Tropical Storm Isaias downs trees, leaves dozens without power in Valley Stream

Tropical Storm Isaias, bringing winds of 70 miles per hour downed multiple trees and left dozens in Valley Stream without power on Tuesday afternoon. 

Thirty one properties had suffered power outages as of 5 p.m. according to PSEG Long Island. Mayor Ed Fare said village Highway Department crews had been out since the previous evening. 

"Our usual fears are high winds and flooding," he said. "We are on 24-hour duty to keep roads clear, and the Valley Stream Fire Department is responding to all alarms. We've already had several trees down. Folks can expect power outages."

Highway crews, Fare said, would prioritize trees and branches blocking roadways, and move them to the shoulders where he estimated they would be removed by Wednesday. Trees downed on power lines, he said, could only be removed with the help of PSEG Long Island.

On Gibson Boulevard a roughly 50-foot-tall tree had fallen against a four-story apartment. The superintendent at the buidling said he was notified of it at around 2:15 p.m. Although he was unable to inspect the exterior of the building for damage due to the size of the tree, inside, he said it had not broken any windows. 

"I didn't hear it," said a resident who identified himself as Frank of a roughly 18-foot-tall tree that had fallen along with a number of transmission lines in front of his home on Jackson Road. Power had only gone out momentarily, he said, so instead he was notified by neighbors.

More worrisome, Frank said, was that he had made calls to multiple agencies, including PSEG, the village and even 911, perhaps a sign that the volume of calls had momentarily overwhelmed dispatchers.

"I don't care if it's lying there for 40 years," he said of the tree, which was now blocking his driveway. "At least pick up the phone." 

The storm is expected to last until 7 p.m.

-Nicole Alcindor contributed to this story.