The severe flooding suffered by Suffolk communities has resulted in an emergency declaration by President Biden, a move that will direct federal resources to help with storm recovery.
“Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that an emergency exists in the State of New York and ordered Federal assistance to supplement State and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from a severe storm and flooding from August 18 to August 19, 2024,” an announcement from the White House stated.
The President’s action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to “coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population,” according to the announcement, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe.”
Public Assistance (Category B) emergency protective measures, limited to direct Federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent Federal funding for Suffolk County, the announcement noted.
Local officials requested the emergency declaration and the ensuing federal assistance through the office of Gov. Kathy Hochul, who has announced state grants of up to $50,000 for those affected by the flooding. The federal involvement was approved after the governor dispatched a team of disaster experts to assess the damage, which has been estimated at up to $75 million.
After nearly 10 inches of rain pelted Long Island in the early hours of August 19, the dam at the Mill Pond in Stony Brook collapsed, causing a flood that wrecked homes and destroyed Harbor Road. The dam at Stump Pond in Smithtown also gave way, draining the man-made waterway as well. Homes and businesses were flooded, primarily along Suffolk’s north shore, and churches and municipal facilities also took a hit as well.
Residents responded to the disaster with great spirit, turning out en masse to help with cleanup efforts and comfort those whose homes were destroyed by the floods. During a special service at the All Souls Episcopal Church in Stony Brook, flood victim Ron Borgese and his new wife, Hui Yan, were presented with a copy of their wedding photo, made from a portrait found in the flood waters. The couple barely escaped from their home moments before the torrent from Mill Pond tore it apart. Volunteers also made a concerted effort to rescue turtles, birds, and other wildlife. Sadly, giant carp and various other fish did not survive the transition from the freshwater pond to Stony Brook Harbor.
Brookhaven Town and Suffolk County officials were on the scene Friday, initiating plans to rebuild Harbor Road and restore the once serene Mill Pond area back to normal. Hayduk Engineering of Ronkonkoma has been contracted to help with the recovery effort, which town officials said will take months to complete. Officials are also assessing the damage at the sprawling Stump Pond, a key feature of Blydenburgh County Park, which completely drained into the Nissequogue River leaving behind a surreal landscape of mud and broken trees.