As the nor'easter abates, communities are dealing with the aftermath. Although it did not severely affect Franklin Square or Elmont, residents experienced strong winds on Sept. 26.
Last weekend's nor'easter brought coastal high tides, downed trees, and LIRR service suspensions, and it continues to affect Long Island. Joseph Gerrato, first assistant chief at Franklin Square Fire Department, said via text that the fire department received no calls for damage or assistance during the storm.
Mike Gayle, an Elmont resident, shared his experience during the storm. Aside from a few downed trees, he didn’t experience any power outages, only flickering lights. He stated that the storm was less severe in Elmont than any prior storms.
Gayle said proactive tree trimming was the main preventive measure, especially near power infrastructure and highway entrance ramps, and he advised local government to trim trees before winter snow adds weight to branches and creates similar hazards.
He quoted his grandfather: “An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.” He urged local governments to act faster before winter snow causes more damage.
“So I'm looking at the trees in my backyard. I'm like…They only trim when it's a problem, and they only trim a little bit,” said Gayle. “But it's like this: the tree back here is serving no purpose, and they move the transformer up higher, but just get rid of the tree, like it's gonna be a problem eventually.”
County Legislator Carrié Solages, whose district includes Elmont, talked about damaged or uprooted trees in the area. He particularly mentioned potentially dangerous trees on Freeman Ave. and Wellington, the street right next to UBS Arena.
He also noted a few infrastructure issues, including a sewer basin clogged with debris that contributes to street pooling and possible sidewalk damage; some businesses reported roof damage. He advised the residents with damaged homes to contact Assemblywoman Solages, the state senator, and other state programs.
Trecia Wong, another Elmont resident and a Board of Education Trustee for the Elmont Union Free School District, reported no significant storm-related damage. A tree that almost fell in Parkhurst was removed by Monday, Sept. 28.
She said the lights flicker at her home, and one of her neighbors’ homes temporarily lost power. She added that the neighborhood runs on two separate transformers.
Wong urged the town to inspect older, vulnerable trees to reduce storm damage. “I quite frankly, I am going to say that…the trees that look more vulnerable, that might, you know, look like they're aged or there’re the older trees that are dying. So I would say that the town needs to go around and examine the trees,” she said.
For any future storm, Carrié urged residents to contact his office and Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages for preparedness workshops and supplies, including flashlights, bandages, and first-aid materials.
“I would encourage them to reach out to their state elected officials,” Solages said. “They're more than welcome to reach out to Assemblywoman Solages and the state senator. But there are state programs to help them.”
