With Tropical Storm Hanna expected to begin hitting Long Island Saturday afternoon, homeowners, parks and town officials as well as LIPA have their hands full preparing to minimize damage.

While no evacuation plans are in effect, Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy is telling the county to prepare for a severe tropical storm. The county?s emergency center was manned Friday ahead of the storm.

The Town of Babylon built a concrete wall at Gilgo Beach to avert flooding and created slopes in the sand to prevent erosion. Some eastern beaches were closed early Friday.

The Berchards, of Mastic Beach, say they?re more concerned about the wind than storm surge. They say storms are just a problem they have to deal with because of where they live. They got to work removing patio furniture and clipping branches in anticipation of the expected 39 mph winds. The couple says they?re prepared for the worst, but hoping for the best.

LIPA says to expect power outages, but says it has a call center open so they can track the outages and answer customers? calls. The power authority advises calling its hotline at 1-800-490-0075, but says to only call once, because whether a customer talks to a representative or not, their information is recorded.

Spokesman Bruce Germano says LIPA prioritizes which neighborhoods it restores power first by the number of customers that are affected, so he advises residents to get their neighbors to call the hotline number as well.

?The whole idea is the more customers calling in, the better we know what?s going on,? Germano says.

Emergency Numbers:Suffolk - 631-852-COPS or 631-852-4900Nassau - 1-888-684-4269

Click for more from homeowners concerned about flooding

Click to see what LIPA is planning in case of power outages

News 12 Long Island Weather Center

News12 Long Island Storm Resources