Cuomo to deploy National Guard troops to Long Beach

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A day after he directed more than 1,000 New York Army and Air National Guard troops to mobilize for Hurricane Sandy, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said that an additional 1,000 National Guard troops will be deployed to help Nassau County, particularly the City of Long Beach, which is already dealing with massive flooding in parts of the city and numerous downed trees. Cuomo said that he is expecting “historic” flooding in the area.

“The extent of the storm surge — it’s already high and at [Tropical Storm] Irene levels,” Cuomo said at a press conference on Monday. High tide in Long Beach will occur around 8 p.m., and Cuomo said he’s concerned about the storm surge hitting the area at that time.

“We’re going to call up an additional 1,000 [National Guard troops] to make sure we have all the resources we need to deal with the surge and the damage from the surge,” Cuomo said.

The city constructed 8-foot berms along the beaches that, according to news reports, have already been breached by the rising ocean waters that have spilled onto city streets past the boardwalk.

Additionally, areas along Reynolds Channel, the Canals especially, have experienced significant flooding. State officials said that a storm surge of 6- to 11-feet is expected and could break Hurricane Donna’s record of 10-feet set in 1960.

On Sunday, Cuomo directed the New York Army and Air National Guard to mobilize in response to Hurricane Sandy.

“Last year, the New York Army and Air National Guard played a significant role in our State’s immediate response to Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee,” Cuomo said in a statement. “They will provide vital assistance to various regions of the state, and it is essential that they are positioned to be ready to serve wherever they are called. These troops, along with critical equipment, vehicles and aircraft, are ready to answer at a moment’s notice.”

In July, Fire Chief Rich Corbett said that the Long Beach Fire Department was taking a more proactive approach this year to its hurricane response planning, which includes working with upstate fire departments and other agencies to deploy additional manpower to Long Beach if needed and requesting additional supplies, equipment and vehicles earlier.

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