Possible tornado rips through Atlantic Beach on Long Island; state of emergency declared
ATLANTIC BEACH, Long Island (WABC) -- Nassau County has declared a state of emergency and activated its Emergency Operations Center after storms ripped through Long Island, where a massive waterspout was spotted.
The Inwood Fire Department says it received a call for severe wind damage at Sun and Surf Beach Club in Atlantic Beach around 7:15 p.m.
Nassau County Chief Fire Marshal Michael Uttaro said first responders discovered 30 one-story cabanas either damaged or destroyed by what he said appeared to be a possible tornado touching down.
"We had a strong gust of wind and tornado that came through and touched down at this beach club so there is some extensive damage," said Chief of Department Josiyah Green of the Inwood Fire Department. "There will be extensive repair to be conducted."
Eyewitness News spoke over the phone with a board member of Sun and Surf who was in the dining room when the building started shaking.
"We're right by Kennedy Airport. I thought it was a big loud jet flying over. You heard this big loud rumble- but all of a sudden you could feel the building move and shake you could hear the windows pounding in and out and all of a sudden you look out the window and furniture from cabanas from the deck area were flying everywhere so we all ran to the middle room because we thought maybe it would break one of the glass doors or windows and it would go flying," said Sun and Surf board member Richard Accarino.
One person, a worker at the club, was injured but refused medical attention, officials said. No other civilians or first responders were injured.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said a tornado had touched down in Atlantic Beach and that property damage was being assessed at both the Sun and Surf and Silver Point beach clubs. Search teams were mobilized to ensure no one was trapped inside damaged cabanas.
Blakeman also reported flooding elsewhere along Nassau County's South Shore that left some motorists trapped in their vehicles, prompting additional rescue operations.
The county executive declared a state of emergency and activated Nassau County's Emergency Operations Center. He also coordinated with Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine in case a broader regional response was needed elsewhere on Long Island.
While officials on Long Island believe a tornado touched down in Atlantic Beach, the National Weather Service has not yet confirmed that.
The NWS will have to survey the area before making any determination.
Meanwhile, a video captured what appeared to be a massive waterspout that formed in Atlantic Beach.
In a statement Thursday night, the NWS said they are "reviewing damage, ground truth and radar data from wo waterspouts that may have impacted portions of the eastern Rockaways and Atlantic Beach in southern Queens and Nassau counties."
They said both waterspouts appeared to have come ashore between 6:30 and 7 p.m.
Based on radar data and videos/photos they have received so far, the NWS said the first waterspout appears to have been short-lived, coming onshore in the eastern Rockaways.
The second waterspout appeared to have come onshore in Atlantic Beach. The NWS said they received preliminary reports of damage from this and radar evidence that shows it may have survived for longer after coming onshore.
They said they will release an official statement on Friday, with more details.
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