Suffolk Apartment Building 'Unsafe' After Flood Damage: Town

RONKONKOMA, NY — An apartment building at Alston Station Square in Ronkonkoma was deemed unsafe for residents Tuesday after a pipe burst, sending a flood of water into the units, Brookhaven Town Chief Fire Marshal Chris Mehrman said.

The building was deemed unsafe for the residents to occupy because of damage to the fire alarm, sprinkler, and electrical system, he said in a statement to Patch.

But the building "is not and never was in danger of collapse," he said, adding, "Yes, sheetrock ceilings that have water damage will tend to separate from the framing, but that is not a structural issue."

"This is a situation where the sheetrock will need to be taken down and replaced," he said. "As for mold, that is why the dehumidification efforts are ongoing, to get the moisture out, thus preventing mold growth."

The flood damage concerned building 5000 at the complex, News 12 reported.

Residents told the outlet that they are staying in hotels in the meantime.

"You're literally watching your life possessions float away," Tiffany Fischer told the outlet.

Patch has reached out to the building's property manager, Alston Station Square Management, for comment.

In a statement to News 12, the company said that "water restoration teams were deployed to the building and we are working with residents to make sure they have alternate accommodations while we fully assess the situation. Our residents' comfort and safety are of the utmost importance and we will ensure that all systems are restored and fully functional as quickly as possible."