“We’re used to this,” City Manager Dan Creighton said after the weekend’s nor’easter finally left the region. “We’re a barrier island, so storms affect us pretty frequently. It’s second nature now to our guys.”
City crews had begun preparing several days in advance, monitoring weather predictions and tracking the storm system. Workers pre-emptively cleaned storm drains, checked pump stations and generators, and ensured that equipment was maintained and fueled.
City workers weren’t the only ones who prepared ahead of time. “I think it’s going to be bad, to be honest with you,” Kevin Montefusco, of Valley Stream, said on Friday after arriving at West Marina, in Point Lookout, to secure his boat. “I’m just coming down, making sure the lines are tied nice and tight.”
City officials and local organizations canceled several annual events planned for the weekend, including the King and Queen of the Beach surf contest, Circulo de la Hispanidad’s Walk for Peace and Arts In The Plaza on Saturday, and the Hispanic heritage kite flying festival on Sunday.
Members of the local surfing community also prepared, in their own way, enjoying the agitated surf and powerful waves on Friday and Saturday mornings as the ocean hinted at the impending weather. The storm, which began in full force on Saturday afternoon and dissipated by Monday morning, ultimately delivered just over 5 inches of rainfall to the area, with wind gusts peaking above 55 mph on Saturday night.
Significant flooding occurred along Reynolds Channel, particularly during high tide. A combination of natural high tides in the early morning and evening, the harvest moon and the storm pushing in from the north caused flooding in low-lying areas, some inundated by several feet of water. Flooding also necessitated road closures in areas of the West End.
The persistent wind and rain also partially damaged a beach access ramp and staircase near Pacific Boulevard, which left city crews picking up the pieces, and the beach nearby sustained significant erosion, including damage to part of a protected dune. “We’re going to have to reconstruct part of that dune, but it did its job,” Creighton said. “That’s what it’s there for. It’s there to keep water from getting into the community.”
Island Park experienced major flooding along its Long Island Rail Road tracks, leading LIRR officials to suspend service on the Long Beach Branch from Saturday morning until Sunday night. There were three reports of large fallen trees throughout Long Beach, which were cleared by city workers within hours. PSEG-Long Island reported over 128,000 customers suffering power outages across Long Island, though there were minimal power issues in Long Beach and no widespread outages.
The city plans to continue working on resiliency projects, including bulkheading on public property on Reynolds Channel and additional pump stations. Creighton explained that the city is considering code changes that would require private bulkheads to meet updated height standards when they are replaced. The city has also installed pump stations in the Canals and on Tennessee Avenue, and is planning another in the Riverside Boulevard area as part of its ongoing flood-mitigation efforts.
To ensure their safety and preparedness, residents are advised to register for free, at longbeachny.gov/notifications, for emergency notifications via phone, text or email before and during citywide emergencies.
In an alert sent out on Friday afternoon, City Council President Brendan Finn wrote, “This is NOT a storm on the magnitude of Superstorm Sandy. But it is one we should all be taking seriously. Be prepared, remain vigilant and stay safe, Long Beach.”
