HAUPPAUGE, NY— Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine joined Senator Mario Mattera, Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick, Assemblywoman Jodi Giglio, Legislator Leslie Kennedy, Legislator Rob Trotta, representatives of the governor and state agencies at Blydenburgh County Park to update the public on damage across the county and the steps taken to assist residents.
“I have met with Senator Chuck Schumer’s Office and with our congressional representatives to unlock federal aid for our area,” said Romaine. “In the interim, we are calling on Governor Kathy Hochul to declare a state of emergency for Suffolk County to begin the process of receiving state aid.”
County and town personnel have been working around the clock to assess the damage and assist in the cleanup. Residents are encouraged to document damage sustained during the storm here. Likewise, information for homeowners and business owners has been compiled on suffolkcountyny.gov.
The damage done to Blydenburgh County Park will affect visitors to the park, 30,000 on weekends in last year alone. Activities such as boating and fishing will not be possible until the dam and pond are restored, and the north end of the park is closed until further notice.
“We will restore Stump Pond,” stated Romaine. “Our commissioner of DPW has already begun the process of fast-tracking repairs, and we have been in contact with the DEC on the project.”
Senator Mario Mattera said, “Today, our community faces an unprecedented crisis with the severe damage caused by the flooding of Blydenburgh Park - (Stump Pond) and Mill Dam Pond. This catastrophic event, where 11 inches of rain fell in just three hours, has left us devastated. Our infrastructure, including the rail line and the train trestle in Smithtown, is in jeopardy, and the situation requires immediate attention. I am urging Governor Hochul to declare a state of emergency and provide the necessary funds to protect our residents and restore our community. We cannot wait for another disaster to strike. We need upgrades, inspections, and support now to ensure the safety and resilience of our infrastructure for the future. Our priority is keeping people safe and rebuilding what has been lost.”
Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick said, “We will rebuild, we will engineer a stronger dam to withstand the heavier rainfall that is occurring on a more regular basis. We will return Blydenburgh to its former beauty.”
Assemblywoman Jodi Giglio said, “In the wake of the devastating flooding that we received, I join with Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine and our other elected officials in my commitment to rebuild that which was lost, and reinforce our municipal infrastructure to ensure that damage such as this never occurs again. With the support I will insist upon from Albany, Suffolk will emerge stronger and more resilient, in the face of an ever-changing environment.
Assemblyman Keith Brown said, “Thank you to Suffolk County Executive Edward P. Romaine for his response to Sunday’s storm, which is estimated to cost our island approximately $75 million, and is precisely why I hosted last week's stormwater presentation calling for increased funding for Long Island's stormwater infrastructure."
Assemblyman Ed Flood said, “The recent storms have left behind significant damages and the aftermath has disrupted our communities. While the impact is real, the response from local volunteers, first responders, utility companies and officials has shown resilience and is recognized by many,” said Flood. “We must continue working together to ensure affected areas receive the support they need to rebuild and protect against future storms.”
Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/execedromaine/albums/72177720319675629
YouTube link to press conference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vf6EKYorTl4
YouTube links to drone footage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOuRsm8OfJs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vZVm9fKrsU