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Merrick Life • Bellmore Life • Freeport-Baldwin Leader • Wantagh-Seaford Citizen

“It’s important to keep in mind the Boy Scout motto – ‘be prepared,’ which can help keep us safe if a hurricane should hit our area,” said state Assemblyman Dave McDonough at a meeting held at the Merrick Library on August 26. 

 Assemblyman McDonough (R,I,C- Merrick) was joined by members of the Nassau County emergency management office, the American Red Cross and the Town of Hempstead’s Department of Public Safety to provide information on hurricane preparedness.

 Meteorological experts are anticipating an active hurricane season this year, according to Jim Callahan of the county office of emergency management. “The last hurricane we had was Gloria, and it was a Category One hurricane,” he said. According to the Saffir-Simpson scale, Gloria was a “minimal” hurricane, with wind speeds of 74 to 95 miles per hour. “That hurricane was in 1985,” Mr. Callahan continued.

“A whole generation has never seen a hurricane. We are due.”  Why?  “The weather conditions,” said Mr. Callahan. “It has rained less and the waters have a higher salinity [therefore] holding more warmth, and that makes for stronger hurricanes. We are in a 35-year cycle of warmth. We have another 10 years in this cycle.” On average, there is a “7.5 % chance for a hurricane to hit, but this year the chance is at 12%,” said Mr. Callahan, who added that “Usually, we see a hurricane every 17 years or so.

There are 21 hurricanes predicted for the Atlantic this year.” At press time, Hurricane Earl is making its way towards the Atlantic coastline. It is still too early for meterologists to determine where landfall may be, or what kind of damage this storm might create. But last week Mr. Callahan said that “Earl is on the same track as the 1938 hurricane.” That hurricane, referred to as the Long Island Express, was a 100-year storm that hit landfall on September 21, 1938, and had sustained winds of 121 miles per hour with gusts up to 186 miles per hour. Storm surges sent water as far north as Sunrise Highway. That’s why residents should be prepared, not scared, says the American Red Cross.

Every resident should assemble a disaster kit. It should include the following:

• Water: a three-to-seven-day supply of drinking water per person, which translates into a gallon of water per day for each person.
• Food: nonperishable items including canned food, energy bars, peanut butter and other nutritious foods that require no refrigeration, preparation or cooking, and little or no water for up to seven days. Include a manual can opener.
• First Aid Kit: including sterile gloves, antibiotic ointment, burn ointment, thermometer, bandages, nonaspirin pain reliever and eyewash.
• Medications: Prescription and nonprescription items and medical information.
• A portable radio, which is either battery-powered or a crank radio, as well as a flashlight and five extra sets of batteries. Each family member should have a flashlight.
• Clothing: a change of clothes, rainwear, sturdy shoes and protective gloves for everyone.
• Money: cash only.
• Important family documents: These should be stored in a waterproof, portable container and include drivers licenses, wills, birth and marriage certificates, insurance policies, proof of residence (deed or lease), recent tax returns, credit card and bank account number, social security cards, passports and a home inventory list.
• Personal items such as soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, toilet paper, paper towels and pre-moistened towelettes.
• Camera as well as film or a fully charged digital camera.
• Clean-up supplies such as mop, buckets, towels, etc.
• Emergency tools (wrench, pliers etc.).
• A fully charged cell phone.

Listen to or watch local news for storm updates and, if you are told to evacuate, do so. Take your kit with you as well as pillows, blankets and sleeping bags. Turn off electricity, water and gas in your home. Unplug major appliances. Residents may go to one of the following emergency shelters in our area. They include Nassau Community College, SUNY Farmingdale, Wantagh High School, Levittown Memorial Education Center, C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University, Garden City High School and McKenna Elementary School in Massapequa.

This story was reported by Patricia McKay and written by Laura Schofer.