Patchogue Mom: Village Did a Great Job Evacuating Us

Cassandra Willingham and her daughter Keia, 16, spent Friday moving into their new apartment in Patchogue. And they spent Saturday afternoon evacuating it as Hurricane Irene approached, heading to a Suffolk County .

"I think they did an excellent job of notifying all of us, and they gave us transportation here," Willingham said. "It was just a hectic day but it made me feel good to know that someone cared about us."

Willingham, a disabled Army veteran, said she received notice of mandatory evacuations in Patchogue on Friday evening, then heard the fire department announcements Saturday morning. Keia was even given a flier by police officers as she walked down her block.

Mother and daughter were warned that the hurricane could keep them at the shelter for as many as three days. But Willingham is eager to get back to their new apartment, which is located near the bay.

"We're hoping we can get home to see what's going on," she said.