Drenching Rains Set Off Powerful Flooding, Health Warning At Jones Beach
NEW YORK(CBSNewYork) -- Drenching rains set off powerful flooding on Jones Beach leading to a health warning on Wednesday night.
The shoreline was swamped as Mother Nature unleashed her fury on the sands of Jones Beach.
The tide came in too far and too powerfully at Field 6. It pushed past lifeguard shacks and stands, and knocked over trash cans.
"I can't believe this. We come here all the time. I'm amazed," Cathy Kenny told CBS 2's Vanessa Murdock.
A sign that reads 'bathing area between green flags' was getting a bath.
"We have flooded beaches. A lot of the surf came over the berm, flooded the low-lying areas. We also lost power," Jones Beach Park Director, Sue Guliani said.
Red flags were up and flying nearly straight in the stiff wind. There would be no swimming on Wednesday, just a lot of ogling from a distance. Efforts to stand on the sand were sure to prompt orders from a lifeguard to get back.
"I can't even stand out on the beach and watch the waves. I'm a lot of upset after driving 4 hours to be here," Scott Katen said.
The flooding at Field 2 was far worse. Just getting to the beach meant wading through water.
Just down Ocean Parkway at Tobay Beach, rushing waters compromised the road and washed out sand surrounding a drainage pipe leaving crews with a lot to clean up.
A total of 66 beaches in Suffolk County have been closed for swimming. Heavy rains and storm run-off can lead to high bacteria levels in the water. Health Department officials say it can take up to 24 hours for the levels to stabilize.
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