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Nassau County, Long Beach declare state of emergency

Mangano orders mandatory evacuation of flood and storm surge zones as Sandy approaches

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The City of Long Beach and Nassau County declared a state of emergency on Saturday as Hurricane Sandy barrels toward the East Coast and is becoming what County Executive Ed Mangano called a "dangerous coastal storm" that's expected to deliver a "record" storm surge greater than that of Tropical Storm Irene.

Mangano ordered the evacuation of Long Beach Medical Center and all nursing homes on the barrier island, including The Komanoff Center for Geriatric & Rehabilitation Medicine. On Sunday, Mangano issued a mandatory evacuation order for all residents living in a flood or storm surge zone, including Long Beach and the barrier island, and the areas south of Sunrise Highway, from the Queens line to Rockville Centre and south of Merrick Road, from Rockville Centre to the Nassau-Suffolk border.

"I am declaring a State of Emergency based on information received and discussions I had with the National Weather Service," Mangano said in a statement. "Current weather models predict that a record storm surge will impact Long Island. Accordingly, I am putting all residents that reside in storm surge zones on heightened alert. We are expecting record storm surges – with current models predicting surges greater than Tropical Storm Irene."

Mangano said experts are predicting that a storm surge between 4- to 8-feet will hit the area. A high wind watch was issued on Saturday as well, as high winds will begin late Sunday night into Monday and Tuesday.

“The National Weather Service models indicate that Hurricane Sandy continues to threaten Nassau County with a dangerous coastal storm," Mangano said. "Fully anticipating a severe storm, I have ordered the closure of county parks, marinas and senior centers beginning Sunday at 5 p.m. The time for preparation is now. I ask all residents to stay alert for weather forecasts and messages from Nassau County."

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