SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — Days after a storm caused extensive flooding on Dune Road, a local state of emergency remained in effect Monday morning, Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman said.
“The sand barrier is thin and won't withstand a small storm,” the supervisor said. “We need federal assistance for this from the United States Army Corps of Engineers.”
He added that he plans to convene a meeting towards the end of the week to develop a strategy. The superintendent said he may lift the state of emergency Tuesday, depending on the weather forecast.
The main dune washed up Thursday night near the town's commercial dock. Schneiderman issued the emergency order in effect Thursday because of severe erosion and the potential for coastal flooding along the east end of Dune Road in Hampton Bays, he said.
The section of greatest concern was east of the Ponquogue Bridge and across from the Shinnecock Commercial Fishing Pier, city officials said.
Schneiderman spent hours at Dune Road on Thursday and over the weekend. Suffolk County's response has been tremendous, the supervisor said.
“The county ended up hauling 200 truckloads of sand, hauling it from piles”
Schneiderman said. The area was very close to the breach, with almost no dunes left at the eastern end of Dune Road, he added.
The county, he said, “was holding back the tide. It's an impressive piece of work. They were able to mobilize very quickly.” Steve Bellone, he said, was “incredible. He directed his staff to do whatever was necessary to support the city of Southampton.”
(Video by Hampton Bays Fire Department)
Southampton Police Chief Steve Skrynecki was on Dune Road, Schneiderman added, along with other members of the department and Bay Area constables. “There's a tremendous mobilization of the county there right now,” Schneiderman said Thursday night. “We are turning off the power to protect the workers.”
Crews worked on Dune Road throughout the day Friday after severe storms caused severe flooding.
Efforts continued throughout the day Friday as other tide cycles moved in, he said. “This is not a minor operation,” Schneiderman said at the time. “It got really bad, really fast.”
The hardest hit area was the point on the ocean next to the city's commercial pier, the supervisor said. “Because of the angle of the waves and the location of the breakwater, it creates a swirling motion that just takes a lot out. There was a very large dune there and it pretty much disappeared.”
Other hard-hit areas around the city included the area near Peconic Bay, as well as parts of Quogue, Schneiderman said.
The superintendent's declaration indicates an emergency exists or is likely to exist and authorizes road closures and other measures as deemed necessary, a release from the city said. In addition, the emergency declaration allows the city to expedite any required coordination with the New York Start Department of Environmental Conservation to move sand and rebuild the dune, and also allows the city to request assistance from the Suffolk County Department of Public Works to bring in heavy equipment to rebuild the dune if needed.
