Long Island's southern coastline faces the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean and is vulnerable to numerous coastal hazards, especially the unobstructed path of southern storms traveling up the coast. Eastern Long Island is listed in the top ten areas in the U.S. most vulnerable to hurricanes. Because of this unique geographic location, exposure, and vulnerability, the 1.5 million residents of Suffolk County are susceptible to a variety of coastal events and natural disasters.
During the winter of '09 and spring of '10, two Long Island storms were declared Presidential Disasters and caused over $50 million in public property damage and $7 million in homeowner losses. Neither of these were hurricanes.
More recently, Hurricane Irene in '11 and Super Storm Sandy in '12 caused major damages to our area.
Hurricane Irene
Super Storm Sandy
Suffolk County has experienced seven (7) Presidentially Declared Disasters in the seven (7) year period beginning with the Nor'easter of April 2007 and continuing through the Blizzard of February 2013. The frequency of these storm events is something that has not been seen in recent times.
LONG ISLAND'S HISTORY SHOWS WE ARE VULNERABLE TO DAMAGING STORMS.
ARE YOU READY FOR THE NEXT ONE???
Suffolk County has developed this website as an information source for our residents to assist in their individual preparedness should a disaster occur. An educated and aware public is one of our primary defenses against losses.