'Significant Beach Erosion' In Southampton As Nor'easter Slams Coastal Areas On LI

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — As a powerful nor'easter continues to batter Long Island, Southampton Town officials report "significant beach erosion" along the coastline.

According to Ryan Murphy, public safety and emergency management administrator for Southampton Town: "We've seen rather significant beach erosion thus far. I'm not comfortable saying that we're in the clear yet, because the tide situation might still bring some more erosion before the storm fully leaves the area."

Waves overtopped the dune on the west side of Shinnecock Inlet, Murphy said, adding that Tiana Beach "saw erosion basically up to the pavilion, and other areas held but suffered noticeable sand loss."

Also, Murphy said, as of Sunday morning, there were currently more than 1,000 customers without power townwide "but PSEG assured us that they are actively working to restore service to those affected."

Flooding, Murphy said, impacted most of the areas that traditionally see flooding, but with "more water than usual in many places."

Dune Road, he said, remained closed as of Sunday morning, and town officials were awaiting the Suffolk County Department of Public Works' efforts to address the impacts to the county stretch of beach and dune in the area of the commercial fishing station and Oakland's in Hampton Bays.

"The water is still too high down there for much to occur at the moment," he said.

Town officials have staff out securing different areas and trying to assess some of the conditions and damage Sunday, "and this will likely continue into tomorrow," he said.