'Counting Blessings': Mamaroneck Neighborhood's Tense Night

MAMARONECK, NY — As the eye of tropical storm Henri slowly moved toward New England, the eyes of weather watchers moved on as well, but for homeowners and a church congregation near the Mamaroneck River, quickly rising floodwaters had their complete attention.

The emergency order from the Mamaroneck village manager to "seek higher ground" was issued at 9:31 p.m., but residents near the banks of the Mamaroneck were already focused on the floodwaters creeping ever closer to their homes.

"It was scary," neighbors of the First Baptist Church at the corner of Howard and Hillside Avenues told Patch. "We didn't sleep. We just kept watching the water get higher and higher. In the end, there was about two feet of water in the basement, but we were fine."

SEE ALSO:

• 'Seek Higher Ground' Flooding Worsens, Village Begins Evacuatio
• 'Stay Home' Flash Flood Warning Issued: National Weather Service

Neighbors say that when the Mamaroneck River overflowed its banks, the result was several feet of water in the basement. (Jeff Edwards|Patch)

According to a statement from the village of Mamaroneck, the areas close to the Sheldrake and Mamaroneck rivers received the brunt of the flooding and emergency responders helped to evacuate residents most at risk. Neighbors we spoke to on Howard Street say they were not subject to an evacuation order but said that it was early morning before they began to feel safe in their homes again.

The activity room at the First Baptist Church in Mamaroneck won't be hosting any potluck get-togethers until the mess from Henri is fully cleaned up. (Jeff Edwards|Patch)

Members of the congregation at the First Baptist Church next door, helping to clean up the damage from Henri's deluge and resulting flood, said that the church situated just feet from the river was no stranger to flooding. The cleanup crew agreed that things could have been worse.

"We are counting our blessings," one member of the church said. "It was just groundwater. If the sewers had backed up, that could have been a real mess."

For homeowners living close to the Mamaroneck River, the difference between inconvenience and disaster can be a matter of inches. (Jeff Edwards|Patch)

Early Monday morning, the fire officials were checking in on residents who endured the worst of the flooding. Sewer department and village officials could be spotted surveying the area throughout the day.

The village is providing pumps borrowed from nearby towns to help flooded residents remove water from the homes. Officials say they have also ordered 75 Flood Kits from the Red Cross to distribute to property owners impacted by flooding. The kits provide industrial-grade cleaning supplies and other tools to help remove water and silt and to prevent mold and mildew after flooding.

"If you live in one of these neighborhoods and need assistance to pump out flood waters, please contact the Village Manager’s Office at 914-777-7703 so we can include you on our list as well as review actions you will need to take to make your property safe for our first responders," the village said in an automated phone alert to those living in the Washingtonville and Harbor Heights neighborhoods.

Sandbags weren't enough to hold back Henri's floodwaters for these homeowners near the Mamaroneck River. (Jeff Edwards|Patch)

Village officials say eight people had to be rescued from their homes on Friday. No injuries were reported.

Mamaroneck Mayor Tom Murphy is asking residents with pictures or video of the overnight flooding to email him at tmurphy@vomny.org. The mayor said the images could help bolster the village's case to the Army Corps of Engineers that stronger flood mitigation measures need to be put in place.

Flooding at the First Baptist Church in Mamaroneck was limited to the basement. (Google Maps)

"We have a lot of residents who have been through this before and they are rightfully nervous," Murphy told NBC News. "I want to thank our first responders, our police department and our DPW."