Hempstead's Murray: Tree clearing first priority

Hempstead Town supervisor Kate Murray said the first priority was to clear "hundreds of trees" downed from Irene to make roadways passable.

"Our first priority is to send our crews out clearing the streets, Murray said late Sunday morning. She said the first order of business for the crews was to move trees off the roads so goes can travel.

On Monday the towns tree crews would chop up the trees and clear the wood away. Murray said the town has situated its tree crews geographically throughout the town to be able to respond to quickly.

She said crews were in Hempstead Village, Roosevelt, Wantagh, Levittown, Franklin Square, Inwood among them. Murray said it was far too soon to estimate the cost of the storm. She said trees may still come down and there was still the question of how badly Irene affected beach erosion.

"There is no cost estimate because (damage) is literally still being revealed," she said.