Smithtown Officials Decide Not to Declare State of Emergency

Smithtown officials have yet to declare a state of emergency for the Town of Smithtown as Huricane Sandy's winds batter Long Island on Monday morning.

Staff member of the town's Emergency Management department said a state of emergency for the town has not been declared and no shelters have been opened in the local area.

Nissequogue residents on Long Beach Road were advised on Sunday night to relocate during Hurricane Sandy. Members of the town's Public Safety Department spoke to locals Sunday door-to-door advising them to leave until it is safe to return.

John Valentine, Director of Public Safety for the town, and John Wagner, Smithtown’s deputy director of public safety, were not available for comment by time of publication.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone declared a state of emergency for the county on Sunday night for the duration of Hurricane Sandy. The Town of Brookhaven, Town of Huntington, Village of Northport have also declared a state of emergency.

Smithtown Supervisor Patrick Vecchio did not declare a state of emergency during Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irene in August 2011 despite evacuating residents on Long Beach Road.

Following Irene, Vecchio told Patch there was "no need" for him to declare a state of emergency as "a supervisor has no power to declare state of emergency, they are superseded by county and governor."