Some Ferry Service Resumes After Flooding Leaves Hundreds Stranded On Fire Island
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Some ferry service to and from Fire Island resumed Wednesday after it was suspended following flooding said to be the worst since Superstorm Sandy.
Close to 400 people were stranded on the island after conditions from Tuesday's nor'easter were deemed too dangerous for boats to travel.
Tim Mooney, president of Fire Island Ferries, said the tide was at least three feet above normal.
"It would have been over the top of the boots of most people coming over so it would have been very difficult to move around and be safe on that side as well," he said.
Fire Island Ferries resumed service from Bay Shore around 7 a.m. Wednesday. But with water still flooding their parking lots, the Sayville Ferry remains suspended until Thursday morning.
PHOTOS: Nor'easter Soaks Tri-State
The storm inundated Fire Island with nearly two feet of water Tuesday, something even longtime residents said was unusual.
"I was definitely scared to death. The water was up to the running board. You could feel in the water, the car was swaying. It was quite an experience," mail carrier Jonneigh Adrion told CBS2.
"It's probably the worst storm since Sandy," said Fire Island Fire Chief Ian Levine. "Our fire house, which is half way through the island towards the ocean, has about 6 to 8 inches of water in it."
"The bay came over and kept getting deeper and deeper," said resident Joy Rideout. "This morning, it's still six to seven inches."
The shifting wind allowed floodwaters to recede Wednesday, and contractors began surveying homes to assess the flood damage.
"It's going to keep us busy. We got a few of them we have to straighten out," Bob Funk said, of Bob's Home Improvement and Handyman Service.
The village mayor says there was some good news with the storm.
"The ocean didn't come through, the trap bags installed after Superstorm Sandy held up," Mayor Jimmy Mallot said.
Elsewhere on Long Island, the storm's pounding rain trapped a number of people in their homes and in New Jersey, the storm dumped up to three inches of rain over parts of the state.
Hundreds Stranded On Fire Island After Flooding
Along the Jersey shore in Sea Bright, roads were completely flooded during the height of the storm.
"It's been unwalkable, unpassable," said resident Sarah Hofer. "We had waders when we moved our cars."
Streets in Sea Bright finally cleared late Tuesday, but emergency management officials kept a close eye on the Shrewsbury River just in case waters rose again.
In the northern suburbs, frigid temperatures led to slick roads and dangerous driving conditions, causing a number of accidents.
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