auxiliary medical equipment with extra batteries if necessary (i.e., oxygen, scooter battery, hearing aid) Baby supplies *Medical alert bracelet *Pet carrier/cage with toy *Food and water supply for pets *Leash/harness with ID tag *Medicine supply and written dosage instructions (rotate to ensure it does not expire) If you are evacuating to a shelter, before you leave your home: Secure windows and shutters with plywood for storm emergencies Remove all downed shrubbery and tree limbs from your property Secure patio furniture Top-off car gas tank Turn off electricity at main switch Shut gas valve at the appliance, not the main Let friends, relatives or neighbors know where you are going. Protecting Pets and Animals Pets are not allowed in shelters. Be sure to make sheltering plans for your pet(s). If you cannot make necessary provisions for your pet, you may want to contact the Pet Safe Coalition Inc. to learn about its “PetSafe” shelter program. They can be reached at 516-676-0808, or go to their web-site at www.petsafecoalition.org. Service animals are allowed in Nassau County shelters. If you bring your service animal with you, have water, food, medicines, toys and other necessities. Special Needs If you have any special needs, be sure to take them into consideration when developing your emergency plan for hurricanes. For more information, contact Nassau County Office of Emergency Management and request the brochure on Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities. Work and School Every workplace and school should have an evacuation plan and emergency procedures. Become familiar with evacuation plans in areas where you spend a great deal of time. You may want to store a few essential items at these locations as well. Nassau County Contact Information Remember -“911” Calls Are For Emergency Situations Only TTY Relay Operator 800-421-1220 Nassau County Office of Emergency Management (516) 573-0636 Nassau County Office of Emergency Management E-mail: NCOEM@nassaucountyny.gov Nassau County Main Number (516) 571-3000 Nassau County American Red Cross (516) 747-3500 Nassau County Police (516) 573-7000 Town of North Hempstead (516) 627-0590 Town of Hempstead (516) 489-5000/538-1900 Town of Oyster Bay (516) 677-5757 City of Glen Cove (516) 676-2000 Glen Cove Police Department (516) 676-1000 City of Long Beach (516) 431-1000 City of Long Beach Police Department (516) 431-1800 Additional Website Resources Government/Agency Nassau County www.nassaucountyny.gov  Federal Emergency Management Agency www.fema.gov New York State Emergency Management Office www.nysemo.state.ny.us American Red Cross www.redcross.org  National Organization on Disability’s Emergency Preparedness Initiative www.nod.org/emergency Health and Welfare Council of Long Island www.hwcli.com Weather Related National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration www.noaa.gov National Weather Service www.nws.noaa.gov National Hurricane Center www.nhc.noaa.gov