Tropical Storm Isaias pounded Long Island last Tuesday bringing with it heavy rain and high winds, and the Village of Garden City was right in the path of Isaias’ destruction.
The Garden City Volunteer Fire Department responded to more than 41 alarms in a less than 16-hour period. During the course of the storm, members responded to multiple calls for wires down, trees down, trees down on structures, odors of natural gas as well as carbon monoxide alarms. With the influx of alarms throughout Nassau, the department began self-dispatching alarms from fire headquarters. Throughout the storm, department members and apparatus were traversing the village responding to calls for assistance. Special thanks to members of the Garden City Police Department and Garden City Public Works staff for doing their best to allow clear passage during the storm.
According to Police Commissioner Kenneth Jackson, as a result of Isaias, there were more than 220 reported incidents. Officers, firefighters and DPW/Tree Department personnel responded to numerous reports of trees falling on houses, power lines, roads, fences, vehicles and on the railroad tracks at the Cathedral Avenue crossing where train service was suspended on the Hempstead line. Several houses suffered severe damage, as did many vehicles. In addition, units responded to numerous reports of house fires, alarms, tree fires, wires down, power line/transformer fires, power outages, traffic light malfunctions, damaged gas lines, auto accidents, property damage reports, medical aided reports and disabled autos.
Paul Blake, chairman of the Board of Commissioners of Cultural and Recreational Affairs, said the Garden City Pool was spared and village parks saw minimal damage. Public Works Superintendent Joseph DiFrancisco described the village’s storm response as a well-coordinated effort by the Garden City Police, Fire, Public Works and Parks and Recreation Departments.
“Members of these departments supported each other throughout the storm and after in order to clear roads and ensure the safety of the residents of this village,” he said. “We ask that residents have patience as village crews will be working extra hours in order to reopen roads and clear roadways and sidewalks. They have a tremendous amount of work ahead of them as the cleanup will continue into next week and they should be commended for their efforts and teamwork during this very damaging storm.”
To report a downed village tree, call Recreation and Parks at 465-4075/76/77. Stay connected by signing up for village email alerts through an online portal on Garden City’s homepage. The link is located on the bottom right side of the website, www.gardencityny.net. Provide your name and a valid email address to begin receiving non-emergency updates, including power outages, road closures and more.
—Submitted by Village of Garden City
