Flooding, Whipping Winds Plague Drivers, Residents On Long Island
LINDENHURST, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- The snow, slick roads and spinouts of north suburban counties were not seen on Long Island, but drivers and residents there ran into their own problems with drenching rain and flooding.
Around Long Island, there was plenty of rain, sleet and whipping high winds, CBS2's Jennifer McLogan reported. Roads were ponding and hearts were pounding as drivers maneuvered along South Shore highways and parkways.
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One young man and woman who were out of college early for the holiday pulled over for a drive-through coffee break and refused to get out of their cars for the occasion.
"It's just terrible weather out here," the man said. "I came home expecting really good weather, but this rain is just awful."
Lindenhurst village worker James Moscowitz and his crew drew the short straw – clearing flooded catch-basins.
"We're just trying to keep the streets safe, clean, for everyone during the holidays just so they can get where they are going," Moscowitz said.
Others got soaked braving the Long Island Rail Road as they headed home to loved ones. To get to the LIRR, some people had to stomp through slushy, mucky puddles.
When tides came up along the Great South Bay, kayaks had to come out to get down the road. Flakes of snow were falling at the same time.
PSEG Long Island said it doubled efforts to trim trees and prepare power lines.
"It's the holiday. You have people coming over to your house. You have family; you have friends coming over," said PSEG spokesman Jeff Weir. "We want to make sure that we can get you restored as quickly and as safely as possible."
On the South Shore, lessons had been learned from brutal winters. A new salt hut in Babylon packs enough to triple the punch.
"We are prepared," said Babylon Town Deputy Supervisor Tony Martinez.
And despite relentless wind and stinging rains, the Thanksgiving spirit rose above it all.
"We'll all still be together, and that's what matters," the woman from the couple getting coffee said.
As nightfall arrived, Long Island drivers were advised to stay slow and prepare for ice.
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