No major damage after storm socks Valley Stream

Much of Hendrickson Park, including the gazebo, was under water following Sunday’s rain storm.

Courtesy Tom McAleer

A Car Was stuck in high waters on Sunday at the intersection of Foster and Cornwell Avenues, near Merrick Road, after about eight inches of rain fell.

Courtesy Kenji Japra

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Heavy rains on Sunday caused much flooding throughout Valley Stream, but no major damage was reported.

According to National Weather Service, about eight inches of rain was reported at nearby Kennedy Airport on Sunday.

At Hendrickson Park, the administration building was under three feet of water. Village Clerk Bob Barra said that when it finally receded, a solid line was visible both inside and outside the building showing how high the water was. He said a company was called in on Monday to do some cleaning and repairs.

Other low-lying areas of the park, including the gazebo, were also under water.

Barra said that Village Hall was open on Sunday as an emergency shelter for residents who experienced flooding in their homes. He said while numerous streets flooded in village during the peak of the rain storm, once the torrential downpours stopped the water went down quickly.

The only other damage reported, he said, was a tree down on Cornwell Avenue.

The Far Rockaway Branch of the Long Island Rail Road was shut down south of Valley Stream due to flooding. Buses replaced trains and service was restored to normal for the Monday morning commute.

Gibson resident Joe Margolin said he drove around the neighborhood on Sunday and did not see any streets flooded there. He noted that Gibson was put into the high-risk flood zone by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

“I didn’t see any flooding, which is ironic because we’re in the heart of the flood zone,” he said. “Maybe FEMA should pay attention to that.”