Nor’easter Prompts Evacuations in Already Damaged LI Areas

A sign points to the location for an American Red Cross Center in the gym at Nassau Community College on Monday, Nov 5, 2012, in Garden City, N.Y. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek)

The Nor’easter that’s closing in on Long Island has prompted officials to reinstate evacuation orders for low-lying coastal areas.

The Town of Islip announced that the mandatory evacuation order for Fire Island and residents in the Category 1 Storm Surge Zone is extended for the upcoming storm, which is forecast to bring heavy winds, coastal flooding and a wintry mix of precipitation. The Town of Southampton issued a voluntary evacuation for its area.

Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano also told residents in low-lying areas of the county to evacuate for the storm.

“After Sandy has hit, I think those residing in a storm surge zone know who they are, and should leave,” he said.

The storm is expected to bring about a half to an inch of precipitation that will be a rain/snow/wintry mix, with higher chances for snow in Nassau County.

The National Weather issued coastal flood warning for both the south and north shores of the Island.

The south shore can expect to see a storm surge of around three feet to four feet at the times of high tide early Wednesday afternoon and around two to three feet after midnight. The north shore can expect to see a storm surge of around four feet to five feet Wednesday afternoon into evening and two to four feet late Wednesday night into early Thursday morning.

While this is nowhere near the record storm surges that hit the area during Hurricane Sandy, it will add to beach erosion, especially since many beaches and vulnerable shore roads lost their protective dunes in last week’s storm.

There is also a high wind warning in effect for the area from Wednesday afternoon into Thursday morning. Meteorologists said that Long Islanders can expect winds of 25 to 40 mph with gusts up to 60 mph. According to National Weather Service meteorologist Lauren Nash, wind gusts of 29 mph had already been recorded in Islip Wednesday morning. These winds could take down more trees and power lines that were already loosened by Sandy.