Mineola Residents Brace for Irene’s Impact

Mineola residents and businesses are preparing themselves for the impact of Hurricane Irene by taping up windows and storm doors. Some are even going as far as sandbagging their front doors to prevent water from getting inside.

The has been designated and was housing four people as of 4 p.m. Saturday. Only a handful of cots were set up, but CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) member Anthony Marino stated that they have “hundreds” available should the need arise, which he estimates to be around 9 p.m. when the weather intensifies. Two of those being sheltered at the school were in the library “because there’s no air conditioning in here,” Marino said, referring to the gymnasium.

Of the stores on Jericho Turnpike who were taking precautions in the face of the storm, all were using tape to safeguard their windows. The on Herricks Road did place plywood over its store front and is broadcasting a live video stream of the weather via a webcam.

While some barricaded stores, such as , were closed, others – like – say they plan to stay open all weekend. An “Open” sign was visible in the window of the among the window tape.

A quick trip down Westbury Avenue found several residents’ houses with tape on their glass storm doors, and one Bruce Avenue home’s front door was sandbagged with sawhorses ready to be set up along various intersections. The area has been prone to flooding for some time.