Mayor Mark Epley declared a state of emergency in Southampton Village Sunday morning, following Southampton Town's lead ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Sandy.
Epley put all of Meadow Lane and Gin Lane under a mandatory evacuation order, and said that all residents south of Ox Pasture Road are asked to voluntarily evacuate. Southampton Fire Department members have been distributing doorknob hangers in areas of the village and Southampton Fire District that are subject to evacuation.
Declaring a state of emergency allows municipalities to issue evacuation orders, and to apply for Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster aid, Epley said.
Extra police crews will be called in on Monday, and parks and highway personnel as well, Epley said. Village offices will be open Monday, but court appearances at Southampton Village Justice Court have been postponed.
Epley said residents concerned about elderly neighbors and family members may ask the village police to check in on them.
Epley asked that surfers stay out of the ocean and not put their lives on the line. “It's already going be tough enough to make sure the streets are safe," he said.