'Environmental and economic disaster.' Officials say Mill Pond in Stony Brook now dry after dam collapse

Officials say Suffolk County has declared a state of emergency following heavy overnight rain.

Cecilia Dowd

Aug 19, 2024, 9:16 AM

Updated 87 days ago

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Mill Pond in Stony Brook is dry after Brookhaven Superintendent of Highways Dan Losquadro said the dam collapsed during the overnight storm.
Part of Harbor Road was swept away, and it was captured on camera.
“This is an environmental and economic disaster," said Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico.
Hundreds of people came to see what Mother Nature did to their beloved pond, which is now a muddy mess.
Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine signed an emergency declaration.
Ward Melville Heritage Organization President Gloria Rocchio remarked on the area that was damaged by saying that "it meant a lot to the community."
Rocchio did say that the Stony Brook Grist Mill is structurally sound.
Stony Brook fire officials say they got a call around 3:30 a.m. Monday, when they arrived fire crews were able to evacuate about six homes out of precaution. Those homes were deemed safe after the road collapsed and those who were evacuated were allowed to return home.
Fire officials say the home at the corner of Harbor Road and Main Street partially collapsed and it has been condemned. The home was vacant at the time.
All of the water from Mill Pond was pushed out into the Sound and other surrounding waterways due to the storm. The last time that happened was 1910.
Suffolk County fire officials tell News 12 they had 320 alarms mostly along the North Shore overnight.
Brookhaven Superintendent of Highways Dan Losquadro says this will be a years long repair.
Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine's Full Press Conference: