Will the last unofficial weekend of summer be a washout?

That was the question on the minds of many Garden City residents this week as they carefully kept tabs on the path of Hurricane Earl. As of press time, Earl was upgraded to a Category 4 storm and a tropical storm watch was issued for Long Island. Winds ranging from 39 to 73 miles per hour, as well as gusting rain and thunderstorms, were a possibility for the area on Friday, according to the National Weather Service. Nassau County may see up to a quarter-inch of rain.

However, Garden City residents Robert and Lola Nouryan, although aware of the forecast, refused to let the threat of inclement weather put a damper on their plans to spend the weekend with family in the Berkshires. With a playful reference to the Labor Day holiday, Bob told The Garden City News, “We’ll eat, drink and be merry…and we won’t be working!”

As the Nouryan family packed their bags, Village of Garden City officials were taking steps to make sure all was in order at home in the event of a severe storm.

“As with any other possible emergency, preparation is the key component,” Mayor Robert J. Rothschild said. “The Village, as well as the Town and County, have all commenced preparation for the situation. Although we always try to keep our equipment ready for action, personnel have been notified and put on notice to recheck all equipment for readiness. Residents need to do the same, and have on hand extra water, flashlights, batteries, portable radios, etc. Residents also need to be sure elderly residents are cared for if we lose power or we have flooding.”

Village Administrator Robert L. Schoelle, Jr. told The Garden City News that Village personnel have been told they may need to be recalled. “We’re ready to go in the event of a storm condition,” he said.

Inspector Kenneth Jackson of the Garden City Police Department assured residents that the Village departments would be working together to get through any period of inclement weather. “The Garden City Police, Fire and Public Works Departments will be coordinating their efforts for response to emergency calls,” he said.

On Tuesday, County Executive Ed Mangano announced that the Nassau County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) had begun its 120-hour hurricane window as it prepared for the possibility of Earl reaching Long Island.

“In 1938 the Long Island Express, a Category 2 hurricane, decimated much of Long Island, and the people were not prepared,” said Mangano. “I urge our residents to heed all warnings and follow the direction of our Office of Emergency Management closely.”

OEM is communicating with surrounding municipalities to coordinate responses. The County’s 47 departments have also been put on notice about the possibility of the storm making landfall. “A tremendous amount of communication goes into preparing and responding to a major weather event like a hurricane,” said Mangano.

Mangano says every family should have a “Go Kit,” in the event of a hurricane watch or warning. Keep the kit by your front door in a duffel bag. It should have enough supplies for everyone in your household for five days, including: a first aid kit with a “how to” guide; essential prescription and nonprescription items and medical information; battery-powered flashlight and radio (or crank radio), extra batteries and a 12-hour glow stick; a change of clothes, plus rainwear, sturdy shoes and protective gloves for everyone; personal items, eyeglasses and personal care items; important documents in a waterproof container: drivers’ licenses, wills, birth/marriage certificates, insurance policies, deed or lease papers, recent tax returns, credit card and bank account numbers, Social Security cards, Passport and Home inventory list; and any special items for infants, elderly persons, pets or loved ones with special needs.

Whether Hurricane Earl makes landfall or has a major effect on Nassau County, Mangano says that this should serve as notice that hurricane season is here and residents need to be prepared. “Take all warnings seriously and have a plan in place for you and your family,” said Mangano. “Don’t take any chances.”

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has also been urging all Americans in East Coast states to take steps to prepare their families and businesses for hurricanes and severe weather. “Hurricane Earl should serve as a reminder to all of us of the importance of being prepared for hurricanes and other emergencies,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “At FEMA, we’re taking steps to aggressively prepare should a hurricane make landfall along the East Coast, but FEMA is only one part of the team. Even if this storm doesn’t make landfall, everyone should visit Ready.gov now and learn how to make your family safer and better prepared.”