With Hurricane Irene bearing down on the area, Belleville emergency officials have initiated a number of precautions and advisories.

• BELLEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL WILL BE AN EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR THOSE FLOODED OUT OF HOMES:  Belleville High School, 100 Passaic Ave., will be opened at 5 am Sunday morning for residents whose homes have flooded or who may need extraordinary assistance, said Chief of Police Joseph Rotonda. Residents who use the shelter are asked to bring a blanket, food, a flashlight (in case of power disruptions at the high school) and a change of clothes, Rotonda said. Rotonda asked that only those who have been flooded out of their homes or others facing an emergency use the shelter.
• REVERSE 9-1-1 HAS BEEN ACTIVATED: The township’s reverse 9-1-1 notification system will be used throughout the emergency, Rotonda said.
• NON-ESSENTIAL TRAFFIC BANNED FROM THE ROADS DURING STORM:  A state of emergency has been declared for the area, meaning that only essential personnel -- such as emergency workers or medical staff traveling to work -- should be driving during the duration of the storm, Rotonda said. As of this writing, heavy rains and high winds are expected to begin Saturday and continue overnight into Sunday.
• SOME RESIDENTS ASKED TO EVACUATE: Residents in the following areas are being asked to evacuate: Main Street, the low-lying areas of Fairway Avenue, 725 Joralemon St. and 13 Franklin Ave.   
• MOVE CARS IN FLOOD AREAS: Vehicles in low-lying areas, including the lower end of Fairway Avenue and all along the length of Main Street, should be moved to higher ground before the storm begins.

More information will be available here at Patch or by checking the township’s website.