Some LI residents opt to ride out storm

Pete Riccardo was among several homeowners who gathered on a private road outside the Waters Edge condo community in Smith Point Saturday morning, surrounded by homes with newly boarded-up windows.

They scattered when it started to rain, but they weren't worried about Hurricane Irene and had decided to ride out the storm.

The community, Riccardo said, had weathered previous storms just fine.

"If it was a Category 3 or 4 and we were east of the eye, we'd get out," he said. "Been there, done that."

Riccardo was among the die-hards in Long Island evacuation areas Saturday who decided to brave the elements and even enjoy the dramatic weather.

Tracey Sloup, who co-owns Crabs Unlimited with her husband Frank, said they were not leaving their home and business on Orowoc Creek in Bay Shore.

"We can't," she said. "Our boats are our livelihood. We can't take the chance of these boats rolling over."

Officials, however, were not happy with those who ignored warnings, like the dozen or so people who stayed on Fire Island. Brookhaven Town Supervisor Mark Lesko had ordered power turned off on the barrier island and complained about the risk those residents were taking.

"The entire island could be breached by an eight-foot surge," he said.

Downtown Mastic Beach, under an evacuation order, was a ghost town at midday. A coin-operated laundry and pizzeria were open, but with few patrons.

Itria Gross, in one of the homes nearest to the water, said she would ride the storm out.

"If it gets bad, we'll have the fire department take us out," she said, adding that she did the same last year after flooding from the March nor'easter. "I'm used to it flooding."

In Long Beach, rain fell steadier Saturday afternoon as Dominic Lagudi, 26, shoveled sand from the shoreline into bags and onto the bed of his pickup.

"It's kind of funny," said the volunteer Oceanside firefighter. "Everyone's talking about Hurricane Gloria and 1985: the year I was born. But I have nothing to compare this to."

While most people are fretting, Lagudi sees a silver lining for surfers like himself: "The surf gods are smiling," he said. "Everyone else, not so much."

On Roneck Court in Shirley, sandwiched between 100-foot canals, Vinny Miele moved his motor home and fleet of boats on trailers. He had no intention of leaving.

"What are you going to do?" he said. "I'm 68 years old. You gotta die sometime."

With Paul LaRocco

and Jennifer Maloney