Gov on weakened storm: Don't lower your guard

Gov. David A. Paterson cautioned Long Islanders on Friday to be careful and stay indoors as winds and drenching rain spawned by Hurricane Earl threatened to cause flooding and power outages in Suffolk County.

"Just because the hurricane has been downgraded, let's not lay down our guard," Paterson said at a midafternoon news conference at the American Red Cross office in Yaphank.

"It's always too early to say we dodged a bullet until the storm has passed," he said.

Earl, which on Thursday was a Category 4 hurricane, on Friday was downgraded to Category 1 as it raced up the East Coast toward Cape Cod.

The National Hurricane Center's advisory at 5 p.m. Friday said, "Hurricane Earl remains large but is losing its punch."

The Democratic governor met with Suffolk officials and a Red Cross emergency management team Friday only a few hours before Earl was forecast to churn through the Atlantic about 150 miles east of Montauk Point, bringing winds ranging from 35 mph to 45 mph, with gusts to 50 mph to eastern Suffolk County.

Paterson said 2,200 utility workers - some from Missouri, Pennsylvania and Michigan - were poised to begin addressing any power outages. State transportation crews would program electronic signs on the Long Island Expressway to direct crews to trouble spots, he said.

"We are ready to deal with this crisis," Paterson said.

Long Island Power Authority chief executive officer Kevin Law said he is confident the utility is ready. Advance preparation, including drills with Suffolk and Nassau officials, "will see us through this major event," he said.

Brookhaven Town Supervisor Mark Lesko warned surfers and swimmers to stay away from beaches and cautioned drivers to be aware of road hazards.

"You're going to be seeing downed trees," Lesko said. "You're going to be seeing downed power lines."

Wind and rain from Earl were forecast to spread across the Island's north and south forks until about midnight, said Robert Imbornoni, disaster relief operations director for the Red Cross. Until the storm passes, the Island is not out of danger, he said.

"We gotta get through midnight," he said.

A Red Cross shelter had been opened at the Montauk Playhouse, but no one had sought shelter there by midafternoon Friday, Imbornoni said.

Additional shelters could be opened if they were needed, he said.

About 75 Red Cross workers were deployed to provide assistance in Suffolk, and another 1,000 were available to pitch in, he said.

Red Cross workers plan to fan out Saturday in search of anyone who needs assistance, such as food, first aid, shelter and prescription medication, Imbornoni said.

The Red Cross also will conduct a disaster assessment of the island Saturday, he said.