Power outages, rough seas still a concern on Long Island

HAMPTON BAYS, Long Island (WABC) -- For residents along the coastlines of Suffolk County, the threat from Hermine is still very real, bringing hundreds of power outages, as well as wind damage and rough seas Tuesday.

More than 2,000 customers were without power on Long Island at one point, while PSEG Long Island has had around 15,000 customer outages linked to Hermine.

The winds really picked up overnight as Hermine got closer to the South Shore of Long Island, leaving was scattered wind damage on Long Island and in Queens Tuesday morning.

Trees were down in Bay Shore, blocking roadways. Jones Beach saw significant beach erosion over the weekend.

In Sayville, the high-tide brought flooding on River Road, one of the lower lying areas, making it impassable to cars.

A large tree fell on three cars in Ozone Park, Queens, Tuesday morning, at 101st Avenue and 75th Street. The cars were damaged, but no one was hurt.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone issued a state of emergency ahead of Hermine but it appears that the county may have dodged the worst predicted impacts of the storm.

Suffolk County lifted the voluntary evacuation on Fire Island after receiving an update from the National Weather Service, and a storm surge warning was also lifted, but a tropical storm warning remains in effect for the coast from Fire Island Inlet to Port Jefferson Harbor.

Many beaches were closed, and there were waves of 8-9 feet at Robert Moses State Park. Some surfers decided to hit the waves and most out in the water were actually the Beach Life Guards at Robert Moses State Park.

There are still concerns on Fire Island with flooding and beach erosion, but the concerns about high sustained winds are not as severe as predicted.

Swimming is prohibited at Long Beach and at Jones Beach, Robert Moses State Park and Hither Hills in Montauk, all run by the state, said George Gorman, deputy regional director of NYS Parks and Recreation.

"We are still seeing the effects of Hermine and the surf is extremely rough. It is dangerous; we are seeing dangerous rip currents," he said. "So we have prohibited swimming at that location."

He said there is 4-foot, cliff-like drop off on the west end side of Robert Moses State Park, at Fields 3 and 2. He called it "significant erosion."

There is limited potential for minor to locally moderate damage to marinas, docks, boardwalks and piers, county officials said.

Portions of the coastline could still experience of 1-2 feet of storm surge.