The unusually heavy rain, after a summer of draught, caused havoc and extreme damage to homes, especially on Allen Street in the Herricks section of New Hyde Park.
Allen Street, located right behind the Denton Avenue School, off Hillside Avenue, was particularly struck by the excessive rain as one house basement was so flooded that it resulted in the side of the house caving in compromising the structure of the entire house, causing it to be evacuated.
Further, almost 100 residents of the block had to be evacuated, due to a gas main that ruptured. However, once the electrical equipment was deemed safe and the gas lines repaired, some of the residents were allowed back into their homes, but others, were not.
The Red Cross was on the scene making sure that all the displaced persons would be cared for and would have a place to stay until they are allowed back into their homes.
The homeowner of the home, with the caved in basement, said they moved into just four months ago and had stored all their possessions in boxes in the basement, bringing them up as they unpacked them. He said as a result, they have lost everything.
Garden City Park firefighters and the Nassau County police were called into action as they received many calls from auto owners trapped in their cars due to the excessive flooding because of the sudden excessive rainstorm.
