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BRONXVILLE, N.Y. Bronxville will be under a state of emergency as of 8 p.m. Saturday, village officials announced Friday afternoon
It is becoming more likely that the village will be greatly impacted by Hurricane Irene from Saturday evening through Sunday, said Police Chief Christopher Satriale. The Emergency Village Operation Center will begin operations on Saturday at 8 p.m. and remain staffed for the duration of the storm.
Satriale said the use of parking meters will be suspended as of 8 a.m. Saturday. He urged residents in low-lying areas in the village to move their cars to avoid the aftermath of potential floods.
Bronxville Department of Public Works staffers cleared storm drains, trimmed sagging tree limbs and made sandbags for low-lying areas Friday afternoon to get ready for Irenes arrival.
I had an aunt named Irene and I didnt like her either, said DPW worker Kenny Reed.
While Reed and Mike Spillo continued to ready the village for the storm, Mayor Mary Marvin, Satriale and other village officials worked with the Westchester County Office of Emergency Management to create a plan for the village to deal with the hurricane's effects and aftermath.
In addition to providing basic informational reminders, such as filling up car gas tanks, ensuring there is cash on hand in the event of a power loss that makes ATMs inoperable, and making sure to have an adequate supply of all necessary medications, Bronxville officials urged residents to only use 911 in case of a medical emergency.
That advice was echoed by Jude Valerioti, Chief of the Eastchester Volunteer Ambulance Corps, which covers Bronxville, Eastchester and Tuckahoe.
This is the best way to be sure medical emergencies are given the priority they should have, Valerioti said.
EVAC Lt. Nick Louros said that all three ambulances are stocked and ready to go. We have three crews on and extra paramedics on standby, Louros said. We are ready for whatever needs to be taken care of.
The National Weather Service has declared a hurricane watch for Westchester County and Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared New York in a State of Emergency. As of Friday afternoon the storm was projected to hit Westchester sometime Saturday night. When it lands, Irene is expected to bring 70 to 90 mile an hour wind gusts and up to 10 inches of rain.
In Bronxville, a special emergency hotline will be available as of Saturday at 8 p.m. The number is 914-337-0508.
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