Experts continue to say that Hurricane Lee will most likely miss Long Island, but according to Gov. Hochul, you can’t be too prepared for this kind of event.
While acknowledging that Hurricane Lee could only result in riptides along the coast, Gov. Hochul announced the deployment of 50 National Guard personnel to Long Island in preparation for a potential swing to the west.
“I have already deployed 50 National Guard people to be in position to be able to help, whether it’s sandbagging, whether there’s any rescue necessary, whatever purpose they may be needed,” the goveernor said. “So, I wanted to let the public know we were already anticipating the worst and hoping for the best in sending those individuals out there. We also know that this is supposed to run for the next couple of days. I’ve directed literally every state agency to be involved. It may just be riptides along the coast, but again, we have to prepare and anticipate a more devastating circumstance should it change its course or its intensity as the week unfolds.”
The governor added that it’s still too early to be precise on what Hurricane Lee’s impact on Long Island could be, if there is one.
“Our Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services has set up a Storm Watch Center, and they’re monitoring all the conditions closely,” she said. “We have over 4,000 DOT and Thruway operators ready to respond in any way to assist as well. Public Service, just so you know, we have over 5,500 members of utility crews ready to step in in the event that power lines come down in the aftermath of the storm, ready to assess and repair any damage. So, Department of Public Service will be involved in that as well. The MTA is going to be monitoring conditions very closely on public transportation to see if there are any changes based on the severity of the storm.”
The National Hurricane Center still projects that Hurricane Lee will miss Long Island, with the predicted path showing a small chance of Hurricane Lee affecting the East End.
However, the Center also wrote on Twitter that hazardous surf and rip current conditions are expected to affect beaches all week.
