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L.I. Couple: Snow Plows Finally Come, But End Up Causing 3-Foot Flood

SELDEN, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- The Town of Brookhaven has been heavily criticized for taking days to plow many streets, and now a couple said after the plows finally came, the drivers caused a flood.

As WCBS 880's Sophia Hall reported, it was 3 a.m. Wednesday morning, and after five days of being stuck in their home in Selden, Long Island, the sound of a payloader was music to the Tuozzos' ears.

L.I. Couple: Snow Plows Finally Come, But End Up Causing 3-Foot Flood

That was until the Tuozzos said the driver hit a fire hydrant and caused a 3-foot flood in the basement of their home. Jim Tuozzo said the driver never stopped.

"You look down from the entrance of the house, and you saw stuff floating around," he said.

The couple has lived in the home for nearly 50 years. He said they lost many memories.

"It's something that a monetary thing would never bring back," Tuozzo said.

To add insult to injury, the couple's insurance company will not cover the thousands of dollars in damages. The company puts the blame on the town of Brookhaven.

Brookhaven Councilwoman Kathy Walsh promised to do everything she can to help the couple.

Meanwhile, a new fire hydrant has been installed.

The latest mishap in Brookhaven comes on the heels of heaping criticism for the town's handling of the blizzard that dumped 30 inches of snow on some parts of eastern Long Island last week.

Acting Superintendent of Highways Michael Murphy resigned Wednesday amid mounting criticism over how the storm was handled. He called in sick and missed four days of work because he said he had a root canal and a family emergency.

Town Supervisor Edward Romaine also took heat for being away on a pre-scheduled vacation to the Caribbean at the time of the blizzard.

He spoke out about the issue earlier this week.

"I want to say the people of Brookhaven that I am sorry that the storm happened and I am particularly sorry that I wasn't here when it occurred," Romaine said.

Romaine added that he was "in constant contact" with his staff while away.

Meanwhile, New York state has suspended two Transportation Department officials amid criticism of their snow removal efforts on Long Island.

Suffolk DOT Regional Director Subimal Chakraborti has been suspended for 30 days without pay, his attorney Howard Rubin told 1010 WINS.

Transportation Maintenance Engineer Rich Causin was also suspended, Rubin said.

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