Tuesday, October 13, 2026
The Town of Hempstead and Nassau County declared states of emergency that went into effect Sunday night as heavy rain and possible flooding were expected to impact Long Island through early Tuesday.
The town's state of emergency took effect at 6 p.m. Sunday and is scheduled to remain in effect until 6 a.m. Tuesday. All town clinics, outdoor lessons, outdoor recreation classes and swimming lessons scheduled for Monday were canceled. Rain dates will be announced where applicable.
“In anticipation of significant rainfall and possible flooding, we are declaring a State of Emergency in the Town of Hempstead effective from 6 p.m. [Sunday] through 6a.m. Tuesday morning as dangerous weather conditions are expected to impact our region," Supervisor John Ferretti said in a news release.
Town officials said Highway Department, Department of Conservation and Waterways, and emergency personnel were prepared to respond as conditions warrant. Crews will monitor roadways and flood-prone locations throughout the storm.
Residents were urged to avoid unnecessary travel during periods of heavy rain, never drive through flooded roadways, secure outdoor items, charge electronic devices and bring pets indoors. Officials also advised residents to stay away from downed power lines, report outages to PSEG Long Island and reserve 911 for emergencies.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman announced a countywide state of emergency for the same period, citing the potential for flooding and downed trees.
"Due to the likelihood of extreme precipitation and the potential for flooding and downed trees, I am declaring a state of emergency effective from 6 p.m. [Sunday] through 6 a.m. Tuesday morning," Blakeman said in a news release. "At this time, no mandatory evacuation is required; however, we will closely monitor the situation."
He also urged residents to watch for ponding on roadways, avoid driving through standing water, use battery-operated flashlights instead of candles during power outages and call 911 only for emergencies. Blakeman said the county would have resources in place to monitor flooding throughout Nassau.
