Residents Address Flooding Concerns With County Legislator

Chris Hayes moved into his home on Orange Street two years ago and has already spent thousands trying to repair his basement and replace items lost after his house was flooded twice.

"The first time my basement was flooded was during the heavy rains in August and that was a disaster," Hayes said. "I was in California at the time and lost lots of things and the second time was during Hurricane Irene, but I was lucky to be home."

Hayes' story is not uncommon among his neighbors and others who live off of Sunrise Highway on Orange Street, Argyle Place and Hynes Place. More than 20 residents attended a community meeting Wednesday and addressed their concerns to County Legislator Dave Denenberg.

"We are here to try and solve a problem,"  Denenberg said. "We really need to design or engineer a solution and we are here to help."

Residents said that their homes are being severely flooded after heavy rains and that the culvert installed years ago is not helping the matter.

In 2004, a culvert, a device used to channel water, was installed from the Martin Avenue Elementary School to Linden Street. The culvert ends north of Sunrise Highway and empties into an open waterway, Newbridge Creek, behind PC Richards on Sunrise Highway. The waterway is open to Orange Street between Argyle Place and Hynes Place north of Orange Street and south of Sunrise Highway.

Maryanne Kelly's basement in her home on Orange Street has been flooded eight times. She has lost computers, couches, a boiler, and during the last heavy rains-a washing machine. She called Denenberg to address the problem."There is no place for that water to go," Kelly said. "The creek overflows into people's homes and for people south of Sunrise Highway, the water comes up from the ground. I am concerned that the water coming into people's homes will cause some health issues also."

Denenberg brought in officials from the Nassau County Department of Public Works to hear the concerns of residents. Officials said that the culvert is either clogged, broken or too small. Denenberg said that he will try to get the Town of Hempstead to inspect the device.

Rick Krassner, who also lives on Orange Street, had $6,000 worth of damage to his basement after the heavy rains in August. His basement was also flooded badly eight years ago. "I was lucky during Irene, I was expecting the worse, but I saw nothing that day," he said. " But, during the rain on Aug. 14 when we had the nine inches of rain, my basement was ruined. Now I have to refinish the basement."

Residents said that all they want is a solution.  "Maybe they can lodge the culvert," Krassner said. "Or maybe they can build another culvert, but they have to keep it clear."

Hayes said that he hopes that the problem is fixed as soon as possible. "I am newest person on the block and I love it, but this has not been fun," he said. "I lost some tools, but I can buy them back. My wife lost pictures and memories she can't get back and it hurts me to see her upset. I just want to know if it (culvert) is a repairable item and if we can fix it right away."