White Plains Takes Precautions Against Hurricane Sandy

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. – The White Plains Public Safety Department has advised residents to register for its Code Red alert system for emergency instructions and notifications in preparation for the possibility that Hurricane Sandy hits Westchester this weekend and early next week.? “There is increasing confidence that the tri-state area will feel the impact of a major coastal storm later this weekend into early next week,” according to the National Weather Service, which issued a hazardous-weather outlook Thursday morning.? Heavy rainfall, high winds, coastal flooding and beach erosion are possible, the National Weather Service website said. Hurricane Sandy was moving north at 20 miles per hour in the Caribbean Sea and sustaining winds of up to 105 miles per hour at 2 p.m. Thursday.? “We are tracking the storm very closely and will be throughout the weekend,” said White Plains Public Safety Commissioner David Chong. “If necessary, we will coordinate with the mayor’s office and all city agencies, and increase our staff as needed.”? The Code Red system sends prerecorded emergency messages directly to White Plains residents by phone, text or email. It incorporates a mapping tool that will allow White Plains emergency managers to send notifications to specific geographical areas within the city, the Public Safety website says. Register for the Code Red system on the website for the city or police department.