Residents in Flood Prone Areas Ordered To Evacuate

As fierce winds pummel Riverhead and Hurricane Sandy edges closer, town police and Riverhead Town Supervisor Sean Walter have sent out another warning to residents in flood-prone areas to get to safety.

According to a release issued by the Riverhead Police Department early Monday morning, residents in low-lying, flood prone areas are mandated to leave and seek shelter with relatives and friends.

Residents can also head to a town-organized shelter staffed by volunteers and the Red Cross at Riverhead High School. 

"Hurricane Sandy is still on track and will make landfall to the south and west of us sometime this afternoon," the release states.

Although Riverhead is not in the direct path of the Hurricane, the town is expected to feel the effects of the storm for the next 48 hours as winds and rain intensify Monday. Downed trees and power lines are expected to spark widespread loss of power;; residents are warned not to go near any downed power lines.

Any downed power lines should be reported to the Riverhead Police Department, 631-727-4500 ext. 0.

"Our greatest threat is the storm surge, which is expected to be six feet above high tide," the release states. "That, compounded with the duration of the storm and the lunar high tide will pose an extreme risk to those residents in low-lying, flood prone areas."

Riverhead residents are also urged to pay attention and listen to media reports.

Anyone with an emergency should call Riverhead police at 631-727-4500 ext. 0, or 911.

Notifications and Closures

Riverhead High School opened as a town shelter on Sunday at 4 p.m.

All low-lying flood prone areas are under mandatory evacuation.

Riverhead Town justice court is closed Monday.

Downed power lines should be considered energized; stay clear and dial 911.

For more information, call the town's emergency preparedness hot line at 631-727-3200, ext. "SOS" (767).