Oceanside, Island Park brace for another winter storm

Fire and government officials in Oceanside and Island Park said on March 6 that they were ready for a winter storm set to begin that night, starting at 10 p.m., which could dump up to six inches of snow on the South Shore. The storm is scheduled to subside by 4 a.m. on March 8, according to the National Weather service.

“We’re watching the tides, we’re watching the weather,” Island Park Mayor McGinty told the Herald. “The men and women of our public works teams and Fire Department are prepared and will do whatever is necessary.”

He added that the Fire Department is on standby and the proper protocols are in place to ensure the safety of residents. He noted that his government handled the nor’easter last Friday — which brought major flooding to the village and surrounding unincorporated areas the entire weekend — “perfectly,” but added there is always room for improvement with each emergency situation that occurs.

“Proper planning prevents poor performance, and we have properly prepared,” McGinty said.

In Oceanside, Fire Chief Kevin Klein said his department was all set for the potentially severe weather. “We’ll be ready to go as always,” he said.

Klein explained that the Fire Department’s incident management team — formed after Hurricane Sandy — monitors the weather and notifies each firehouse to ensure enough members are available, and that the necessary equipment is readied. He noted the wind and flooding would not be as rough as last Friday’s nor’easter, but this storm may brings heavy snow.

“Whatever it is, we’ll be prepared,” Klein said. “We’ve done this many times. The men and women of the Fire Department are ready for whatever is thrown at us.”