Wet Weather Moves Out, But Flooding Persists In Many Areas
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Saturday morning was long and wet due to remnants of what was once Tropical Storm Andrea, and many parts of the Tri-State Area were left with a lot of drying out to do.
CBS 2's Vanessa Murdock reported Saturday morning that Andrea was moving out of the area as of the early morning hours, and conditions will be much improved compared to the all-day rainfall the area suffered through on Friday.
But striking rainfall totals were seen across the area. Some of the highest totals were on Long Island, with 5.86 inches at Wading River, and 5.52 inches in Hicksville. Park Slope, Brooklyn saw 5.48 inches; Pinewald, N.J., saw 5.28 inches; and Oceanport, N.J., saw 5.11 inches.
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Other areas generally saw between 3 and 5 inches of rainfall.
Some roadways were still having issues due to flooding Saturday morning. The West Side Highway remained flooded in spots, Murdock reported.
Flood alerts were also in effect for several areas due to continued runoff – including Middlesex County in New Jersey and virtually all of western Connecticut – until 6 p.m. Saturday.
High surf and dangerous rip currents were also a threat on the shorelines in Suffolk and Nassau counties, as well is in Queens and Brooklyn, the National Weather Service warned. A high surf effect was to be in effect until 9 p.m., as surf heights were expected to hit 6 to 10 feet, and rip currents posed a life-threatening danger to anyone who enters the surf.
In Westchester County, flooding on the roads remained the major problem Saturday morning, CBS 2's Amy Dardashtian reported. The Bronx River Parkway was full of standing water, and was shut down between Exit 10 and Exit 11.
Partial road closures were in effect on all major parkways in and around Westchester.
The floodwaters are chock full of harmful bacteria, prompting officials to close many beaches in Westchester County, Dardashtian reported.
The wet weather was also blamed for several car accidents in Suffolk County. In Farmingville Friday night, a motorist lost control and slammed through a guard rail.
A short time later in Setauket, a sport-utility vehicle overturned after slamming into a Long Island Power Authority poll, causing it to topple and cutting power in the area.
Floodwaters were also a major hazard to drivers on Long Island. WCBS 880's Sophia Hall reported Saturday morning that on Knoll Street in Lindenhurst, the floodwaters were nearly up to her knees. Most drivers turned around and did not dare to go through.
Drivers who decided to plow their way through the floodwaters ended up having to abandon their cars in many instances. In Melville, a Mercedes Benz and a BMW were left on the side of the road by Route 110.
Wet Weather Moves Out, But Flooding Persists In Many Areas
And as in Westchester County, numerous beaches were closed on Long Island Saturday morning. The Suffolk County Department of Health Services issued an advisory against going into the water at 67 beaches on Friday.
In Rahway, N.J., a flooded overpass left cars stranded and some people had to be rescued by firefighters.
And in Hillside, N.J., a large industrial complex containing the Community Food Bank of New Jersey had to be evacuated Friday, as several feet of water surrounded the complex like a moat.
Supervisor Michael Jordan told 1010 WINS' Glenn Schuck that workers who volunteers who came in to clean up literally had to swim or wade into work.
Andrea Forces Evacuation Of New Jersey Food Bank
"Normally what we do, we have a facility up the street, and we usually try to transport most of the product that people come and pick up up the street so they don't have to come down here," Jordan said. "We just weren't able to do it. The storm just came too fast for us. I mean, we saw it coming, the rain, pretty much most of the day. By 2 o'clock, we knew we just had to get out."
Dozens of people who normally come to the facility on a Saturday to pick up food for their churches or organizations will now have to wait until next week.
Hoboken was offering discounted parking at two garages -- municipal Garage B on 2nd Street between Hudson and River streets and Garage D at 215 Hudson St.
The city said parking will cost $5 for residents who live in flood-prone areas and have a valid resident parking permit or a temporary parking permit placard, and runs until noon Saturday.
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Meanwhile, New York City's Office of Emergency Management issued a hazardous travel advisory for late Friday through early Saturday morning. The city said it has also activated its flash flood plan to ensure a quick, effective, and coordinated response to any flash flooding that may occur.
Conditions were expected to improve throughout the day Saturday, with mostly cloudy conditions and temperatures warming to 79 degrees, Murdock reported. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible.
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