For police, fire and medical emergencies, please dial 911
Dial "852-COPS" for non-emergency Police calls in Suffolk County.
Dial 852-4900 to contact the Suffolk County Office of Emergency Management
Emergency Telephone Number Listing
Citizens are reminded to take the following steps in preparation for the storm:
- Monitor local media and weather reports.
- Listen and obey any local emergency orders.
- Know your community's flood evacuation routes, public shelters, and where to find high ground.
- Make sure you have a preparedness kit – for items to include, click here to visit the Suffolk County Office or Emergency Management website.
- Test sump pumps and, if possible, have a backup power source.
- Minimize damage from basement flooding by elevating materials that could be damaged by basement flooding.
When traveling, take the following precautions:
- Never follow a snowplow too closely or attempt to pass one. Remember that the highway ahead of the plow is usually snow-covered.
- Adjust speed for road conditions and maintain a safe distance from other vehicles.
- Schedule extra time for winter travel and be patient during ice and snow removal operations.
- Assume that bridge surfaces are slippery, as they freeze more quickly than road surfaces.
- Watch for black ice, which can be difficult to see but makes conditions slippery when pavement temperatures are below freezing.
- Have a cell phone handy, if possible, but do not text while driving; distracted driving is illegal and becomes even more dangerous during storm events.
- Never venture from your vehicle if snowbound.
- Equip your car with emergency supplies including sand, shovel, flares, booster cables, rope, ice scraper, portable radio, flashlight, blankets and extra warm clothes.
- Inform a responsible person of your destination, intended route, and estimated time of arrival.
· Keep calm and do not panic in case of a vehicle breakdown, accident, or if you become snowbound
Who should think twice about shoveling snow?
Those most at risk for a heart attack include:
• Anyone who already has had a heart attack
• Individuals with a history of heart disease
• Those with high blood pressure
or high cholesterol levels
• Smokers
• Individuals leading a sedentary lifestyle
Click here for more info on Snow Shoveling Safety from the the North Dakota State University.
Health Officials Issue Warning about CO Poisoning and other Hazards During and After the Blizzard
Concern for the safety and well-being of our residents requires that we recommend the following precautions:
Protect Yourself from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Carbon monoxide, or CO, is a toxic gas that you cannot see or smell. CO is given off whenever fuel or other carbon-based materials are burned. Breathing high levels of it causes CO poisoning, which can cause severe illness or death in just minutes. During or after a winter storm, take the following precautions to avoid CO poisoning.
In the Car
- Make sure your exhaust pipe is free from snow before starting your vehicle. This includes making sure no snow is packed inside the exhaust pipe.
- Do not sit in a parked vehicle with the engine running, unless a window is open.
- Do not leave anyone, especially children or elderly persons, in a parked vehicle with the engine running while shoveling snow.
- If you have any of the symptoms of CO poisoning (headache, dizziness, nausea, etc.), immediately leave your vehicle and seek fresh air.
- If you see someone in an idling vehicle who appears to be unconscious, immediately remove the victim from the vehicle into fresh air and call for emergency medical assistance (911).
In the Home
- Never leave a car running in a garage even with the garage door open.
- Never run a generator in the home, garage or crawlspace. Opening doors and windows or using fans will NOT prevent CO build-up in the home. When running a generator outdoors, keep it away from open windows and doors.
- Never burn charcoal in homes, tents, vehicles, or garages.
- Never install or service combustion appliances without proper knowledge, skills, and tools.
- Never use a gas range, oven or dryer for heating.
- Never put foil on bottom of a gas oven because it interferes with combustion.
- Never operate an unvented gas-burning appliance in a closed room or in a room in which you are sleeping.
- Always have a battery or electric powered CO detector to alert you to dangerous levels of carbon monoxide in your home.
Additional Tips for Weathering out the Storm at Home:
- Have a sufficient supply of food, water, medications, warm clothing and blankets, as well as other supplies necessary to ride out a power outage.
- If your electricity and heating system are interrupted, to keep pipes from freezing let your water run at a trickle.
- Bring your pets indoors.
Additional Tips for the Outdoors:
- Avoid driving. If you must drive, reduce your speed and try to stay on roads that have been plowed or salted/sanded. Leave a good amount of distance between your car and the one in front of you. Try to avoid sudden braking.
- Dress in layers; wear a warm coat or jacket, hat, mittens and warm insulated boots.
- Doing chores outside in difficult weather conditions can take a toll on your body. Be careful to avoid falling; when shoveling or digging out your car, take a break, and where possible, have a hot beverage. Do not overdo
- Charge your cell phone and keep it with you when you are outside.
Beware of Injury from Fallen Electrical Wires and Bent Trees or Branches
- Do not touch fallen electrical wires. They may be live and could hurt or kill you.
- Avoid areas with trees or branches that have gotten bent or caught under another object during a high wind. They may be suddenly released and strike a person with enough force to cause serious injury or death.
- Clean up: It is best to have a chain saw operator who has training and experience in safe chain saw use and cutting techniques to fell and remove limbs from trees. The chain saw operator uses personal protective equipment, and workers follow safety guidelines.
Persons with Special Needs
Persons living in Suffolk County with serious medical issues, who would be unable to be evacuated in an emergency should be registered on the Joint Emergency Evacuation Program (JEEP) and Special Needs registry. An abundance of information on this service is available at
https://gis.suffolkcountyny.gov/spns/
Click here for Information on how to stay safe during winter storms.
The Scoop on Snow Shoveling Safety
Click here to learn more
Extreme Cold: A Prevention Guide to Promote Your Personal Health and Safety.
Click here to download this CDC guide
Floods: Click here to learn how to be prepared for floods.