White Plains, NY - With Hurricane Sandy moving up the east coast, County Executive Robert P. Astorino on Friday urged Westchester residents to take some steps now to ensure they are prepared in case Westchester is affected by flooding, high winds or other events associated with hurricanes and tropical storms.

“All relevant county departments are preparing in case this storm seriously impacts us,” Astorino said. “We hope we will not be severely affected by Sandy, but we must be prepared.”

The county’s Office of Emergency Management will partially staff the Emergency Operations Center  throughout the weekend to monitor the storm and where and when it is expected to make landfall.

County departments involved include: Emergency Services, Public Safety, Communications, Health, Public Works, Transportation, Information Technology, Senior Programs, Environmental Facilities, Social Services and Parks and Recreation.

Astorino reminded residents to take their own steps to prepare for the possible impact of the storm. A list of practical suggestions can be found at www.westchestergov.com.

Highlights include:

- Have a plan – A family emergency plan should include deciding where to go in the event you have to leave your home. Check in with family members that have special needs. Don't forget to make plans as well as your pets.

- Make a kit – specifically, a go-bag for use in an evacuation and a household disaster kit to enable a family to survive at home for several days without electricity. Suggestions for items to include in each can also be found on the county’s web site.

- Stay informed – Keep up-to-date on the progress of any storm and the protective actions being recommended by government agencies in response.

- Check on supplies – Make sure you have flashlights and batteries on hand as well as at least a three-day supply of water and non-perishable foods.

- Make sure to have an ample supply of any medications you may be taking.

- Print out a list of important phone numbers.

- Residents with oil tanks should top off their tanks and tighten the cap to prevent spills. Above-ground tanks should also be strapped to a secure fixture to prevent tipping in case of flooding or powerful winds.

- If the power fails, keep your refrigerator closed as much as possible to keep food from spoiling.

- If you lose power, call Con Edison or New York State Electric & Gas directly. The phone numbers are: Con Ed power outage or gas and electrical service problems: (800) 75-CONED; NYSEG electricity power outage: (800) 572-1131; NYSEG gas power outage: (800) 572-1121.

- Secure or put away any items outside your home that could be blown away or damaged by high winds.

Residents looking for further non-emergency information should call 2-1-1. United Way’s 2-1-1 helpline offers information about shelters, evacuation routes, road closures, recovery services, power outages, donations, volunteer opportunities, and other disaster-related services. Call specialists can communicate with callers in more than 250 languages. The line is available from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week with expanded hours possible during emergencies.

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