With Hurricane Sandy bearing down on Long Island, officials are urging residents in low-lying areas and storm surge zones to begin making plans to leave the area.
Both Nassau and Suffolk Counties announced the opening of several shelters throughout the Island on Sunday.
The massive pre-Halloween storm, dubbed “Frankenstorm,” is expected to bring torrential rain and strong wind.
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Long Island is currently under a high wind warning, coastal flood warning and a flood watch, all advisories starting Monday morning and lasting through Tuesday.
The dangerous coastal storm is expected to bring 2 to 6 inches of rain early Monday, forecasters said.
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“Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop,” the NWS said in a statement posted on its website.
From Garden City to the Hampton Bays, shelters are opening for Long Islanders looking for a safe place to wait out the storm.
In Nassau:
Nassau Community College – P Building – located at 1 Education Drive in Garden City East.
Levittown Memorial – located at 150 Abbey Lane in Levittown
Locust Valley High School – located at 99 Horse Hollow Road in Locust Valley.
In Suffolk:
Hampton Bays High School – 88 Argonne Avenue Hampton Bays, NY 11946
Sachem East High School – 177 Granny Road Farmingville, NY 11738
Brentwood High School Sonderling Bldg. – 52 Third Avenue Brentwood, NY 11717
Pet Shelters:
Nassau:
At 3 p.m. Sunday a pet shelter will also open at Nassau County Mitchel Athletic Complex, Administration Building, in Uniondale.
Suffolk:
Brentwood Rec Center – 99 Third Avenue, Brentwood, NY 11717
Suffolk County Community College Eastern Campus – Woodlands Bldg. – 121 Speonk Rd., Riverhead, NY