A slow-moving, powerful nor’easter has battered Long Island and the Northeast coast, leaving behind a trail of downed trees, localized flooding, and widespread power outages. Emergency crews have been working around the clock to clear blocked roads and restore electricity as severe weather persists across the region.
According to PSEG Long Island’s outage map, more than 1,000 separate incidents have been reported, impacting roughly 22,000 residents. Larry Torres, PSEG Senior Director of Emergency Preparedness, noted that repair crews have faced challenging conditions as high winds complicate field operations.
The storm’s impact has triggered numerous emergency calls throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties. In Valley Stream, strong wind gusts knocked a large tree directly onto a residential home. Meanwhile, the Mastic Fire Department responded to at least eight separate alarms involving downed wires and trees, including a major clearing operation along Poospatuck Lane.
State of Emergency and Regional Response
New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency covering Long Island, New York City, and Westchester County as the storm brought wind gusts approaching 60 mph in areas like Montauk. County executives, including Nassau’s Bruce Blakeman and Suffolk’s Ed Romaine, urged residents to exercise extreme caution, avoid flooded roadways, and stay well clear of any downed utility wires.
Officials have reported that emergency service and fire calls are roughly double the volume of an average day. Coastal communities along the South Shore have experienced significant wave action and beach erosion, with tides pushed higher by the alignment of the weekend’s weather system.
Safety Recommendations and Utility Information
Local authorities and utility providers have issued key safety guidelines for residents coping with the storm’s aftermath:
- Assume Downed Wires Are Live: Stay away from fallen power lines and report hazards immediately to emergency services or PSEG Long Island.
- Avoid Floodwaters: Never drive or walk through standing water, which can hide deep potholes or electrical hazards from submerged equipment.
- Outage Reporting: Customers can check real-time updates and report outages via the PSEG Long Island mobile app, online at the official utility map, or by texting ‘OUT’ to PSEGLI (773454).
- Generator Safety: Always operate portable generators outdoors and keep them at least 20 feet away from open windows and doors.
Forecasters indicate that lingering rain and gusty winds will continue to impact parts of the region before conditions gradually improve.
