Lindenhurst Residents South of Montauk to Be Evacuated Starting Sat AM

Lindenhurst Village officials made the decision late Friday to evacuate all residents South of Montauk Highway. Mayor Tom Brennan also issued a state of emergency effective 8 a.m. Saturday morning, when the evacuation is set to start.

“This isn’t a mandatory , but one that’s very strongly advised,” said the mayor, who noted that affected residents should expect a reverse 911 call via Suffolk County with details regarding the evacuation.

Then on Saturday morning starting at 8 a.m. the village will begin evacuating all residents who live on streets south of Montauk. They’ll be directed to the village’s designated evac center, Lindenhurst High School, at 300 Charles Street.

“I’ve been assured by Bob Cozzetto, [Lindenhurst Schools], that the high school is ready to go, and will open at 8 a.m. tomorrow for residents,” said Brennan.

It’ll serve as a safe haven during Hurricane Irene.

“It’ll be a temporary staging area, a place for people to be out of harm’s way,” the mayor added. No long-term facilities will be available.

According to Cozzetto, the village will most likely coordinate with the Red Cross to move residents in the event they need to stay evacuated after the hurricane has moved through the area.

They’d most likely then be moved to one of two evacuation centers the Red Cross has set up in Babylon Town: Robert Frost Middle School at 450 Half Hollow Road in Deer Park or North Babylon High School, which was added to the Red Cross evac center list late Friday, according to Town of Babylon officials.

However, right now the village evac plan calls for the high school as the designated evacuation center, as part of the Red Cross plans the village is following.

The village also urged residents being evacuated to first find friends or family to stay with ahead of Irene and for the duration, echoing what other government officials and agencies have been saying.

"We're suggesting that they stay with friends and family first. The high school is not a long-term facility," said the mayor.

In any event, starting on Saturday morning, "we’ll have fire trucks going into the area with PA systems announcing the evacuation,” noted Ray Fais, village emergency management coordinator.

Residents will also be alerted using Suffolk County's reverse 911 system.

Residents will be able to head to the high school on their own, but for those who can’t get there on their own due to age or disability or another type of ailment, the village will provide bus service coordinated via the Lindenhurst Fire Department, which will have several buses ready.

“Village Hall will be staffed tomorrow until 4 p.m. Residents can call there at 631-957-7500 if they need transportation to the high school, and we’ll make arrangements with the fire department to get a bus to them,” the mayor said.

But, again, evacuated residents are urged to find friends or relatives to stay with first, as they would be most comfortable there as opposed to the high school, which will have a generator and water, but won't have cots.

“Operators at Village Hall will also be able to answer residents’ questions regarding hurricane plans,” added Fais.