Hurricane Henri Is Barreling Toward the Hamptons

U.S.|Henri is barreling toward the Hamptons, ruining abrogation plans.

• Aug. 21, 2021, 5:35 p.m. ET

At the extremity of a obstruction land moving on the confederate enactment of the Hamptons, edifice unit piled outdoor tables and chairs into the basement connected Saturday arsenic athletics sportfishing boats and yachts were being brought retired of soon-to-be-surging water.

Christine Oakland-Hill, the proprietor of Oakland’s Restaurant & Marina, was among those preparing for the worst arsenic Hurricane Henri approached the Hamptons, the upscale abrogation destination connected the eastbound broadside of Long Island. “It’s rather affectional — this is our livelihood,” she said.

When Hurricanes Sandy and Irene battered the country astir a decennary ago, the roadworthy to the edifice was impassable for days. That made Ms. Oakland-Hill disquieted astir losing concern successful the highest of tourer season, arsenic Labor Day approaches.

“This is benignant of it. We person 10 weeks to marque it,” she said.

After days of watching Henri’s way shift, the Hamptons person emerged arsenic a apt recipient of the storm’s strongest stroke erstwhile it makes landfall connected Sunday.

“The Hamptons mightiness beryllium the bull’s-eye successful presumption of the worst of Henri,” said Dominic Ramunni, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, who added that the country could beryllium walloped by 5 feet of tempest surge and winds of up to 80 miles per hour.

Southampton planned to contented a voluntary evacuation bid to astir 6,000 radical connected Saturday afternoon, according to municipality supervisor Jay Schneiderman, who expected different towns successful the Hamptons to travel its lead. “We don’t get that galore hurricanes,” helium said.

Another 500 radical were nether a voluntary evacuation informing successful the municipality of East Hampton.

Mr. Ramunni said helium hoped that radical connected the susceptible peninsula — particularly the area’s galore visitors — would heed the warnings. “There’s a batch of caller folks connected the land who whitethorn not beryllium arsenic prepared oregon utilized to this benignant of weather,” helium said.

Town officials disquieted that semipermanent powerfulness outages would cripple businesses inactive reeling from Covid-19 closures.

“It would astir apt trigger an exodus of those who person different options to spell backmost to their different homes oregon elsewhere,” said Peter Van Scoyoc, the East Hampton municipality supervisor, adding that westbound postulation retired of municipality was already mounting connected Saturday afternoon. “Any interruption of the highest tourer play is astir apt going to beryllium felt by business.”