I grew up in the south shore "red zone" a full 60 second walk from Great South Bay (the part between Long Island proper and the barrier island, Fire Island). We were in "Bayport* and a full and commanding 2.5 feet above average high tide.

Evacuation from Long Island is a bad joke. It is not possible for a mass of people: you have to go by boat OR through New York City (Brooklyn and Queens), and across one or more bridges to get to the mainland. The only real alternative if you live on the south shore is to head north, to the North Shore of Long Island, which is much higher than the South Shore (by 10's of feet). Seems the Glacier that formed Long Island dropped most of its accumulated sand/dirt/rocks in what is now the north shore, and the sand that ran off formed the south. The south shore is all sand covered by top soil.

We had close relatives on the north shore.

* Yes, the same Bayport of "The Hardy Boys" boys' books fame. At least the original books describe and had a depiction of our train station.
_________________________
"Better is the enemy of good enough."