Smithtown: 'Frankenstorm' Preparations Underway

The Town of Smithtown is currently engaged in its emergency management plan preparing for Hurricane Sandy – dubbed "Frankenstorm" – being led by the town’s Public Safety Department.

“All departments are on alert with equipment ready, on standby,” said Town Supervisor Patrick Vecchio in a phone interview Friday afternoon. 

Vecchio said the town’s plan is coordinated with the Suffolk County emergency department agencies. 

“We have been on conference calls since yesterday with Fire Rescue Emergency Services of Suffolk County, two conference calls with LIPA, going on another conference call with FRES,” said John Wagner, deputy director of the town’s Public Safety Department. “Everything is in place and ready for the impending event.” 

While the town was hit with criticism last year for its supposed lack of community visibility while handling Tropical Storm Irene, Wagner said this year the plan is a little different.

“There will be something done between the township and LIPA. More communication plus some time today or early tomorrow I will be meeting with a representative of LIPA to discuss the town’s specific needs,” he said.

As of Friday morning, the National Hurricane Center reports Sandy is a Category 1 storm as of 8 a.m., packing 80-mph winds (down from 105 mph) as its moves through the Bahamas. Reports also state it has weakened leaving the Bahamas and heads north and looks to head west into New Jersey by early Tuesday.

Long Island could get 4-6 inches of rain with the South Shore possibly seeing more, according to the forecast.