Another South Shore storm nuisance: Sightseeing motorists who cause wakes

For some residents living on the South Shore, the flooding that comes from storms like last weekend’s nor’easter is only part of their frustration.

The other part is storm gawkers.

Those who live on flood-prone streets said they are increasingly having to deal with drivers from outside their communities who roll down their roadways creating wakes of water that then push onto their properties.

Colleen Walsh calls them the “nosy bodies.”

“People just feel the need to drive through to see what’s going on,” the Babylon Village resident said. “They fly through here and throw water up on everyone’s lawns, their vehicles. These people don’t understand that one car coming through can put inches of water into somebody’s house.”

The village closed off Fire Island Avenue and its side streets to traffic as they filled with 3 to 4 feet of water, Mayor Mary Adams said, yet non-village residents would come “flying through” to see the flooding.

“They’re bringing the kids, packed in cars like they’re going to the movies,” Adams said. “They were only missing the popcorn.”

In at least four instances, cars stalled in the high waters.

“Aside from the wake situation, we were trying to prevent this,” Adams said. “The last thing you want is somebody getting stranded in their car.”

Put on notice

The village’s code enforcement officers — and the mayor herself — stood at the entrance to streets to turn away nonresidents, including food and package delivery drivers.

Adams said they took down the license plate numbers of those who drove through flooded streets and the village will be sending them letters putting them on notice. She said she will be speaking with the village attorney to see if there’s any further action the village can take.

“It’s just not fair to those residents living there,” Adams said. “Water is getting into people’s homes ... it’s not right and there has to be some level of respect for the taxpayers.”

Walsh, 54, said she has stood outside yelling at drivers to slow down in an effort to protect her property. She said the force of a vehicle can cause water to get into her basement.

“They just look at me or give me the finger,” she said. “They’re damaging their own cars ... but they’re also causing damage to other people’s property and they don’t get it.”

Walsh compared flooded streets to areas of water that are “no wake” zones for boats causing them to slow down.

“Just like you can cause damage to boats when you go through a channel, this is the same thing,” she said.

'5 M.P.H. No Wake'

Over in the Village of Lindenhurst, Rob LoDolce puts a boating “5 M.P.H. No Wake” sign in front of his house when the street floods.

“They’re storm watchers who just want to see a flood,” he said. “This weekend I was trying to stop this one guy and he just laughed at me ... the flooding is bad enough, but then you exacerbate it with sightseers coming through and making it worse.”

LoDolce, 52, would like to see village officials pass a local law to target those who drive through floodwaters.

“The village is in charge of the roadways and making sure they’re safe and passable,” he said. “In a situation where they’re not passable because of water, the village should keep passersby and sightseers off the streets.”

Village Mayor Mike Lavorata said he tried to do just that last weekend. The village started to put up road barriers, but the wind knocked them over, and the water was so deep that they couldn’t be seen. He also had code enforcement officers attempt to limit certain streets to locals, but some drivers became confrontational.

“My code guys are not peace officers,” he said. “If someone threatens them with a gun, how do I protect them? ... I don’t want anyone getting into a fight or hurt over this.”

Lavorata said he's not sure how a law could be enforced, but that he would talk with the village attorney to see if there’s anything more that can be done.

“The gawkers are a significant problem,” he said. “God forbid if there’s an emergency and we have to get a police or fire vehicle down there. We don’t need people getting stuck in the water and making it even worse.”

Walsh said she has a piece of advice for those tempted to check out floodwaters.

“Just stay home and watch the news,” she said. “You don’t need to come down here and see it firsthand.”