Tree Falls On Bridgehampton House; Fire In Hamptons Bays: How Southampton Town Is Faring Nor'Easter

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — Southampton Town officials are keeping watch as the impacts of a powerful nor'easter continue to sock the area.

According to Ryan Murphy, Southampton Town public safety and emergency management administrator, at about 1 p.m. Monday: "We're coming up at high tide at the Shinnecock Inlet. We are monitoring that closely as water is basically at the top of the dune right now."

He added that there was moderate flooding observed on the Peconic Bay side during the morning high tide.

"Hopefully winds being less for the evening will lead to less piling effect on the water there. We saw decent flooding in all the usual Peconic Bay side locations," Murphy said.

The Southampton Town highway department and PSEG Long Island have been responding rapidly to tree and power issues, respectively, through the early morning hours and into the day, Murphy said.

"There have been several trees and limbs down that highway has dealt with. One tree fell on a house in Bridgehampton today — and did minor damage," Murphy said.

In addition, Murphy said that a fire in Hampton Bays overnight was called in by a neighbor who heard popping at the neighbor's electric meter.

"The Hampton Bays Fire Department did a great job, quickly responding and causing there to be isolated minimal damage," he said.

Looking ahead, Murphy said town officials are still concerned with the dune across from the commercial dock through the afternoon's high tide; staff is on site and monitoring.

On Sunday, Murphy said efforts were underway to protect some of the most long-vulnerable areas of shoreline from projected coastal erosion, Murphy said.

"The county has pre-staged some machinery at Ponquogue Beach, to be ready to address any issues at the county beach and dune area opposite the Shinnecock commercial dock," Murphy said. "The town highway department has also moved a piece of heavy machinery to the Ponquogue parking lot to help or address any other needs."