Flooding, fatal car crash blamed on huge nor'easter
But experts say East End was spared storm's worst
11 comments below
Highway department workers pumping out Second Street in South Jamesport Monday afternoon. Flooding there reached 3 1/2 feet deep at points. The road sees some of the worst flooding in town, and those who live there know to clear out before major storms.
According to information from the National Weather Service, the North Fork received between three and four inches of rain, which began to fall early Saturday and continued through Monday. The East End fared better than the middle of the island, as parts of western Suffolk and Nassau County saw more than five inches of rainfall, and with it, even more fallen trees and damaged properties.
National Weather Service meteorologist John Cristellano said it's hard to determine how much snow would have fallen had it been colder, but he noted that a general rule of thumb is one inch of rain equals one foot of snow.
The weekend's nor'easter may have done more serious damage west of Riverhead Town, but many locals were still left with a headache as they worked to clear their properties of downed trees and branches. The storm's high winds took down this tree at a home in Jamesport.
Mr. Cristantello said it was difficult to compare last week's storm to others but added that three inches of rain in a few days is a "significant event."
"That's a pretty good rainfall," he said.
Of the 19,093 people LIPA serves in Riverhead Town, three were still without power Tuesday morning, and of the 14,674 it serves in Southold Town, 13 were still without power, according to the power authority. By contrast, more than 22,000 people were still without power in Hempstead Town.
The heavy rain also made for treacherous road conditions.
A Shirley man was killed in a two-car accident in Baiting Hollow on Saturday, according to Riverhead Police.
They said Michael Latham, 25, was driving west on Sound Avenue when he lost control of his 1999 Oldsmobile and skidded into the eastbound lane. He struck a car driven by James Green, 65, of Riverhead.
Mr. Latham died at the scene, police said.
The stormy weather most likely played a role in the crash, which happened about 1:20 p.m., authorities said.
"From what I understand [Mr. Latham's] car might have hydroplaned," said Riverhead Fire Department Chief George Woodson.
Mr. Latham was trapped inside the wreckage and was "unresponsive" at the scene, fire officials said. Mr. Green was taken by ambulance to Peconic Bay Medical Center for treatment.
While most people in the area were able to move on with their lives Monday after the storm, those living on one block in South Jamesport found themselves still very much underwater.
"It's been a long-standing problem," assistant town highway superintendent Mark Gajowski said of flooding on the easternmost portion of Second Street.
At that end of Second Street, an area much lower than its surroundings, heavy rain mixed with the right wind pattern and high tides results in the worse flooding in Riverhead town, Mr. Gajowski explained.
Throughout Monday morning, highway workers could be found pumping water out of the street and into a drain as they tried to make the road passable.
"We have to pump the seawater up the hill and it flows by gravity to the drain," Mr. Gajowski said.
By midday, workers started heading out because high tide was making eliminating the water nearly impossible.
"It's a losing battle," shouted one highway department worker standing on Second Street, who declined to give his name.
However, residents said the town's work was helpful as they could access their driveways again Monday afternoon.
Edward Twomey, who lives at the intersection of Green and Second streets, said the water was about 3 1/2-feet deep in some areas, though it was not the worst storm he could remember.
"We didn't have any damage this time, just debris," Mr. Twomey said, adding that a storm in 1992 had been worse.
He said he and his neighbors know to park their cars on high ground when a storm is approaching.
"We take the cars and we bring them around to where I got my garage because that's a high area," he said.
One benefit of the storm was it left the town highway department with free sand.
Sand, mixed with salt from the ocean, washed up on Green Street and was picked up by town workers Monday to be used during the next snowstorm. Mr. Gajowski said it will be sifted for leaves and later added to the town's reserves.
"That became town spoil," he said.
[email protected]
The Riverhead News-Review is pleased to offer readers the ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. The Riverhead News-Review does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not The Riverhead News-Review. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Service and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website.
11 comments found
SypMvQZqVGxbDi : 8/29/2011
zeKVV1 , [url=http://znhzekckppac.com/]znhzekckppac[/url], [link=http://nyeaofieeczx.com/]nyeaofieeczx[/link], http://uwbzmcvbiill.com/
cpWqJArHSSNjHrdTa : 8/16/2011
uT4apm , [url=http://goaygpizucca.com/]goaygpizucca[/url], [link=http://ajzrwgmvxoyj.com/]ajzrwgmvxoyj[/link], http://ddbgscldnhji.com/
EPYgSZTxMRmD : 8/15/2011
Too many compliments too liltte space, thanks!
: 6/21/2011
Michael latham was one of the MOST AMAZING men ouht there he was so unique in so many ways. noone will ever take his place and the heartache and pain i have iwll be fresh forever cus he ment the world to me and to not have hym ne more is the wrst. like they say cherish the ones you have. * cus 2m is never gaurnteeed. my life chanqed when he left ill never ever forget tht day :(( as much as i want to i wont its the worst thing thats ever happend to me. i love and miss you wiith all my heartt*
SWxtGzsjRcb : 5/3/2011
p7zu4D , [url=http://bfotyxzxtzwb.com/]bfotyxzxtzwb[/url], [link=http://asqxnklpuzpc.com/]asqxnklpuzpc[/link], http://eskvtatwyuaw.com/
QsseipWiRdltaJ : 4/30/2011
w7DpOw , [url=http://uezgvbazofus.com/]uezgvbazofus[/url], [link=http://rjsnsskypdty.com/]rjsnsskypdty[/link], http://iqwejpsrfbmx.com/
JcCchHyvIN : 4/30/2011
AKAIK you've got the asnewr in one!
my brother : 4/10/2011
michael was a man who would never take in his father foot steps. when mikey was highschool even younger then that he always had a love for poetry. he wrote poerty actually he was a very passionate man just ran all the wrong roads and then he changed his life around got it togethor had a spectacular girlfriend that changed his life forever he was gonna propose on the vacation that he was going on with her and her family. march 13th 2010 my mom got the call from my nana that detectives were here lookin for him that barbra had told them were our mom had lived and then she had called me to come over and tell me. going home and seeing my mom like that made me snap lost some of my closest friends and till this day say it should have been me and not him
my cousin : 2/9/2011
this is my cousin. i really want to know what really happened that if any body know's please contract me at [email protected] my name is nicole. my number is 3954863
: 3/18/2010
hello , thanks alot.
vv im his little sister! Thanksz
that means alOt!!it does <3333333
Accident : 3/18/2010
Michael Latham RIP. My heart and condolences go out to the Michaels parents,his grandparents, his Aunts and Uncles, cousins, and friends. A tragic loss for all.
Sincerely,
Johnny Nova
P.S. I have a son that age.
