Coastal high tides, downed trees and suspended train service were the results of a weekend nor’easter that struck Long Island on Friday and is continuing through Sunday.
The Bellmore Fire Department shared several safety reminders on Facebook for residents during the nor’easter. Residents should avoid driving or walking unless necessary and never attempt to travel through moving or standing floodwater. During periods of high winds, residents should remain indoors and away from windows and exterior doors.
In the event of a power outage, the department recommends using flashlights instead of candles to reduce the risk of fires and keeping refrigerators and freezers closed as much as possible to preserve food. Portable generators should only be operated outdoors, away from windows, doors and vents, to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Generators should never be used inside a home or garage.
For emergencies, residents can call the Bellmore Fire Department at 516-783-6600.
A coastal flood warning, high surf advisory and a high wind warning all remain in effect for the South Shore of Nassau and Suffolk counties. Beach erosion has occurred as well, officials said,
Up to 3 inches of rain has accumulated across Long Island that remains in a state of emergency as declared by Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said on Saturday that the forecasts were accurate and Nassau County has received 3 inches of rain. The total is expected to be roughly 5 inches.
"It is not over," Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said on Sunday. "While the wnd is dying down and the rain will just be a trickle compared to what we've had the last couple of days. The ground is saturated withn water. That means roots are loosened. It doesn' take much for a tree, especially one full of leaves, to fall over."
East Rockaway, Island Park, portions of Massapequa, Merrick, Oceanside and Long Beach remain the trouble spots for coastal flooding.
Blakeman added that believes Nassau County will be "back to close to normal, " by Monday morning.
Blakemain also added that there will be sustained winds of 20 mph, with gusts that may reach up to 30 or 40 mph at times. and light to moderate rain is expected to continue into Monday morning.
As of noon Sunday, power has been restored to more than 93,700 PSEG-Long Island customers across Long Island and the Rockaways, utility officials said. As of press time, 18,501 customers are without power.
Long Beach Long Island Rail Road service remains suspended because of the flooding by Island Park. Shuttle bus service is available between Valley Stream and Long Beach. For service to places east of Jamaica along the Long Beach branch take train on the Babylon or Far Rockaway lines.
Hempstead Town Supervisor John Ferretti said yesterday that 41 trees were downed and 35 of them have been cleared.
"We had flooding on the South Shore mainly south of Merrick Road," Ferretti said, adding that, "the water hasn't receded as much we thought it would."
The town continues to clean out storm drains, Ferretti noting that the water grabs the leaves and clogs the drains repeatedly.
"Please take the proper precautions and stay in," he said, in a nod to the next couple of high tides.
Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino said that vehicles should be moved to higher ground.
The flooding has affected roads, parking lots, parks, lawns and homes and businesses with basements near the waterfront. There are power outages across Long Island from the North to South shores and to the tip of Montauk. Beach flooding and erosion are likely through the weekend.
Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said on Saturday waves seven- to 10-feet have resulted in substantial erosion from Fire Island To Montauk. Emergency Medical service and fire calls are double compared to an average day, Romaine added.
"Dedicated county employees are working the phones, handling this and following this storm very carefully," he said.
The weather service is warning that life-threatening rip currents are likely for anyone entering the surf zone. Beachgoers are advised to stay out of the surf, as rip currents can pull even experienced swimmers away from shore and into deeper water.
Those who must travel should allow extra time and be prepared for possible road closures. Motorists should not drive around barricades or through water of unknown depth.
“We continue to monitor this weather system and have performed system and logistic checks to ensure any customers who may be affected will have their power restored safely and as quickly as possible,” Michael Sullivan, vice president of Electric Operations at PSEG Long Island, said in a news release.
Text 333-111 for real time updates.
