Rain causes major flooding, traps drivers

The Aug. 14 storm dumped as much as 11 inches of rain on some areas of Long Island, causing several local water emergencies. The Lawrence Cedarhurst Fire Department and Elmont Fire Department worked with other local departments to respond to water emergencies in low flood zones. In some cases, motorists were trapped in their automobiles.

At 4:34 a.m. last Sunday, the Lawrence Cedarhurst and Elmont departments responded to a call about a van that was stuck in the water on Central Avenue in North Valley Stream, under the Southern State Parkway. According to the Elmont Fire Department, this area typically floods during heavy rains, and the Elmont F.D. responds to calls in that area six to 10 times each year.

The van was completely submerged in the water in that area, and water levels were so high that firefighters were completely submerged when they checked the vehicle. After Elmont F.D. Captain Rob Schriefer swam to the van to confirm that no one was inside, firefighters from the Elmont and Lawrence Cedarhurst fire departments took a boat out to the van to conduct a second check, confirming that no one was trapped inside.

At 5:20 a.m. on Sunday, the Elmont F.D. received a second call about a car stuck in water at Donavan Street and N street. Available companies responded to find a submerged car and a flooded street, but the vehicle was empty.

At 5:41 a.m., the Elmont F.D. received a report about a car stuck at the location of the Southern State Parkway and Cross Island Parkway. Available units found a car stuck and removed one person from the vehicle, in knee-deep water. Local units later found an unrelated car accident near the disabled car, and one person was transported to Winthrop Hospital by Elmont F.D. ambulance.

Around 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, the Elmont F.D. responded to a car stuck in the parking lot of a Home Depot, at 600 Hempstead Turnpike in West Hempstead. The driver had attempted to drive through a huge area of water and misjudged how deep it was. The driver was able to get out of the vehicle.

Elmont Fire Department Chief Mike Capoziello said that no local injuries were reported.