A nor’easter that’s bearing down on the New York City area brought street flooding on Long Island.
New York City, Long Island and Westchester County are under a state of emergency, along with the entire state of New Jersey.
The powerful storm blew in from east to west Sunday, packing wind gusts of nearly 60 mph and soaking rains. The storm is also causing some coastal flooding, particularly at high tide, in low lying places on Long Island and down the Jersey Shore.
High tide brings flooding to Freeport
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman shared an update on the county’s storm response Monday, reminding residents that it isn’t over yet. He said crews are keeping a eye on south shore communities, particularly in Freeport, Long Beach and Merrick.
“On the South Shore, the high tide will be between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. On the North Shore, between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. That means that there will be flooding on both the North Shore and the South Shore — light to moderate on the North Shore, it could be major in some vulnerable areas. On the South Shore, it will be moderate to heavy, and that flooding could be as high as 2 to 3 feet,” Blakeman said.
High tide brought street flooding to Freeport, but recent upgrades are credited with keeping the situation from being even worse. The low-lying streets started filling up at around 2 p.m. Underground pumps, however, helped mitigate the trouble.
Area residents moved their cars to higher ground – a familiar ritual.
“Everyone has bee been here for 60 years. They are used to it,” resident John Vidas said.
Still, Freeport village officials readied three high-water Army vehicles, and praised the effectiveness of catch basins below village roads, which pump water from the streets back out to the bay.
“It has really been 100% effective,” Freeport Mayor Robert Kennedy said. “It’s a series of pumps with check valves that prevents the bay from coming back in to flood the streets, and also pumps out the water that rain accumulates in the streets.”
Kennedy said more are coming to the Nautical Mile thanks to a New York state grant.
“Reduce the nuisance flooding, save people’s vehicles, trucks and cars,” Kennedy said.
Freeport has been showing the technology to other Long Island municipalities. It appears the flooding has been limited to streets, and nothing was structurally damaged.
Babylon and Bay Shore residents “playing it hour by hour”
CBS News New York
In Babylon and Bay Shore, some drivers did not heed advice, and took risky chances driving through dangerous floodwaters. Concerned South Shore resident checked in on their boats and homes.
“we prepared with some sandbags against our door. We moved a car. Our boat, down the slip there, tied up as well,” Babylon homeowner Donna Dragani said.
Dragani said she thinks it’s helpful the wind shifted to the northeast.
Islip town workers cleared five threatened storm drains and closed roads. At the marina, it was touch and go, with cars stalled in restaurant parking lots.
“We are playing it hour by hour,” Lake House restaurant manager Matt Connors said. “Closed for lunch and try to open for dinner.”
CBS News New York also spoke with Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine for an update on conditions there Monday. He said coastal flooding remains a concern at high tide, as well as winds up to 60 mph out in Montauk.
“We know that the rain is going to continue. We know that the surf has been very hard and pounding away, which means erosion for us and beach loss,” Romaine said.
On Sunday, Romaine said the biggest concern was Fire Island, along with other low-lying areas in Mastic Beach, East Patchogue and Lindenhurst.
When high tide hit overnight in Bay Shore, the flood waters inundated streets, forcing cars to turn around and jeopardizing local businesses. Six hours later, it’s windy and raw, with off and on rain, and the water is nearly overflowing its banks.
Ferry service to Fire Island remains closed, and the Fire Island Water Taxi is suspended through Monday as stormy gale conditions persist. Excavators arrived on Fire Island to assist.
“We’ve got work to do. That is the main important thing,” construction worker Thomas Puhle said.
People may have started their day inside, but by the afternoon, they were starting to step out to local restaurants.
“It’s picked up. I think people are tired of being kept inside,” Ray Auer of Glen’s Dinette said.
Streets were being monitored. Homes in vulnerable areas braced for three feet of inundation.
“You don’t want your cars to be driving through salt water, and if you live in low-lying areas south of [Babylon], it will get to your door,” Babylon boat owner Ron Marino said.
Meanwhile in New Jersey, officials warn the Shore could see moderate to major coastal flooding around high tide, and the rough surf may lead to significant beach erosion.
Water filled the beach almost all the way up to the boardwalk overnight at North Wildwood, and poured into the streets in Avalon. Many neighborhoods near the back bay remained flooded early Monday.
Gusty winds blamed for at least 1 death in NYC
The winds are settling down, but thousands of customers remain without power and hundreds of trees are down across the region.
The National Weather Service canceled its High Wind Warnings and Wind Advisories for Monday afternoon, with 25-45 mph gusts expected for the rest of the day.
CBS News New York
As of 7:50 p.m., PSEG Long Island reported 2,052 customers were still without power. Orange & Rockland County reported just 204 customers were still out, after more than 4,000 were Monday morning. Jersey Central Power & Light had 1,523 customers out. PSE&G New Jersey had 250 out, down from over 2,300.
New York City’s Office of Emergency Management said more than 100 trees have fallen citywide, and the Department of Buildings said a woman in Brooklyn was killed when the wind ripped a solar panel off the roof of a carport.
The storm also forced the cancellation of the city’s annual Columbus Day Parade in Manhattan, a more than 80-year-old tradition.
As for mass transit, subways have not been impacted, but the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North experienced some disruptions early Monday, and NJ Transit suspended its North Jersey Coast and Atlantic City lines. Tri-State Area airports are also reporting hundreds of delays.