News from NYSDOT Regarding Dangerous Roadways

John J. Flanagan

June 13, 2013

Transportation

The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) is advising motorists to slow down, drive cautiously and avoid flood-prone roadways today as weather forecasts call for heavy rain, flash floods, and highway and coastal flooding which could create hazardous driving conditions. Presently, rain with heavy downpours is expected through this afternoon into this evening with areas of fog, with a total of 1.5 to 2.5 inches of rain likely through late Friday night.

Motorists are reminded to adjust speed for road conditions, maintain a safe distance from other vehicles, drive with extreme caution and avoid driving through deep flooded areas to help prevent stalling out and getting stuck. NYSDOT advises motorists to avoid the following areas as pump out operations and/or temporary emergency travel lane closures are expected to be in effect at these low-lying, flood-prone, and/or coastal areas on state roads, until the water subsides:

Northern State Parkway at NY Route 106/107
NY Route 27/Sunrise Highway under the Meadowbrook State Parkway and Wantagh State Parkway under NY Route 27
Wantagh State Parkway southbound between NY Route 27/Sunrise Highway and Southern State Parkway (SSP)
NY Route 135/Seaford Oyster Bay Expressway between SSP and NY Route 27/Sunrise Highway
NY Route 27/Sunrise Highway under the Massapequa LIRR Bridge
NY Route 110 under the Farmingdale LIRR Bridge, at Pinelawn Road and in the Halesite area
NY Route 111 near Townline Road in Hauppauge
NY Route 25A and Lawrence Avenue in Kings Park
NY Route 25A near Sandy Hollow Road in Northport
NY Route 25A and Columbia Street in Port Jefferson
NY Route 27/Montauk Highway in Watermill
NY Route 25 at the Orient Point Causeway

NYSDOT Long Island road maintenance crews began prepping for the storm Wednesday afternoon. More than 400 NYSDOT staff members have been preparing equipment, clearing drainage grates, cleaning drains, and addressing flood prone areas to help prevent serious impacts from the storm. Construction sites are being secured and scheduled construction activities have been postponed for tonight. NYSDOT road maintenance crews will remain on staff for road clearing, pump outs, monitoring roadways and other safety operations through Friday, June 14 and will be rotated in accordance with operational safety requirements.

For real-time travel information, motorists should access NYSDOT’s free 511NY traffic and travel information system by calling 511 or visiting www.511NY.org. The website features real-time travel reports and real-time road conditions for state and other heavily traveled roads. When using 511NY, drivers must be aware that talking on a cell phone and texting while driving are illegal and that distracted driving is particularly hazardous during snow and ice conditions. Users should consult 511NY before traveling, or have a passenger access the system for information. Follow New York State DOT on Twitter: @NYSDOT.

Please click here for tips on wet weather travel from weather.com

Please click here for updates on weather conditions from the Weather Channel

National Weather Service

LIPA's Report An Outage Page

For Immediate Release: June 13, 2013

LIPA Urges Customers with Special Medical Needs to Enroll in Critical Care Program

Uniondale, NY - With June marking the official start of the hurricane season, the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) wants to remind all customers who rely on electricity to power life-supporting equipment in their homes to register with LIPA’s Critical Care Program.

While the Critical Care Program does not guarantee priority restoration of service, customers enrolled in the program will receive advance notice of scheduled outages and severe weather which could lead to power outages lasting several days. However, in the event that severe weather causes a multi-day power outage, it is important for customers to understand it is their responsibility to have a plan in place that will ensure their medical needs are taken care of and they remain safe. The notifications are intended to enable customers who depend on electricity for emergency medical and life-support equipment to make advanced preparations.

“The Critical Care Program is an integral part of LIPA’s restoration and emergency preparedness plans. We encourage customers who qualify for this program to sign up well in advance of storm season,” said Joanne Schindelheim, director of marketing for LIPA. “While it is inconvenient for any of our customers to lose power, it can be a matter of life and death for those who need electricity for life sustaining medical equipment.”

Customers wishing to enroll in the Critical Care Program must provide LIPA with a medical certificate from a doctor or the local Board of Health. Once approved the customer’s account and meter will be tagged as “critical care.”

Devices which meet the medical criteria for life-support equipment include:

Apnea Monitor

Curraise Respirator

Positive Pressure Respirator

Suction Machine

IV Feeding Machine

Tank Type Respirator

Respirator/Ventilator

Hemodialysis Machine

Rocking Bed Respirator

Oxygen Concentrator

IV Medical Infusion Machine

For more information about LIPA’s Critical Care Program call 1-800-490-0025 or visit http://www.lipower.org/criticalcare

LIPA Service for Special Customers Page

For a power emergency or downed line, please call LIPA's Emergency Hotline Number is 800-490-0075 or 631-755-6900

Local Fire Departments

SUFFOLK COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT

1st Precinct 555 Route 109, West Babylon - 854-8100
2nd Precinct 1071 Park Ave, Huntington - 854-8200
3rd Precinct 1630 5th Ave, Bay Shore - 854-8300
4th Precinct 345 Old Willets Path, Hauppauge - 854-8400
5th Precinct 125 Waverly Ave, Patchogue - 854-8500
6th Precinct Route 25 / Middle Country Rd, Coram - 854-8600
7th Precinct 1419 William Floyd Parkway, Shirley - 852-8700

Town of Smithtown Department of Public Safety - (631) 360-7553

Town of Brookhaven Department of Public Safety - (631) 451-6291

Town of Huntington Department of Public Safety - (631) 351-3266

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