Suffolk County residents, towns prepare for coastal flooding and high winds ahead of weekend storm
Coastal communities are already experiencing flooding at high tide as Suffolk County officials and residents take steps to prepare for flooding, storm surge and strong winds this weekend.
Residents and local officials across Suffolk County are preparing for this weekend's nor'easter, and coastal flooding has already begun affecting some shoreline communities.
Doorbell camera video captured flooding during Thursday morning's high tide in Lindenhurst, before the arrival of the expected storm.
"This is my first year living here, so I'm not really sure what to expect, but I know it's going to be pretty high," said Lindenhurst resident Cameron Catanzaro. "It gets as high as the top of that fire hydrant sometimes."
On S 9th St. in Lindenhurst, neighbors spent Thursday evening moving their vehicles to higher ground in preparation for additional flooding.
"It's probably going to get all the way into the backyard," Catanzaro said. "We've got to move all the backyard furniture to a higher area to make sure all the important stuff's out of the way or it's all floating into the canal, and it's gone."
Towns across Suffolk County are also taking steps to prepare for the storm's potential impacts.
"This storm is probably going to cause us some problems. The thing that concerns me most is the wind," said Daniel Losquadro, Brookhaven's superintendent of highways.
Losquadro said officials are preparing for high winds, downed tree limbs, storm surge and flooding.
"Any long duration event like this impounds water, meaning the wind pushes it in with the tide, and then it doesn't go back out," Losquadro said. "It holds it there, and then the next tide brings in even more water."
In a statement, Riverhead Town Supervisor Jerry Halpin said crews have been preparing throughout the week by clearing drains, sharpening chainsaws and readying trucks so crews can be deployed as needed.
Brookhaven officials are also advising residents to avoid driving through floodwaters, stay away from downed wires, park vehicles on higher ground and clear debris from storm drains.
While crews continue to prepare for the storm's arrival, Losquadro said there is still uncertainty about the extent of its impacts.
"Really, with these type of storms, it's a wait and see event," he said. "We'll deal with what Mother Nature throws at us."
