Long Beach contends with another nor’easter

Vulnerable after Hurricane Sandy, officials call for sand replenishment and infrastructure mitigation

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The city was forced to close a section of Park Avenue in the West End early Thursday morning due to flooding, while residents reported some flooding in the Canals as Long Beach contends with the latest winter storm to hit the area.

“We had to close Park Avenue for about an hour between Delaware and Alabama," said Department of Public Works Commissioner Jim LaCarrubba. "The flooding was enough to make the Police Department concerned that there was a traffic issue."

LaCarrubba said that flooding came through the city’s storm drain system, but it did not crest the top of the bulk heading, though there was some flooding in the Canals.

“In the Canals, it was partly due to the storm drains but there was some areas where the bulkheading is at the same level as the road, and there was some water that came over,” he said.

The National Weather Service issued a coastal flood advisory that’s in effect until 8 a.m. on Friday. Eight-to-16-foot waves may cause beach erosion and isolated structural damage along the ocean-facing shoreline during hide tide late this afternoon into early Friday morning. A winter weather advisory remains in effect through Friday morning, with 2 to 5 inches of snow in Nassau County. Rain and snow is likely before 9 p.m., then snow, with blustery, 20 to 25 mph winds and gusts as high as 36 mph.

“The worst tide, according to the National Weather Service, was this morning,” LaCarrubba said, adding that the latest winter storm caused some beach erosion. “This storm, they’re saying overnight it may drop a few inches of snow, and hopefully the worst has passed us.”

In a message to residents on Wednesday, City Manager Jack Schnirman said that city officials are monitoring the storm closely.

“Please be mindful that flooding is likely, particularly on the north side of the city,” he said in a statement. “We anticipate that there may be a moderate amount of water in the street in some areas, and some beach erosion is anticipated as well. While we remain vulnerable in the wake of Sandy, our public works crews have built and reinforced temporary sand barriers on the beach, protecting the city from more significant flooding over the past several months.”

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