Officials: Possible LI evacuations for Hurricane Earl

As Hurricane Earl bears down on the Atlantic coast, Long Island officials are planning for the worst, and urging residents to do the same.

On the East End, which weather forecasters expect to take the local brunt of the severe weather, some 2,400 mobile home residents in Riverhead and campers at Montauk's 168-site Hither Hills State Park were alerted Tuesday about potential evacuations.

Farther west, Suffolk County officials said they would decide Wednesday whether to evacuate Fire Island, an eight- to nine-hour process that involves shuttling residents and vacationers by ferry across the Great South Bay.

And Nassau County officials were weighing whether to evacuate patients at Long Beach Hospital, built less than 7 feet above sea level.

Jim Callahan, Nassau County's emergency management commissioner, said a decision would have to be made by late Wednesday in order to get bed space at other hospitals and move patients out safely.

The Long Island Power Authority, meanwhile, requested about 1,600 workers from out of state to help crews with anticipated power line damage and fallen trees later this week.

"We are not taking it lightly," said Joe Williams, Suffolk County's commissioner of fire, rescue and emergency services.

"We're planning to get a major hurricane on Long Island. If we don't, fine. It's always easier for us to back down our resources."

The latest forecast from the National Weather Service calls for the Category 4 storm to pass Long Island about 140 miles off the coast of Montauk on Friday, an indirect hit that would still bring winds exceeding 39 mph and powerful storm swells.

East End communities should expect winds strong enough to fell trees and power lines; beach communities should expect dangerous swells, rough surf, and coastal erosion, according to Ross Dickman of the National Weather Service.

Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator W. Craig Fugate said yesterday that coastal residents from North Carolina to Maine should be preparing for the worst, even though the hurricane is not expected to make landfall. As of Tuesday night, the eye of the storm was 1,000 miles from Cape Hatteras, N.C.

In Riverhead, Town Supervisor Sean Walter said a 1,000-bed storm shelter will be readied at Riverhead High School. Walter stressed that the shelter, if needed, will not be open to accept residents until closer to the storm's arrival.

Long Islanders were advised to stockpile water, canned goods, flashlights and batteries as Friday approaches. Officials advised securing lawn furniture, barbecues and other possessions that could damage property if blown about by a storm.

The Town of Hempstead urged Long Island's 112,000 registered boat owners to avoid using their watercraft in the coming days and to properly secure boats at docks and marinas.

Southampton Police Lt. Robert Iberger, the town's emergency preparedness coordinator, recommended that vacationers bound for the Hamptons for the long weekend delay their plans at least until Saturday.

Iberger and other East End town officials were confident that their communities would be well prepared to take the brunt of the hurricane.

East Hampton Highway Superintendent Scott King said the town has an Army transporter ready to go in the event it is needed to evacuate residents.

"You plan for the worst and hope for the best," he said.

With Jennifer Smith