Politics & Government

Village Board Tackles Flooding Issues

Residents flooded out by recent storm bring complaints to Massapequa Park Village Board meeting.

Residents affected by the heavy rains on Aug. 14 flooded the Massapequa Park Village Board meeting this week to sound off about the problem.

"At 6 a.m. it was totally flooded," Georgia Gergenti, a resident of  Philadelphia Avenue said. "My son in-law's car, my daughter's car and my husband's car were all parked at the curb and the water had already gotten into the cars."

Things got worse at about 11 a.m. when high tide arrived. The result was heavy flooding, particularly on Atlantic, Ocean, Philadelphia and Eastlake avenues between Pennsylvania Avenue and Front Street.

Find out what's happening in Massapequawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

At least 20 families came out to air their grievances at the meeting.

Gergenti told the board that a sump used to collect the water wasn't working properly.

Find out what's happening in Massapequawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"I was standing in the middle of the street," she said. "Water was up to my waste. That sump was bone dry."

Village Mayor James Altodonna, who said the sumps he saw that day had been working properly, agreed to inspect the sump with Gerganti.

Altadonna said the biggest factor in the flood was that a large amount of rain fell in a short period of time.

"The problem was timing," he said explaining that the high tide made the problem worse.

"As the tide rises, water backs up from the bay, backing up the water drains." Because water seeks it's own level, ground water contributed to basement flooding.

The homes in the flood area are also in the lowest part of the village, Altadonna said.

The issue of basement flooding is also a tricky one because the village is not allowed to install drains on residential properties.

But Alttadonna and the residents discussed the possibility of grouping together to see if they can get a good rate to buy French drains, which push groundwater away from property.

Also at the meeting, the village awarded a contract to install solar panels in village buildings to SunNation systems.

The company was actually the second lowest bidder for the contract, but the lowest bidder was not deemed a responsible bidder, according to village attorney Kevin Walsh.

Massapequa Park received state grant money to pay for the project, Altadonna said.


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