Hurricane Preparedness for Commack

Regardless of whether Hurricane Earl makes a landfall in Commack, everybody should have a hurricane plan in case a hurricane does make landfall. When planning out your kit, there are some essentials that everybody should have ready.

• Enough canned food for 2 weeks – If a strong storm impacts the area, Long Island could be cut off from supplies and roads can become impassible. Wicks Road and Commack Road flood during a strong rainstorm, a hurricane can put the road out of commission for days with debris.
• Enough bottled water for 2 weeks – One of the most common things to happen after a hurricane is the water to become polluted or shut down. The recent polluted water outbreak in our town makes us aware that clean water is vitally important and can be compromised.
• Flashlight / Battery Powered Radio– If power goes out, and debris is loose, a flashlight will be necessary to make repairs to the property. News updates will most likely be given via radio, if cable wires go down. Which leads us to the next item…
• Batteries – Make sure all electronic appliances that require power have batteries. Sounds simple, but what good is that flashlight and radio if you can't turn it on?
• Cash for supplies – If power is out or internet and phone connections are gone, those fancy atm and bank cards aren't going to work. A few hundred dollars should be sufficient for a limited time.
• Waterproof safe with House Deed, passports, and other vital documents - Again, simple, but make sure your important legal documents are protected from flooding.

Also, in case of a major emergency, check up on shelters and evacuation points. The closest pre-planned shelter is Commack High School, and visit the Suffolk County Office of Emergency Management's website for any other information in the run up to a storm.