Nassau and Suffolk County executives pledge to work together to prepare for hurricanes, future storms

Officials from Nassau and Suffolk counties pledged to work together and share resources as part of mutual aid to prepare for hurricanes and emergencies.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and Suffolk County Executive Edward P. Romaine gathered on Thursday morning in Farmingdale with first responders ahead of Hurricane Erin passing off the East End.

They vowed to continue their partnership to share information about possible storms and provide response teams, including equipment and police for emergencies.

"We work in conjunction. So if there is an event, let's say that is isolated on the East End of Suffolk County, they'll call me up and say, I need some help. If I have a situation on the western part of Nassau County and I need help, I'll call Ed for help," Blakeman said. "We have a great working relationship with Suffolk County. We share assets, we share information, and we look at this as regional issues and as a Long Island issue."

Officials did not anticipate any evacuations or major damage from Hurricane Erin passing by, which could cause coastal flooding, erosion and waves 10- to 15-feet high.

Romaine said he was closely watching the storm and the waves battering Suffolk's South Shore. Both county executives said they were planning to monitor high tide on Thursday evening, which could lead to washouts and breaches.

Romaine said in the case of severe flooding, he could call an emergency to evacuate Fire Island, but he did not expect any major damage or evacuations.

"Yes, this hurricane avoided us. Yes, at the last moment it turned east. But had it turned west? This is some serious storm, and that's posed a danger," Romaine said. "So we are concerned about erosion, about flooding, particularly along our ocean beaches and in Fire Island and in Montauk. So, this hurricane way offshore is doing enough damage."

Blakeman said he did not expect any major damage or evacuations. 

 The two county executives said the mutual aid agreement has been in place for years. Blakeman pointed to a high-axel vehicle able to navigate floodwaters that he said could be shared between the two counties.

The officials said they had been preparing for hurricane season before the arrival of Hurricaine Erin. They appeared Thursday with representatives from the American Red Cross and the rescue group Paws of War.

"Nassau County is a telephone call away for help from Suffolk," Romaine said. "We share this island together. We need to start thinking of us as an island, and we need to think regionally as well as locally. Just to think that a boundary separates us and we don't have to address it — it's foolish."