Communities across Long Island are gearing up for a storm expected to bring heavy rain, strong winds and the potential for flooding on Thursday. Local officials say they’re taking every precaution to keep residents safe and minimize damage.

In Patchogue, Mayor Paul Pontieri says the village is double-checking its infrastructure to make sure it can handle the incoming weather. “You expect the flooding that may or may not come and you prepare for it,” Pontieri said. “We spent the last couple of days taking a look at drainage, making sure the drainage down here works.”

The South Shore community has seen flooding before, and Pontieri says crews are testing storm drains and clearing debris to prevent backups during heavy rainfall.

Further east, Riverhead Town officials are urging drivers to use caution and avoid flooded roads. In a statement, Town Supervisor Tim Hubbard warned, “There may be some water on low-lying roads and property. Please do not drive through flooded roadways.”

Strong wind gusts are also a concern, as they could bring down power lines and cause outages. PSEG Long Island said in a statement that it has “performed system and logistic checks” and has “a full complement of personnel who will mobilize for restoration in foul weather conditions.”

In Island Park, where flooding has long been an issue, Mayor Michael McGinty says public works crews will be out during high tide to keep an eye on water levels and respond to any emergencies. “During that time our Department of Public Works personnel are going to be on call, on the job, working to be sure there are no problems—and we’ll deal with any problems that come up,” McGinty said.