HAMPTON BAYS, N.Y. — In preparation for the storm expected to hit the area Tuesday and Wednesday, the city of Southampton has temporarily closed vehicular beach access points on Road L and the east side of the Tiana Beach parking lot, officials said.
A post-storm analysis of the area following the December 18 storm showed signs
that these access points were areas that allowed superfluid to occur more freely. There
were evidence in the form of shifting sand and high water levels on Dune Road
near both locations, city officials said.
Current forecasts indicate that similar wave action may be seen in the upcoming storm. Current forecasts call for 15 to 20 feet of surf on ocean beaches, city officials said.
In an effort to make these areas more resistant to overwashing, the city planned to attempt
to cover these two potential weak spots ahead of the storm.
“We're hoping this will reduce the amount of floodwater on the roadway and the amount of sand shifting onto the road and into the Tiana Beach parking lot,” said city emergency manager Ryan Murphy. “We are optimistic that temporarily closing these weak points may also reduce the potential for water flow that might otherwise have eroded the structure of the dunes in an east-west direction as they passed through.”
Southampton Town Supervisor Maria Moore added: “We are constantly looking to assess ways we can strengthen our town's resilience to flood and storm threats. I look forward to working with our partners in government to develop long-term mitigation strategies to address our coastal erosion concerns. Our plan is to temporarily close these two access points and then reopen them as soon as possible after the storm. If these preparedness actions are effective, then we may adjust the our pre-storm planning to incorporate these actions in the future.”
Moore also encouraged residents and visitors to use caution when traveling on roads during the storm due to possible flooding conditions.
