Emergency Preparedness
Storms, outages, and flooding are a fact of life on Long Island. Here is what Bohemia residents should set up now, and who to call when something happens.
This page is a resident’s reference, not an official emergency service. During an active event, follow instructions from Suffolk County Office of Emergency Management, the Town of Islip, and local broadcasters.
Three Things To Do Today
None of these take more than a few minutes, and all three are far easier to do now than during a storm.
Sign Up for Alerts
Text SuffolkAlerts to 67283, or register online for SuffolkAlert voice, text, and email notifications.
Know Your Flood Risk
Bohemia is inland, but low-lying areas near the Connetquot River corridor can flash flood. Check your address on the County’s storm surge and flood zone map.
Build a Kit
Water, non-perishable food, medications, flashlights, batteries, chargers, and copies of documents — enough to get through several days without power.
Alerts & Notifications
Each of these systems covers something different. Signing up for all of them takes about ten minutes and costs nothing.
- SuffolkAlert — register online The County’s official emergency notification system, used by Suffolk emergency managers and public safety officials. Delivers voice, text, and email. Quick option: text SuffolkAlerts to 67283.
- Town of Islip E-Alerts Town-level notices — storm operations, garbage collection changes, road closures, and Town facility closures.
- NY-Alert The statewide emergency alert system, including severe weather warnings from the National Weather Service.
- Suffolk County Emergency Preparedness Registry (Smart911) If you or someone in your household has a medical condition, mobility limitation, or other special need, this registry gives 911 dispatchers and shelter operators that information in advance. Strongly worth doing for anyone caring for an elderly or disabled family member.
- National Weather Service — local forecast The official forecast and warning source for our area.
- 511NY Road conditions, closures, and traffic across New York State — useful when Sunrise Highway or Veterans Memorial is affected.
Emergency & Utility Numbers
Worth printing and putting on the refrigerator — cell service and internet are not guaranteed during a major event.
Bohemia is served by the Bohemia Fire Department, an all-volunteer department. For any emergency, call 911 — do not call the firehouse directly.
Make a Plan, Build a Kit
The basics of a home emergency kit
- Water — one gallon per person per day, at least three days’ worth
- Food — non-perishable, plus a manual can opener
- Medications — a supply of anything anyone in the house takes daily
- Light and power — flashlights, batteries, a charged power bank, a car charger
- Information — a battery or hand-crank radio
- Cash — card readers and ATMs go down with the power
- Documents — copies of insurance policies, ID, and deeds in a waterproof bag
- Pets — food, water, medications, carrier, and vaccination records
- Photos — take pictures of your home and belongings before a storm; they are the first thing requested if you ever apply for disaster assistance
Make a household plan
Decide in advance where your household will meet if you are separated, who your out-of-area contact is, and what you will do about pets and anyone who needs help evacuating. FEMA’s household plan form takes about fifteen minutes to fill out.
The Town of Islip publishes printable checklists, including versions for older adults, people with disabilities and functional needs, and pets.
Suffolk County OEM’s Build a Kit and Make a Plan pages go into more detail, and the Town’s Hurricane Emergency Preparedness Guide is worth reading once before hurricane season.
Know your flood and storm surge zone
Bohemia is inland and is not in a coastal evacuation zone the way our neighbors to the south are — but our real risks are high wind, extended power loss, and flash flooding on low-lying streets and along the Connetquot River corridor. On July 4, 2026, a severe storm brought torrential rain, damaging winds, flash flooding, and widespread outages across Suffolk County, and the County Executive declared a local state of emergency.
Check your specific address on the County’s Shelter and Storm Surge Zone Mapping Tool. For flood insurance questions and Town floodplain information, see Islip Floodplain Management. Standard homeowners policies do not cover flood damage.
When Something Happens
Power outages and downed lines
Treat every downed wire as live. Stay at least 30 feet away, keep children and pets back, and call PSEG Long Island at 1-800-490-0075 or 911. Never drive over a downed line.
Report an outage by texting OUT to 773454, through the PSEG Long Island outage map, or by phone. If you rely on electrically powered medical equipment, register with PSEG Long Island’s critical care program before you need it.
Generators belong outside only — never in a garage, basement, or enclosed porch, even with the door open. Carbon monoxide kills people every storm season.
Evacuation and shelters
If an evacuation is ordered for your area, leave when told to rather than waiting. Suffolk County publishes an interactive shelter locator, guidance on evacuating yourself and your family, and information on pet-friendly sheltering.
Shelter locations are announced per event — do not assume a location that opened during a past storm will open again.
After the storm: documenting damage
If federal or state assistance is later made available, applications move faster when you already have the paperwork. Suffolk County OEM advises gathering: photos of your property before and after, a personal inventory of valuables, the date and location of the damage, whether it is your primary residence, whether you rent or own, what caused the damage, and your homeowners, renters, or flood insurance information.
Businesses seeking help can start with the SBA loan programs listed by NYS DHSES.
To report a downed Town tree, blocked road, or storm debris in Bohemia, use Islip Constituent Services or see our guide to reporting an issue.
Volunteer Before the Next One
Suffolk County runs on volunteers during emergencies — and Bohemia’s own fire department is entirely volunteer.
Bohemia Fire Department
Our all-volunteer department. They are always looking for neighbors willing to train and serve.
CERT
Community Emergency Response Team — free training in disaster response for ordinary residents.
Suffolk County Auxiliary Police
Volunteer support for the police department at emergencies and community events.
Suffolk County OEM
The County’s emergency management hub — preparedness guides, alerts, and event updates.
Phone numbers and links on this page were verified against Town of Islip and Suffolk County sources in August 2026. Always confirm with official sources during an active emergency. Spot something out of date? Email us.