Report finds Suffolk County leads New York in severe weather events — and storm costs are rising
Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said the region’s aging stormwater systems were never built to handle the amount of rainfall the area now sees.
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A new report from New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli reveals that Suffolk County has experienced more severe weather events than any other county in the state — and the costs of cleaning up after those storms continue to climb.
According to the report, Suffolk County has recorded more than 1,700 severe weather events since 1996, more than any other county in New York. Combined, Nassau and Suffolk have faced thousands of damaging storms, including flash flooding and strong thunderstorm winds that have become increasingly common in recent years.
Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said the region’s aging stormwater systems were never built to handle the amount of rainfall the area now sees.
“We have to take a look at all of our storm drains. We have to take a look at all of our sumps to make sure we can handle this because we don’t need additional flooding — and we don’t need the problems that come with heavy rainstorms,” Romaine said.
The comptroller’s report suggests that upgrading stormwater management systems could ultimately save taxpayers money in the long run by preventing costly damage when major storms strike.
