Water restored after Oceanside water main break, officials say

Water was restored to homes in an Oceanside neighborhood early Tuesday after a main break Monday afternoon flooded a portion of Pearl Street, a spokesman for the water company said.

Roads around Pearl Street and Rockaway Avenue also were reopened during the early morning hours after repairs were completed, Nassau County police said.

Authorities said 30 homes were affected by the flood.

Christopher Buday, vice president of operations for New York American Water, said the water rose to 16 to 18 inches high on Pearl Street.

Repairs were completed by 5:30 a.m., he said, restoring service to the 10 neighborhood homes that were cut off from municipal water.

Buday said the bulk of the flooding was between 621 and 627 Pearl St. after the 12-inch main ruptured shortly after 3:30 p.m. Monday.

He said some flooding spilled over to neighboring streets, but that from the outside it appeared to him water levels were minimal.

He had no specific information on damage to homes.

Some reports said the flood affected about 30 houses, with cars partially submerged and people wading up to their knees.

Authorities, including Oceanside fire trucks and firefighters, pumped water into Hewlett Bay.

The Associated Press reported that one person was taken by an inflatable raft from a home. At least two news stations said the woman was accompanied by three family dogs.

No injuries were reported, police said.