'It's getting worse.' East Rockaway neighbors say recent flooding was exacerbated by drainage issue
Residents who live on Marjorie Lane said they are frustrated and fed up because Nassau County is not addressing their concerns.
More Stories
Residents in one East Rockaway neighborhood said the recent flooding they experienced on Friday was potentially one of the worst because of issues with their drainage.
They also said they are frustrated and fed up because Nassau County is not addressing their concerns on Marjorie Lane.
"It's getting worse and worse over the years," said resident Robert Gunning.
On Friday, about 18 to 20 inches of rain flooded John Kenny's basement.
"We thought we lucked out when the high tide came and went, and we didn't have it breach and come over the bulk heads. But we have a pre-existing condition on the block where the storm drain main is broken and the county is aware of it. And of course, with that inundating rain, with no way for the water to escape, the rain just built up, built up, built up," he said.
The residents said they called the county to come out to pump the water, but they said no one came. Kenny and his neighbor ended up pumping the water with a sump pump.
"If we didn't pump this out ourselves, that water would have been here for 12 maybe 24 hours. That's something that's very frustrating," Kenny said.
The neighbors said it is an ongoing problem. They said the main has been broken since December of 2022. They showed a News 12 crew a piece of the pipe that empties into the canal that does appear to be damaged.
"This is just another culmination of the same problem. It just keeps mushrooming," Gunning said.
News 12 reached out to Nassau County for comment but had not heard back as of Sunday night.
