Thousands Lose Power in Massapequa

Thousands of Massapequa residents were without power as the strong winds from Hurricane Sandy moved onto the south shore.

And late Monday night, at least three fires were reported in homes south of Merrick Road. Because of high winds and and flooding, the area was not immediately accessible, firefighters reported. The extent of the fires were not immediately known.

One of those was believed to be structure fire at West Shore Drive. Several companies responded to call to the home, which is near South Oyster Bay at the town's southern tip. No further information was available.

There were images of widespread flooding throughout the town.

"It's terrible," Massapequa Park Mayor Jim Altadonna said earlier Monday night, saying that, "a large portion of the area is without power."

Nassau County Police said no one had been reported injured during the course of the storm in Massapequa or nearby.

As of 8 p.m., more than 6,000 Massapequa Park LIPA customers were in the dark, while more than 5,700 in Massapequa were without electricity, according to the utility. 

There were 2,038 customers blacked out in North Massapequa and 107 in the dark in East Massapequa.

The mayor warned residents that it was "too dangerous to go outside,"  as there were numerous downed trees and wires in the area.

There was still flooding in the area south of Merrick Road with high tide arriving in the late evening hours.