Hurricane Jose: East Hampton Town Prepares

EAST HAMPTON, NY — As Hurricane Jose heads north, with potential tropical storm impacts to the East End, East Hampton Town is battening down the proverbial hatches.

Supervisor Larry Cantwell convened a meeting of town emergency personnel to review preparations and potential impacts, a release said.

The area is under a tropical storm watch from late Tuesday through Wednesday morning as Hurricane Jose passes several hundred miles east of Long Island.

The National Weather Service indicates East Hampton Town could see winds between 30 mph and 40 mph, along with heavy surf conditions, a possible 2-3 foot tidal surge and 3-5 inches of rainfall over the next two days, town officials said.

The storm surge can be expected to peak during the 2 a.m. high tide Wednesday morning; low lying coastal areas throughout the town may experience street flooding, Cantwell said.

Strong winds and wet ground conditions could result in tree damage and power outages; significant erosion is expected along the shoreline, especially the oceanfront, he said.

Residents are advised to continue to monitor the track of the storm, secure loose outdoor items that may become airborne in high winds, and be sure to have adequate water and food supplies should there be a loss of electric service, town official said.

Residents should regard all downed power lines as energized and potentially dangerous and maintain a safe distance at all times, the release said.

In addition, residents should contact PSEGLI regarding any outages at 1-800-490-0075. Outages may also be reported via text message by texting “OUT” to 773454. For storm related non-emergency incidents residents should contact the East Hampton Town Police Department at 631-537-7575. In an emergency dial 911.