Although Hurricane Erin is expected to stay several hundred miles off Long Island’s coast, local emergency officials are urging residents not to let their guard down.
Mastic Beach Fire Commissioner Bill Biondi said his department is prepared should flooding or evacuations be needed, even if the storm doesn’t make landfall.
“The trucks are ready to go, and the volunteers are ready to go—we’re just hoping we don’t have to,” Biondi said. “But when and if the tide comes up and people need to evacuate, we’re ready. All you have to do is call 911, and we’ll be there.”
While forecasts suggest only 20–30 mph winds and a 70% chance of rain, Biondi warned residents to use common sense.
“If it gets too windy, try not to stand underneath a tree,” he said. “And if it is windy and raining, don’t be a hero and go out playing in the water.”
County officials are also keeping a close watch. Suffolk Legislator Dominick Thorne, chairman of the County Legislature’s Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Medical Services Preparedness Committee, said monitoring is ongoing.
“There’ll still be concerns of rip currents, particularly on the South Shore, and flooding in low-lying areas,” Thorne said. “Just because the storm is not going to hit us does not mean we won’t still have side effects from it.”
Thorne added that the county’s Office of Emergency Management in Yaphank may be activated in “monitoring mode” if conditions worsen. “We’re always ready for emergencies here in Suffolk County,” he said.
As Erin churns offshore, officials emphasize that the risks—especially flooding, rip currents, and falling branches—remain real. Residents are advised to take precautions, stay out of floodwaters, and avoid swimming until conditions improve.