Valley Stream officials: Ready for storm

Although all schools in Valley Stream will be closed on Monday because of Hurricane Sandy, Village Hall will remain open. In addition to serving as the emergency operations center, it will also be a place residents can call with storm-related questions and concerns.

"If someone has an emergency, I want them to be able to reach a human being at the Village Hall,” Mayor Ed Fare said.

Garbage will still be picked up on its normal schedule on Monday, and, as of Sunday night, Fare expects the Henry Waldinger Memorial Library to remain open.

Fare said that Village Hall, which has a backup generator that can power the whole building, to remain open around the clock during the duration of the storm. He said this is no different than running the village during a snowstorm.

Nassau County has ordered a mandatory evacuation of all homes south of Sunrise Highway. Fare said that the village and county won’t be enforcing this, but residents are encouraged to leave. He added that the best situation for those people would be to stay with friends or family further north.

Anyone who chooses to stay in their home in the evacuation zone should understand that emergency services might not be readily available, Fare said. Firefighters and emergency workers will do their best to respond to calls, but Fare said they will be limited by weather conditions, as well as any damage that could limit access to an area. “We may not be able to get to you in a timely fashion,” he said.

Firehouses will be staffed during the storm. Engine Company No. 3, located on Cochran Place, has been relocated because the station is in a low-lying area that could flood.

Fare said there could be some local flooding, especially in the areas of Hendrickson Park, the Village Green and Mill Pond. The village has already opened up the weir just south of the lake to keep the storm water system moving freely, but that hasn't always prevented the banks from overflowing in the lake and streams during heavy rainfall.

Village workers will be doing their best to keep storm drains clear, Fare said, as well as cleaning up any other debris. “Downed trees will definitely be an issue and we’ll be dispatching crews to take care of that,” he said.

All village parks will also be closed. During Hurricane Irene last year, dozens of trees fell in Hendrickson Park.

Fare said he hopes that the storm isn’t as bad as predicted, but if it is the village is ready for it. “There’s no harm done in being over- prepared,” he said.