Hurricane Earl, predicted to be the most powerful storm to brush the East End of Long Island since 1991, weakened to a from a Category 4 to a Category 2 storm with 110 mph winds as it made the final approach to North Carolina on Thursday night.
The development comes after the National Weather Service issued a Tropical Storm warning for Nassau and Suffolk counties. The eye of the storm is expected to pass more than 100 miles east of Montauk, but eastern Suffolk will still see strong winds and rain by late Friday.
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Suffolk County officials opted not to evacuate Fire Island, the particularly vulnerable South Shore barrier island, but ordered parks closed as of Thursday afternoon due to intense rip currents that threatened swimmers.
Long Island Rail Road officials were not taking any risks, either, and announced service will be suspended east of Speonk on the Montauk Branch and east of Ronkonkoma on the Main Line early Friday morning.
The last Montauk train to Penn Station leaves at 5:39 a.m. and the last from New York to Montauk leaves Penn Station at 12:39 a.m. Friday. The last westbound train will leave Greenport at 5:30 a.m. Friday.
Bay Shore-based Fire Island Ferries, which serves the west-end communities, will stop running at 3 p.m. Friday. Sayville Ferry Service on the island’s east end had canceled service to some communities as well with additional cancellations likely while Patchogue-based Davis Park Ferry Company is considering cancelling trips too.
The U.S. Coast Guard urged the boating public to stay informed by monitoring storm progress on VHF channel 16, which provides small craft advisories and warnings to boaters. Boat owners are urged to double-check their mooring lines and secure life rings, life jackets and other loose items, preventing their boat or equipment from breaking free and causing damage.
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Suffolk residents were urged to sign up for the new Code RED emergency notification method, which utilizes a high-speed telephone communication service to deliver customized, pre-recorded emergency messages directly to Suffolk County homes and businesses. Code Red generates telephone, e-mail and text messaging notices to subscribers.
Suffolk County police reminded residents that during severe weather conditions to use ‘911’ only for true emergencies and to use 631-852-COPS to report non-emergency situations such as flooding and downed trees. Electrical outages should be reported directly to the Long Island Power Authority at 1-800-490-0075.
Depending upon the anticipated severity of a storm, the county may open shelters for based on the nature, severity of an emergency and the number of residents impacted. Shelter locations are also available to residents who visit www.SuffolkCountyNY.gov.
The following Suffolk County Parks have been impacted by the hurricane:
West Hills, Huntington: Full operations open (youth group camping, dog run, hiking, picnicking, horseback riding, etc.)
Blydenburgh, Smithtown: Camping closed due to West Nile Virus positively sampling. Rest of park open 8:00 am – 6:00 pm (dog run, picnics, hiking, historic area, rowboating)
Cathedral Pines, Middle Island: Full operations open (camping, biking, hiking, picnics, etc.)
Southaven, Brookhaven: Camping closed (West Nile Virus). Rest of park open 8:00 am – 6:00 pm (picnics, hiking, rowboats, etc.)
Smith Point, Shirley: Outer beach closed for camping and day trips. Bathing beach closed. Open for camping (inland)
Gardiner County Park, West Bay Shore open daily for hiking/walking until dusk. Closed after 6:00 pm (West Nile)
Sears Bellows, Hampton Bays: Full operations open (camping, rowboats, fishing, picnics, etc.)
Indian Island, Riverhead: Full operations open (camping, hiking, fishing, picnics, etc.) – Site to be monitored for possible closure tomorrow.
Cedar Point, East Hampton: EVACUATED (Thursday 9/2 & Friday 9/3).
Shinnecock East, Southampton: Outer beach open for camping and day trips on the Bay Side. Oceanside closed to all vehicular traffic. Outer beach area will be closed for day trippers tomorrow.
Cupsogue Beach, Westhampton: Outer beach (Bay Side) open for camping and day trips. Outer beach area will be closed tomorrow for day trips.
Meschutt Beach, Hampton Bays: Open for swimming, camping.
Theodore Roosevelt, Montauk: EVACUATED (no activity).
Golf Courses: West Sayville, Bergen Point, Indian Island & Timber Point (All Currently open)
