Long Island Storm Aftermath: One Year Later, Rebuilding Efforts Stall

Persistent Storm Damage in Stony Brook

• ⛈️ A powerful storm one year ago devastated parts of Suffolk County, with Stony Brook being the hardest-hit area.
• 🌉 The Mil Pond Dam and Bridge were destroyed, leading to ongoing issues for residents and local services.

Road and Service Delays

• 🛣️ While Mil Creek Road has been repaired, Harbor Road, a main thoroughfare for Head of the Harbor, remains unfixed.
• ⏱️ This lack of repair delays emergency response times by 5 to 7 minutes, a significant concern for residents like Beth Swag.

Blame Game for Dam and Road Repairs

• 🏛️ Responsibility for fixing Harbor Road lies with the Town of Brookhaven, but repairs are contingent on the Mil Pond Dam being fixed.
• 🏢 The dam is owned by the nonprofit Ward Melville Heritage Organization, whose president, Gloria Rochio, declined to comment.
• 💰 Rebuilding the dam is estimated to cost at least $5 million.

Homeowner's Struggle and Legal Action

• 🏠 Homeowner Ron Borgghazi lost a third of his house due to extreme flooding and has been living in a condemned property for a year.
• 💸 He reports that his homeowner's insurance has bailed and government agencies are passing the buck, leaving him with few options.
• ⚖️ The village of Head of the Harbor, frustrated by the lack of progress, intends to start a lawsuit imminently.