Baysiders Spar Over Meme Mocking Tropical Storm Henri's Impact

BAYSIDE, QUEENS — Bayside emerged largely unscathed from the effects of Tropical Storm Henri, locals say, despite other areas of the borough that suffered flooding and damage — a disparity that caused disputes in one neighborhood Facebook page.

The storm, which swept across the five boroughs this weekend, gave the city its wettest hour on record and rained out the Central Park mega-concert.

New Yorkers in southeast Queens saw the boroughs greatest rainfall as of Monday morning, with 5.9 inches of rain reportedly falling in Howard Beach, a neighborhood that’s seen recurrent damage from coastal flooding.

Other Jamaica Bay-side neighborhoods suffered heavy rain, with more than 10 percent of flights grounded at John F. Kennedy International Airport after four-plus inches of rain fell in the area. Winds toppled trees, and rain flooded streets in other southeast Queens neighborhoods, too.

In Bayside, however, Tropical Storm Henri had very little impact, so much so that neighbors mocked initial reports that the storm could hit with hurricane strength.

On a neighborhood Facebook page, one Baysider shared an image of a plastic, outdoor patio set with one toppled chair, comparing the damage to Henri’s impact.

“What a terrible storm! I lost a shoe! And my feelings were terribly, terribly hurt. Who can I sue?” commented one neighbor on the post, mocking the effects of the storm.

A couple of other Baysiders noted that people were needlessly stocking up on food and essentials at the end of last week, when the storm was projected to hit the area with more force than it ultimately did.

“Panic buying, gotta love it,” wrote one. “On the plus side you are now stocked up on toilet paper,” commented another.

While the post elicited over 200 likes, some neighbors took offense to it.

“There are actually people dealing with horrible flooding and destruction. Just because it’s not you doesn’t mean it doesn’t matter,” wrote one Baysider, alluding to the storm’s widespread infrastructural damage, which reportedly left tens of thousands across the northeast without power.

“I guess you haven't seen other parts of the city that were doing their best to rival Atlantis,” commented another. In areas of Brooklyn, for instance, Patch reported that “stairways turned to waterfalls and streets into lakes,” especially near Prospect Park, which saw nearly 8 inches of rain — the most of any spot citywide.

Also, areas of Nassau County near Bayside were spared the tropical storm’s direct impact, but heavy rains still flooded neighborhoods. In Lake Success, which borders Little Neck and Douglaston, more than 6.5 inches of rain fell over the weekend.

Despite its relative impact so far, Baysiders aren’t totally in the clear from Tropical Storm Henri, since heavy rain remains in the city’s forecast for Monday.

The National Weather Service issued a flash flood watch until Tuesday at 2 a.m., adding that the city could see anywhere from two to four more inches of rain this afternoon.

Rain leaves the forecast starting Tuesday, forecasts show.