As Hurricane Sandy Barrels North, Riverhead Town Prepares

Despite bright sunny skies that belie Hurricane Sandy's wrath as the storm continues to barrel north, Riverhead Town officials are hunkering down -- and getting prepared.

Riverhead Town Councilman John Dunleavy said a meeting was held on Friday morning with all town department heads and representatives of the Riverhead Central School District and Peconic Bay Medical Center, as well as Riverhead Police Chief David Hegermiller.

Dunleavy said town generators are "all fueled up and ready to go;" the highway department is prepared, and the town's sewer department is "ready to handle as much water" as possible.

"We're not ordering any evacuations until we find out what's happening," Dunleavy said.

Hegermiller said another storm emergency preparedness meeting would take place on Saturday at 3 p.m. at Town Hall.

Shelter announcements are made in conjunction with the Red Cross, Hegermiller said; shelters are typicallly set up at the high school and middle school but no details have yet been announced about where, when or if shelters will be opened in Riverhead. Stay tuned to Patch for further details as they emerge.

Shoppers, meanwhile, are stocking up on bottled water, batteries, matches and other essentials in advance of Hurricane Sandy.