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Politics & Government

Pelham Braces for Irene

Hurricane Irene is on the horizon. For some that just means stocking up on essentials. For others, it means revisiting the past.

Ken Shortt rested his back against the  front wall of the Fairway Market in Pelham Manor Friday night and waited for his taxi.

Shortt, a Pelham resident, looked fatigued as he guarded his shopping cart. But he was relieved to have enough supplies to get him through Hurricane Irene.

"It’s about being prepared for what might come," Shortt said. "It could be a bumrush if I wait and try to do it later."

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Shortt heard that batteries were in short supply in the area, but he was lucky enough to grab some D batteries earlier in the day. He also has a backup plan.

"I have some old kerosene lamps that I can use if the power goes out," he said.

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The Fairway Market had stayed open until midnight Friday, which is two hours later that usual, because it is closing early today.

At the BJs Wholesale Club in Pelham Manor, streams of people could be seen pushing crammed shopping carts to their vehicles.

Wesley Fradera, of the Bronx, said staples like milk, water and bread were nearly depleted.

“It crazy inside,” Fradera said. “It was hard to get a shopping cart. But I was able to pick up things like bread and meat.”

Cassy Dixon came up from Bronx, NY, to buy some essentials for her children at the Target in Mount Vernon. She wasn’t too worried about the hurricane, but she's taking no risks where her kids are involved.

"I don't think it's going to be that bad," Dixon said. "But I'm just going to be prepared for the kids."

Items on her preparation list incuded pampers, wipes, water, canned foods, fruits, flashlights and candles.

Tanica Taylor, 32-year-old dental assistant from Mount Vernon, is of the same mind, but for her it's even more personal.

"I've been through one hurricane, I don't want to do it again," she said as shopped at Target.

Taylor was around 12 years old when Hurricane Gilbert hit her country home in Portland, Jamaica.

"Our house, the roof came off. We were in it fully," Taylor said. "Everything was gone, people got hurt, no house, no food. It took a long time, but it still scares me. I was with my family, grandmother and grandfather, nieces and nephews. It was really hard."


Officials prepare for the storm

Pelham town and village officials continued to follow the latest hurricane forecasts Friday.

Town Supervisor Joe Solimine said he spoke with representatives from the villages of Pelham and Pelham Manor to discuss storm preparation. He said the villages were handling the street level activities while the Richard J. Daronco Town House, which has a backup generator, will open up as an emergency command center and a shelter at 3 p.m. today.

“We’ve got water and canned food,” Solimine said about the Town House. “We’ve got the constables there and we’re working with the American Red Cross to see if we can get cots. It seats 150 people, but you can’t have that many people sleeping in there.”

Pelham Manor public works officials spent Friday securing village property, checking catch basins and delivering flyers notifying residents of potential evacuation zones.

Correction: An earlier press release said the Richard J. Daronco Town House will open up as an emergency shelter at 8 p.m. Saturday. That time has since been changed to 3 p.m.

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