Rockville Centre has received about 3 inches of rain as a powerful nor’easter continued to batter Long Island Sunday, bringing strong winds, flooding and downed trees to the village and surrounding communities.
According to Weather Underground, 2.42 inches of rain was recorded in Rockville Centre Saturday, with additional rainfall falling Sunday. Winds exceeded 30 mph in the village Sunday morning, with gusts topping 50 mph around 9 a.m. as the storm continued to move through the area.
Mayor Francis X. Murray was out surveying conditions in the village again Sunday, according to village spokesperson Julie Grilli, who said there were “numerous trees down in the village.”
Grilli said Department of Public Works and Electric Department crews have been working around the clock to make repairs and address storm-related problems. She said there were no reported power outages in the village as of late morning Sunday.
On Saturday afternoon, however, a large tree fell from a property on Richmond Avenue near Hempstead Avenue, blocking the road and causing a power outage, Grilli said. Murray and village personnel, including members of the Electric Department, responded as crews worked to clear the roadway and restore power.
The storm also brought localized flooding to village roads. Early Sunday morning, the Nassau County Traffic Management Center reported flooding on eastbound Sunrise Highway near Morris Avenue, with the left lane blocked. The situation was cleared in about an hour.
Mill River overflowed during the storm, sending water into the outfield at Tighe Field and onto streets near the Mill River sports complex just south of Sunrise Highway.
The storm has affected communities across Long Island, with downed trees, flooding and power outages reported throughout the region. More than 23,000 Long Islanders remained without power as of Sunday morning, according to utility outage figures cited during the storm.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said Saturday that the county had received about 3 inches of rain and was expected to receive roughly 5 inches by the time the storm passed.
“We're keeping roadways clear, addressing flooding and working overtime to keep you safe during the nor'easter,” Blakeman said, adding that high winds and saturated ground were contributing to falling branches and trees.
Hempstead Town Supervisor John Ferretti reported Saturday that 41 trees had been knocked down across the town, with 35 already 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 nor’easter prompted Gov. Kathy Hochul to declare a state of emergency Friday for Long Island, New York City and Westchester County because of the threat of heavy rain, high winds and coastal flooding.
The National Weather Service continued Sunday to warn of coastal flooding, dangerous surf and life-threatening rip currents along the South Shore. Beachgoers have been advised to stay out of the surf, while motorists have been urged to avoid driving through flooded roadways or around barricades.
The weekend nor’easter brought heavy rain, strong winds and coastal flooding across Long Island, disrupting Long Island Rail Road service along the Long Beach Branch. Flooding near Island Park forced the suspension of trains between Valley Stream and Long Beach, with shuttle buses used to transport passengers along the affected portion of the line. The storm also caused flooding in other South Shore communities as high tides and rough conditions pushed water onto local streets.
LIRR service was expected to resume Sunday night after crews addressed the flooding and assessed conditions along the branch.
Separately, West Hempstead Branch service is suspended through Monday for planned signal upgrades. Bus service is available between Valley Stream and stations from Westwood through West Hempstead during the work. MTA and NICE buses are also accepting LIRR tickets on designated routes as alternatives.
The storm also prompted the postponement of Monday's 39th annual Rockville Centre Community Fund Mayor’s Golf & Dinner Classic. It has been rescheduled for Nov. 2.
Before the storm arrived, village officials urged residents to secure loose outdoor items, avoid unnecessary travel during periods of heavy rain and strong winds and have emergency supplies available in case of a power outage.
“I encourage residents to take a few simple precautions as well, including securing outdoor items, avoiding unnecessary travel, and having emergency supplies on hand,” Murray said. “Our Village departments are prepared to respond throughout the storm, and our crews will work as quickly and safely as possible should any issues arise. Most importantly, please stay informed, use caution, and look out for your neighbors.”
Residents can report electrical emergencies to the village Electric Department by emailing ElectricOutage@rvcny.us or calling (516) 766-5800.
Village officials have cautioned that response times could be delayed if widespread outages or hazardous conditions affect the area and have asked residents to give crews room to work safely.
Residents are encouraged to continue monitoring weather conditions and village communications as the storm moves through the area. Updates are available through the free My RVC mobile app, which can be downloaded through the Apple App Store or Google Play by searching “My RVC.”
