Whew! That holiday storm blew over

As Five Towns residents battened down the hatches and secured outdoor chairs, tables and other items so they would not go flying due to the gusty winds from Tropical Storm Hermine last Labor Day weekend, the storm left the South Shore relatively unscathed. 

Remnants of the storm, including rough surf, lingered through early Tuesday. In the afternoon, the National Weather Service lifted all warnings as what is now being referred to as “Post-Tropical Cyclone Hermine” drifted slowly northwestward off the mid-Atlantic Coast towards southern New England, where residents had to be aware of strong winds, very rough surf, dangerous rip currents and minor storm surge flooding.

A post-tropical cyclone is one “that no longer possesses sufficient tropical characteristics to be considered a tropical cyclone,” but are characterized by heavy rains and high winds, according to the National Hurricane Center.

With parts of the Five Towns having a history with heavy flooding and memories of Hurricane Sandy still imprinted in people’s minds, officials paid heed to the initial reports that the storm would hit our area Labor Day weekend. 

“We were well-prepared, village employees were on standby,” said Lawrence Deputy Mayor of Lawrence Michael Fragin. “Fortunately, we were spared any significant storm.” Officials also said that storm drains were cleared of debris.

At the Lawrence Yacht & Country Club where lower elevations typically translates into flooding, equipment was moved to higher ground and boats were secured at the marina, Village Trustee and Parks Commissioner Uri Kaufman said.

Atlantic Beach Mayor George Pappas said: “We haven’t had any flooding and beach erosion is not a concern.” The weather created dangerous surf and riptide conditions. The village swimming season officially ended on Sept. 5, according to the village website. Bathing is no longer permitted, as lifeguards will not be on duty. 

In Cedarhurst, residents were alerted by village residents that if there was flooding they could move their vehicles to Village Hall. “We’re not in any danger of wash over,” said Mayor Benjamin Weinstock. Another piece of good news Weinstock shared was that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecast that high tide for Brosewere Bay in Woodmere would not exceed four feet for the remainder of the week

Ahead of this storm, the new BeReadyLI.org is now operating. It will continue to be a resource moving forward in hurricane season that spans from June 1 to Nov. 30. The website is set up by the United Way of Long Island, Long Island 211 and PSEG Long Island to help locals before, during and after a storm.