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HARRISON, N.Y. - The Harrison Fire Department will be fully staffed throughout the weekend, Chief Dino DelSignore said. The crew was preparing for the storm Friday by assessing equipment and collecting essentials.
"We're ready," DelSignore said. "We will take the storm as it comes."
Both volunteer and career crew members will be inside the fire department throughout the weekend so they can work together to assist those in need, DelSignore said.
Essentials being collected on Friday included food, water, a 12-foot boat, cots, chainsaws and a four-wheel vehicle to navigate through the storm.
"I'd like to say we're in pretty good shape," DelSignore said.
DelSignore also said he will have someone stationed at the Harrison Police Department, which has been established as the town's command post. They will be filtering emergency calls to the fire department.
The Westchester County Technical Rescue Team will be on standby all weekend in the event that they need to make emergency rescues.
"Harrison is well prepared for this," Harrison Emergency Medical Services Chief Joe Billoto said.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority will shut down all Metro-North trains on Saturday at noon. All Westchester Bee Line buses will also be out of service throughout the weekend.
The storm forced Purchase College on Thursday to cancel its Monday start for all classes and activities.
Mayor Joan Walsh said in a statement that residents should leave a phone number and email address on the town's website for emergency contact.
Hurricane Irene is expected to hit the New York metropolitan area Saturday night and be at its worst between Saturday and Sunday evenings. A hurricane watch was put into effect in Westchester on Friday and President Barack Obama declared a state of emergency in New York.
Do you have any questions about the storm? Feel free to contact us on Facebook and Twitter.
E-mail town reporter Phil Corso with any emergency information of photos of the storm.
You can also call him at (914) 368-9753 x207.
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