Government

Town eyes new emergency shelter location

The Peconic Community Center could be Southold's new primary emergency shelter. (Cyndi Murray photo)
The Peconic Community Center could be Southold’s new primary emergency shelter. (Credit: Cyndi Murray)

Southold Town is considering designating Peconic Lane Community Center as a primary shelter location in the event of an emergency.

Previously, Southold High School was the primary shelter location. But the community center on Peconic Lane is preferred since it’s near the town’s highway department, police station and recreation center, said Police Chief Martin Flatley and Lloyd Reisenberg, who both serve on the town’s emergency and disaster preparedness committee.

Although the community center doesn’t yet have a generator, the high school doesn’t either, they said. The town is currently looking for money in the budget to add a generator to the community center.

Chief Flatley and Mr. Reisenberg said the new location would help ease the burden on the school district, which, in emergencies, had offered the school gym free of charge and even provided volunteers to staff the shelter at the town’s request.

Secondary shelter locations in Orient, Greenport and Mattituck will remain the same.

[email protected]