State of emergency in both counties
Power lines were down in Riverhead on Sunday after the prior evening's strong storms. Credit: Newsday/James Carbone
Nassau and Suffolk counties have declared states of emergency with severe storms expected to return to Long Island.
Nassau County's state of emergency began at 6 p.m. and will run through 6 a.m., on Tuesday, said County Executive Bruce Blakeman, "due to the likelihood of extreme precipitation and potential flooding and downed trees."
Suffolk bore the brunt of the damage from the fast-moving storms on Saturday night. Its state of emergency is effective as of 8 p.m. on Saturday night and it will be in effect for 30 days, according to County Executive Edward P. Romaine.
The declaration "authorizes county departments and agencies to take all necessary actions to protect life, property, and critical infrastructure, and to provide emergency assistance to residents as response and recovery efforts continue," Romaine said in a statement.
Blakeman urged Nassau residents to be cognizant of water collecting on roadways and to "avoid traveling through areas with high water."
There's a flood watch for Long Island effective through early Tuesday morning.
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