High tide floods towns along Long Island's South Shore, where residents say they're no stranger to cleanup
FREEPORT, N.Y. -- High tides flooded towns along Long Island's South Shore early Wednesday morning, following a storm that soaked the area overnight.
Both Nassau and Suffolk counties were placed under a state of emergency for coastal flood concerns and gusty winds.
"Fortunately, the floodwaters are receding. High tide crested between 6:30 and 8 a.m., depending on where you were in Nassau County," Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman told CBS New York. "So we still have some flooding in Massapequa, East Rockaway, Freeport, the Five Towns on the South Shore, and up on the North Shore in Bayville. But the water is receding."
PSEG Long Island said by 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, power had been restored to more than 99.5% of customers affected by the storm and just over 100 customers were still without service. The utility expected to finish restoring service to the majority of affected customers by Wednesday night.
Water takes over streets in Freeport
CBS New York's Jenna DeAngelis spent the morning in Freeport, where high tide came in around 7 a.m.
She watched as the water crept up, taking over the streets and making a mess. She reported seeing emergency crews and even a military-type vehicle, and some cars stuck in deep water.
Freeport is familiar with flooding, especially during high tide, but one resident told DeAngelis it hasn't been this bad since a storm right before Christmas in December 2022.
"No stranger to flooding, no stranger to where I live. We expect it when we have these really high tides. You've just got to get ready for it," resident Ted Kimlingen said. "I feel bad for anybody that doesn't move their car or if they get it in their house. It's a tough gig."
The Nautical Mile was under 2 feet of water, leaving Guy Lombardo Boulevard impassable as saltwater gushed down streets.
"Two or three times a year, we have this problem -- high tides," said Harvey Siegel, who works at a business in the area. "You just have to wait until the tides go down, and you have to be careful."
Blakeman urged drivers to leave extra time for the commute, and said LIRR riders should check their schedules.
"I would just ask people to exercise caution this morning. There is going to be some ponding. There is some flooding," he said. "But by mid-afternoon, I think we're going to be back to normal in Nassau County."
Lindenhurst residents break out kayaks to navigate flooded streets
Meanwhile, CBS New York's Jennifer McLogan spoke with people farther out in Lindenhurst.
Someone could be seen kayaking down Spring Street as the sun rose. Residents awoke to flooding so bad, they were stranded inside their homes or needed hip waders to venture out.
Wayne Van was using a garden hose to pump his basement.
"It's what we deal with down here on the South Shore of Lindenhurst," he told McLogan. "They've never done anything for us."
Despite his flooded property, Van says he would never want to move.
Across the street, Kate Walsh-Youngs is having reservations.
"I'm thinking about new location," she said. "It was a little scary watching the water just slowly making its way up."
Steve Rosado was on a mission to help his neighbors.
"I try to keep them from going down any farther. When the tide goes out, then I go check and make sure it's OK for them to go," he said.
Lindenhurst is in the town of Babylon.
"If we are looking at the records, our people are telling us that these were close to Irene levels in terms of flooding in the streets," Babylon Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer said.
Fire trucks were ready for rescues Wednesday.
As for erosion, off Ocean Parkway, Gilgo, Overlook, Cedar and Tobay beaches all lost beachfront.
From Montauk to Fire Island to Captree, damage is being assessed.
Parking lots, golf and games were also flooded at Jones Beach. Walls of sand were breached, and intense wave action continues.
"We've had a significant impact from the storm. As you can see here at Jones Beach, the entire beachfront of Field One was under water," New York State Parks Regional Director George Gorman said.
The highest wind gusts have been recorded along the ocean and coast line. A Wind Advisory remains in effect.
Stick with our First Alert Weather team for the latest forecast and coverage of the cleanup.
