Community Corner

Photos: Dune Road Opens After Sandy; Homeowners Begin to Assess Damage

Homeowners and contractors returned to their homes on Thursday.

Homeowners from Westhampton Beach, Quogue and West Hampton Dunes and contractors trickled onto Dune Road after the roadway opened at noon on Thursday to assess damage.

Related: After Sandy: Dune Road To Open at Noon

While some homeowners got out of their cars with relief to find their homes still standing and very little damage, others were distraught to find waters had flooded their basements and first floors.

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One Pond Point resident walked carefully around his home, noting that from the marks on his home, the water had come up at least four feet.

"I have never seen anything like this," he said, not wishing to give his name.

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Pointing to his once thriving flower bed filled with roof shingles, he said, "I just put a new roof, but it seems it didn't have enough time to settle."

The homeowner said he didn't think he was going to call his insurance company, but instead planned to "pick up a couple of guys from 7-11" to help him clean-up.

Other homeowners started cleaning out debris; one had a pump going, emptying water from his basement while others stood on their cell phones, trying to reach their contractors.

Driving into West Hampton Dunes, residents were greeted with sandy roads from several washovers, one near Pikes Beach, which left piles of sand.

Some West Hampton Dunes residents, near the end of the roadway, were still unable to access their homes as that portion of the road that leads to Cupsogue Beach was still flooded.

An officer standing guard noted that the Cupsogue pavillion is still standing and that the deck is also intact.

Village of Westhampton Beach workers were already out, cleaning up Rogers Beach, which suffered a washover with debris from Quogue littering the beach.

And in Quogue, water still sat stagnant in the roadway and those hoping to get a glimpse of their homes drove slowly and carefully.

Related:

Access past the Village of Quogue into the Southampton portion of Dune Road remained cut off as a washover left the roadway impassable right through to the Shinnecock Inlet. FEMA has been called into to assess that portion of Dune Road and currently only business owners that sign a waiver and have a four by four vechicle can assess that portion of Dune Road from the Ponqogugue Bridge to the Inlet.

According to Jennifer Garvey, spokeswoman for the Town of Southampton, officials are still trying to gain access west of the Ponquogue Bridge to assess damage.

Related: 

For more local coverage of Hurricane Sandy's aftermath, click here and to see aerial photos of  Dune Road after Sandy, click here.

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