Henri was upgraded Saturday morning to a hurricane and is headed toward Long Island and southern New England, weather forecasters said.
The storm is currently about 395 miles south of Montauk Point, Long Island but New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has already declared a state of emergency in preparation for the hurricane's arrival.
He said at a press conference Saturday afternoon that water rescue teams are being prepared for Long Island, the Hudson Valley and in Westchester.
He is also deploying 500 National Guard and state police will have about 1,000 personnel on duty in areas affected by Henri. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority will be canceling service in Long Island beginning at about midnight, the governor said.
Cuomo compared Henri to 2012's Superstorm Sandy, the effects of which are still being felt in the New York City area.
“Superstorm Sandy, which we all remember, was also a Category 1 when it hit New York State," Cuomo said. "So, just to put it in perspective how serious this is and how dangerous it is."
Henri's maximum sustained winds are near 75 mph with higher gusts, the National Hurricane Center said in its 11 a.m. Saturday update. The agency warned of a "dangerous storm surge, hurricane conditions and flooding rainfall" in portions of the northeast United States beginning late Saturday night and into early Sunday.
The last major threat of a hurricane strike on New England was more than 30 years ago. The last time a hurricane made landfall on parts of New England was Hurricane Bob in 1991 which resulted in 17 deaths and $1.5 billion in damage. Long Island hasn't had a direct hit from a hurricane since Gloria in 1985. That hurricane caused eight deaths and nearly $1 billion in damage.
Laura Curran, the executive for Nassau County, Long Island, urged residents to start preparing for possible power outages and flooding.
"Nassau's Office of Emergency Management is on high alert, closely monitoring the track of Henri, which we expect to strengthen as it moves up the coast this weekend," Curran said in a press release. "Our incredible workforce stands ready to address potential issues impacting the County."
A storm surge warning is still in effect from Flushing, New York to Chatham, Massachusetts, including the south and north shores of Long Island, according to the National Hurricane Center. Some parts of Long Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts are under a hurricane warning or hurricane watch.
The Associated Press contributed.
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August 22, 2021 at 01:45AM
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N.Y. governor declares state of emergency as Hurricane Henri nears coast - NBC News
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