The remnants of Hurricane Ernesto took Suffolk County by surprise over the weekend and left a trail of unprecedented damage across the north shore.
Smithtown saw a long-standing landmark significantly altered by the storm: Stump Pond. The pond was created in 1798 by Isaac Blydenburgh to operate the mill that sat in what is now Blydenburgh County Park. The pond earned its name as the trees were chopped down but the stumps were left behind.
The sixty-foot dam could not withstand the torrential downpour, which is said to have dropped nearly a foot of water in just a couple hours. The pond is currently emptying into the Nissequogue River. The night of the storm saw Jericho Turnpike completely flooded from the hundreds of thousands of gallons of water flowing from the emptying pond. The stumps for which the pond is named are now exposed for the first time in 226 years.
As of now, the pond’s water is flowing under Jericho Turnpike.
County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches), Legislator Leslie Kennedy (R-Nesconset), County Comptroller John Kennedy (R-Nesconset), and County and State emergency personnel held a press conference directly in front of the dam’s former location on Monday.
“This was a major catastrophe that was not expected,” said Romaine, adding that the storm was anticipated to inflict minor damage on Long Island and major damage in Connecticut. “We will restore Stump Pond. Our Department of Public Works (DPW) Commissioner has already begun the process of fast-tracking repairs and we have been in contact with the State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) on the project.”
“We originally estimated the damage to be at least $25 million, but that estimate is climbing to well over $50 million at this time,” said Romaine. “We are going to be seeking federal and State aid. We’re going to work with the county, towns and villages to restore and build back much of what was damaged. We will build back, we will recover from the storm, and we will do what we have to to make sure that Suffolk remains the Suffolk that we know.”
“Our infrastructure, including the rail line and the train trestle in Smithtown, is in jeopardy, and the situation requires immediate attention. I am urging Governor Hochul to declare a state of emergency and provide the necessary funds to protect our residents and restore our community. We cannot wait for another disaster to strike,” said Senator Mario Mattera (R-St. James). “We need upgrades, inspections, and support now to ensure the safety and resilience of our infrastructure for the future. Our priority is keeping people safe and rebuilding what has been lost.”
Legislator Kennedy said that in just a couple of hours of being at Stump Pond, she witnessed an eight-foot drop, meaning the water level is decreasing rapidly as it exits the pond. She also called the large amounts of rainwater in the short period of time “unheard of.”
“In government, we have long-term plans, short-term plans, and then nature throws us a boomerang,” said Comptroller Kennedy. “Just looking at what I’ve seen and knowing what the costs are to rebuild, I wouldn’t be surprised if we go to $60 to $75 million [in damage]. We absolutely need Governor Hochul to move quickly for the emergency declaration.”
Kennedy added that Blydenburgh is the County’s oldest and largest park and that Suffolk County is still in its summer tourist season.
“We get thousands of people that come all season long to take benefit of this park. It has fishing, it’s a hiking destination,” said Kennedy. “We now have a safety-compromised situation here.”
The hydrology of the Nissequogue River now stands to be altered by the water from Stump Pond. Freshwater from the pond will meet brackish water in the river and eventually flow into the Long Island Sound. The headwaters of the river have crested at Paul T. Given Park. Councilman Tom Lohmann (R-Smithtown), Highway Superintendent Bob Murphy (R-St. James), and emergency response teams are working with Suffolk County FRES and the Planning Department to alleviate water conditions and prevent the river from cresting over Route 25A.
Town Hall took in four feet of water in the basement. The Parks Department Building in Kings Park also sustained flooding and damage.
Callahan’s Beach held up well in light of its new engineering. Only a few downed trees were reported. The elevation of Long Beach Road was also able to withstand the heavy rain.
Bonwit Shopping Center in Commack also sustained serious flooding in the parking lot, closing all the businesses in the plaza.
“We were fortunate in comparison to surrounding areas, much in part due to proactive measures and recent upgrades made to infrastructure, elevated roadways, and state-of-the-art engineering at Smithtown’s most vulnerable areas,” said Smithtown Supervisor Ed Wehrheim (R-Kings Park). “I want to commend our crews working throughout the night. Public Safety, Parks, and Highway teams have been working around the clock to clear, assess and repair the damage, in the wake of the storm, which was unpredicted by meteorologists. I also want to commend our volunteer Fire Departments, FRES, our Office of Emergency Management, and Fire Marshals who were out in these dangerous conditions overnight, performing water rescues, extracting stranded drivers, responding to emergency calls and assisting our neighbors in Stony Brook. Public Safety even used their drone to assist the Smithtown Fire Department boat to rescue two individuals who were stranded from a home. The level of communication, bravery and teamwork over these past twenty-four hours has been extraordinary. I would also like to commend County Executive Romaine for leaping into action immediately to declare a State of Emergency for the area. Finally, I’d recommend that everyone access the Town of Smithtown Mobile App for notifications regarding road detours, areas to avoid and updates on the storm cleanup. We will not stop until flooding concerns have been addressed, the roads are clear, and our residents can safely resume daily routines.”
New York State has developed an online form to allow residents to self-report damages to their homes and/or businesses. The purpose of the form is to collect information to help State and local officials identify supplemental damages to develop requests for available federal assistance programs. Reporting damage is voluntary and is not a substitute for a report to an insurance agency. Filing the report does not guarantee disaster relief assistance.
The form can be accessed at Smithtownny.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2879.
The Town advises residents to clear brush and debris from storm drains and fire hydrants, and keep any generators at least twenty feet away from a building with the exhaust facing away from the exterior wall to prevent CO2-poisoning.
Non-life threatening calls can be directed to the Department of Public Safety at 631-360-7553. Gas outages can be reported to the National Grid 24-hour hotline at 1-800-490-0045. Suspected gas leaks should be directed to 911.
Smithtown Fire Rescue Communications can be reached at 631-265-1500 for services within the Smithtown, Kings Park, and Hauppauge Fire Districts. EMS services in the St. James, Nesconset, and Nissequogue Fire Districts can be reached at 911. The Commack Fire District can be reached at 631-499-5777.
To report flooding or road concerns, contact the Highway Department at 631-360-7500.
For wildlife rescue and lost pets, contact the Smithtown Animal Shelter and Animal Control at 631-360-7575.
For the Senior Citizens Department, call 631-360-7616 and for the Office for People with Disabilities, call 631-360-7642.
