Glen Cove residents demand solution to recurring flooding problem
They say even a brief period of heavy rain can leave their neighborhood underwater.
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Residents on Woolsey Avenue in Glen Cove say even a brief period of heavy rain can leave their neighborhood underwater, forcing them to scramble to protect their homes and property.
"This morning, I heard it start raining, and I got up and came outside at 7:00 in the morning," said resident Sonna Allen. "I'm out here and throwing on clothes and running out to make sure my house doesn't flood."
Residents say flooding has become a recurring problem during storms, regardless of their severity.
"Not a hurricane, not a major storm, just a good downpour for 30 minutes, and this happens," said Christopher Lockett.
Homeowners say they do what they can to prepare, including clearing storm drains, putting out sandbags, and moving vehicles to higher ground.
For some families, flooding concerns have disrupted everyday life.
"Maybe a month or two ago, we had to cut our weekend short to come home because of potential flooding," said Steve Melbinger.
Despite those precautions, residents say they have still suffered significant damage over the years.
"We've had a foot of water in our basement. Dryers, boilers, clothes gone," Melbinger said.
Residents say the city recently completed a project to try and fix the issue by adding catch basins on a nearby roadway. However, they say the flooding continues.
Many believe water flowing downhill from Dosoris Lane, a Nassau County road located above the neighborhood, contributes to the problem.
"I understand that we have really big pipes in this street," Allen said. "But then when they leave our street, they get smaller and smaller and smaller and it can't handle the water."
News 12 reached out to Glen Cove Mayor Pamela Panzenbeck, who said the flooding issue is ongoing and that she would contact the Department of Public Works regarding residents' concerns. The mayor also noted that the water drained within about 20 minutes after the rain stopped, but residents say it takes much longer.
"People think the road just floods and then it goes down," Linda Melbinger said. "But it all just goes into all these backyards and creates a giant pond."
Residents say they hope local and county officials can work together to find a long-term solution before the next major storm hits.
