Nassau and Suffolk counties issue state of emergency due to storm
FREEPORT, N.Y. -- Both Suffolk and Nassau counties issued states of emergency Tuesday due to the storm moving through the Tri-State Area.
Utility crews are prepped and ready to deal with any downed wires and outages.
Watch Lori Bordonaro's live report
PSEG is warning people never to approach downed wires or drive over downed lines.
As of 11 p.m. Tuesday, over 2,000 PSEG LI customers were without power.
Flood concerns in Nassau County
Flags whipping in the wind were a sure sign a storm was coming. As rain started falling in Freeport on Tuesday afternoon, the town of Hempstead got its trucks and gear ready to respond.
"[My main concern] is going to be flooding in the South Shore, as always. It's a combination of high tides -- the water's gonna be blown in, so low-lying areas should expect to be flooded, and also power outages," Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin said.
Clavin says extra crews are on standby, including with utility companies, as rain and wind is expected to intensify.
"The ground's really saturated from this past weekend. You add on 3, 4 inches of rain, heavy winds about 45 mph -- it's a recipe for disaster," he said.
Watch Jenna DeAngelis' report
CBS New York's Jenna DeAngelis followed Nassau County Department of Public Works crews clearing out storm drains on a service road in Jericho, sucking out debris to alleviate flooding.
Tuesday afternoon, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman declared a state of emergency and says the county is monitoring the situation on an hourly basis.
"I am very concerned because if there are wind gusts of 70 mph, there will be downed trees, could be downed power lines," he said. "Anything that you have outside that could become airborne, please bring it inside. If you can't bring it inside, please tie it down."
We're told crews will be pre-positioned around the Long Island Rail Road system, ready to respond to weather-related issues, but officials are reminding people to check the schedules before they head home or into work.
Nikita Campbell, from Baldwin, told CBS New York's Lori Bordonaro the roads were challenging Tuesday evening.
"We've seen quite a few accidents, so we advise people to be as cautious as possible," she said.
Campbell was picking up a family member so they would be safe. Her concern, like many in Nassau County, was flooding as the rain intensified.
Tuesday night, people in Lindenhurst were already knee-deep in rising waters.
"Been very challenging to get through these roads, but we're playing it safe and driving safely," Campbell said.
Some streets were already nearly impassable.
"We were going that way, but we see the puddle water, which I'm pretty sure like two-and-a-half feet or so. It wouldn't make it with this car, so we had to turn around," Maspeth resident Juan Arias said.
Merrick resident Maria Cruz is all too familiar with flooding on the South Shore.
"Just making sure that the drains are not clogged so that the water's going to be able to go out," she said.
Drivers in Suffolk County reminded to stay off roads
With seas swelling and danger lurking, fishing boats returned to port along the commercial fishing dock in Hampton Bays.
"It's supposed to be 60 knots of wind. That's gonna be 30-foot seas. It gets dangerous, so everybody comes in," said boat captain Frank Green.
The United States Coast Guard is monitoring the South Shore from east to west with the motto, "Don't dare Mother Nature."
Watch Jennifer McLogan's report
Erosion was already evident early Tuesday evening.
"The constant storms, the back-to-back, the wind and the rain definitely makes it tough," said Southampton resident David Anderson.
With a state of emergency declared in Suffolk County, school districts may alter Wednesday plans.
"I am issuing a State of Emergency for Suffolk County to ensure our residents are best prepared for the incoming severe weather," Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said in a statement. "While the height of the storm is anticipated to impact the County during the evening and overnight hours, I strongly advise our residents to avoid travel as heavy rainfall, strong wind gusts and potential flooding are all possible."
Signs are up reminding drivers to stay off flooded roads.
Sand is being stockpiled and trucked from the Shinnecock Inlet to trouble spots.
In East Hampton, it's all hands on deck. The Gartenstein family and their best friends are ready.
"We have a generator, so if the power goes out, we're in pretty good shape. We stocked up on dog food, and I think otherwise we're good," one person said.
Laura O'Loughlin wonders if the electric scooter she rides to work is safe in a storm.
"Overall, this can really help get me through the rain quickly, rather than having to take a 30-minute walk," she said.
Riverhead's highway department is deploying state-of-the-art sewer vacuum machinery and monitoring erosion.
"Stay off the roads if you can. It will flood. Water will go down. Let us do our job, and we are trying our absolute best, just like all the towns, to combat this weather," Riverhead Highways Superintendent Mike Zaleski said.
