Heavy rains, wind to impact the Island this weekend

PSEG Long Island is closely monitoring the third weather front to approach our area in a week, and we are once again prepared for potential impacts on the system.”

Michael Sullivan, vice president of Electric Operations at PSEG Long Island

After Tuesday night's strong storm, another rain and wind event is expected to affect the area tonight into Saturday morning.

A Coastal Flood Advisory is in effect for the North Shore from  Saturday 9 a.m. to Saturday 3 p.m. A Coastal Flood Warning is in effect for the South Shore from Saturday 7 a.m. to Saturday 6 p.m. A Wind Advisory is in effect for all of Nassau County from Friday 10 p.m. to Saturday 6 a.m. with winds of 20 to 30 mph an gusts of 50 mph expected.

Rainfall amounts are forecasted to be anywhere between three quarters of an inch up to an inch.

PSEG Long Island has personnel ready to respond safely and as quickly as possible throughout the storm. Additionally, approximately 160 off-Island utility personnel are being procured to work alongside PSEG Long Island’s highly trained crews.

“PSEG Long Island is closely monitoring the third weather front to approach our area in a week, and we are once again prepared for potential impacts on the system,” Michael Sullivan, vice president of Electric Operations at PSEG Long Island, said in a press release. “We have performed system and logistic checks, and have a full complement of personnel who will mobilize for restoration in stormy weather conditions. Our crews will work to safely restore any outages as quickly as conditions will allow.”

PSEG customers can visit psegliny.com/safetyandreliability/stormsafety for additional storm preparation information.

In preparation for this storm, Veolia North America anticipates placing its South Shore Water Reclamation Facility, WRF, in East Rockaway, the Cedar Creek WRF in Wantagh, and the Glen Cove WRF serving parts of the North Shore, on storm alert Friday night to ensure they are capable of operating in the face of a second round of incoming severe weather.

“We are continuing to face extraordinary weather and the best way to counter it is to be prepared," Kevin Chandler, president of Veolia Water Long Island, said in a press release. "Recognizing that a weekend storm is imminent that will likely impact Nassau County once again with heavy rain and high winds, Veolia will mobilize our storm preparedness plans to ensure full readiness."

“This includes activities such as topping off fuel and chemicals, testing generators, strategically placing equipment and portable generators, and organizing staffing needs. Throughout the next storm, we will once again staff our command center, which collaborates with the Nassau County Department of Public Works and Office of Emergency Management,” Chandler explained.

In the event tidal impacts are anticipated in East Rockaway, closure of the emergency storm gates will be ordered. This will protect the low-lying South Shore facility from flooding, protect the employees staffing the facility around the clock, and protect the vital equipment that keeps that facility operating. A similar plan was in place for the prior storm this week.

The storm preparations underway follow the template set by Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman at the start of last year’s hurricane season, when he led a public demonstration of the emergency storm gates at the East Rockaway facility.

“Those lessons remain as vital and important this month as they were six months ago,” Chandler said.