The swirling coastal storm was responsible for flooding in Bayville Thursday afternoon.

Huge waves from the Long Island Sound came crashing onto Charles Ransom Beach, turning Bayville Avenue near Wilson Avenue into a river and forcing street closures.

Neighbors scrambled to move their cars to higher ground during the height of the storm.

Uriel Sanchez was one of several residents who decided to leave town for the night rather than face another round of flooding.

"I mean, I wouldn't want to go through it again," Sanchez said.

Other residents, who live on higher ground, said they would ride out the storm in their homes.