Lynbrook, East Rockaway hit by slush and snow

Despite a Blizzard Warning being issued to the South Shore Tuesday, residents of East Rockaway and Lynbrook woke up to mostly slush and ice rather than the projected 12 to 18 inches of snow.

"We expected a lot," Lynbrook Mayor Bill Hendrick said about the forecast. "I can't say I'm surprised, because whenever you get a weather report, you're kind of iffy about it, but I guess I did think it was going to be a lot harder."

At press time, Hendrick said that the Department of Public Works was working feverishly to make sure that village roads were clear and safe.

"They're still working and sanding," Hendrick said. "They're making sure it's not slippery with all the rain out there."

On Monday, Hendrick said the DPW was prepared to send out 20 plows, five salt trucks and three payloaders.

East Rockaway Mayor Bruno Romano could not be reached as of press time Tuesday, but he offered a statement to residents on Monday before the expected storm. He noted that the village used its alert system to contact and instruct residents.

"The Village of East Rockaway has alerted residents via our CodeRed system about the impending major snowstorm," Romano said. "Village DPW crews are salting roadways and the plows will be out in force to keep our streets clear and passable."

Romano cautioned that the expected lunar high tide may cause coastal flooding, and urged residents to stay home and stock up on food and necessities early.

Recycling was also suspended for Tuesday in East Rockaway, while residents were told to keep their vehicles out of the streets and not to shovel or plow snow onto the roadways from their driveways.

Bay Park resident Kathleen Schwarting said that storm drains overflowed on West Boulevard in Bay Park because of the tide, causing flooding.

On Monday, Hempstead Town Supervisor Anthony Santino held a press conference where he spoke about the storm. He said that based on predictions, it could have been the "big one." Though the storm proved to not be as powerful as forecasters predicted, Santino was confident that the county was ready to handle it.

“Our crews will be out there plowing … to clear the over 1,200 miles of roadway that are in the Town of Hempstead … to make them possible as soon as we possibly can,” he said. “Our Conservation and Waterways crews will be monitoring the coastal erosion. Workers are securing boats at the town marinas …”

Anthony Rifilato and Melissa Koenig contributed to this story.