Forced evacuations of homes south of Sunrise Highway. No electricity or water for at least three days. Debris-littered roads. No available immediate help from the government. These are all problems that local officials said Nassau County residents would face should a Category 3 hurricane hit Long Island.

"It would be enormous devastation depending where it hit," Greg Caronia, director of the Nassau County Office of Emergency Management, said during a June 29 informational meeting on hurricane preparedness held at Bethpage's JFK Middle School in Bethpage. Some 70 residents and officials attended the meeting, which was organized by Nassau County Legislator Edward Mangano.

If a Category 3 storm hit the Island, Caronia said, the same lack of utilities and damage caused by wind and water that would affect individuals would severely impair or shut down the government and emergency services. Communication would be a major problem with computers and traditional phones compromised by downed lines, and only 20 percent of cell towers on Long Island having generators, many of which are not designed for long-term use.

Caronia also said that travel would be nearly impossible, even at just the beginning of the storm. Once sustained winds reach 55 miles per hour, Nassau Office of Emergency Management employees driving on the road are allowed to "pull their resources off the road" since even a small stone flying at that speed can be dangerous.

After the hurricane leaves, most of the Island would be covered in debris. County employees trained to drive trucks equipped with plows would be called in as would divers to check bridges for damage and stability.

Like ground transportation, air traffic would also come to a halt as both Kennedy and LaGuardia airports would be submerged from predicted tidal surges higher than 18 feet. At the very minimum, some of those runways would need to be cleared before the primary responders could begin landing personnel and supplies.

Jennifer Arangio, a representative of Congressman Peter King (R-NY) and advisor to the House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security, said Americans are asked to be self-reliant for 72 hours, or three days after a hurricane. "It takes time to mobilize help," Arangio said.

What residents riding out a hurricane can do, Bob Brichmann, director of Nassau County's Community Emergency Response Team, said, is to remember the three "H's" - have something in head, home and hand. In addition to having a rehearsed plan in mind, he also emphasized staying informed, contacting an out-of-town relative with your plan before the storm hits, assessing the situation as it goes and using common sense.

Brichmann referred to the list in a hurricane preparedness pamphlet given out by Mangano that specifically notes the importance of having a whistle for calling for help and a manual can opener as well as unique family needs on hand. He also suggested keeping a wrench or pliers handy to turn utilities off at the appliance. "You can turn off your utilities, but you need a licensed technician to turn them on," Brichmann said.

Caronia added that food, water and shelter, along with medical aid, transportation and communication will be immediate challenges for individuals. "We're not getting off the island," he said. "We have to make do with what we have here."

Caronia said he was concerned about the low turnout for the meeting, despite the notices that were dispersed through parts of Nassau and in local papers. "There are 16,758 residents in Bethpage, and I'd like to have seen at least half [here]," Caronia said. "People should reach out to get as much information as possible about preparing themselves for a catastrophic hurricane."

Bethpage resident Mark Gensinger, an employee with the New York City Department of Sanitation, agreed. "It's a shame the auditorium wasn't filled," Gensinger said. "You have got to [be able to] fend for yourself."

Even Mangano's mother, Rachael, also a resident of Bethpage, realized the importance of attending the meeting. "There were things I didn't know," she said. "It opened my eyes."