Southold Roads and Houses in Danger of Falling into the Sound

Storm erosion caused by heavy winds and high tides created by the have left roads and houses along the shoreline in Southold in danger of falling into the Long Island Sound, according to

"We have erosion so bad that roads and even houses are in danger of falling into the sea," Russell said early Monday afternoon, adding that he was planning to inspect the location more closely later in the day.

Russell toured town roads with Town Highway Superintendent Peter Harris and Town Public Works Department Superintendent Jim McMahon and again early on Monday morning, as the storm began to subside. Russell said that the roads were in good shape for the most part, but erosion particarly on the north shore along the Sound was alarming.

The closed a small portion of Soundview Avenue directly across the street from the complex just west of the during the storm as the bluffs along the road seemed in danger of collapse. The road was still blocked around 12 p.m. on Monday as the waters of the Long Island Sound surged with waves about 3-feet high. Winds were so high pedestrians in the area could barely stand.

Town roadworkers also closed off the entrance to Southold Town Beach on the Long Island Sound due to severe erosion of the already narrow stretch of beach and its parking lot.

"We had to close off the beach, because there is no beach left," Davis said. "The parking lot is torn up — we can't take the chance of anyone going in there."

The flood tides and high winds, still being clocked at 30 to 40 mph with gusts of up to 60 mph by the National Weather Service, are expected to continue until Tuesday afternoon.

Calls to homeowners whose Sound-side houses are in danger were not returned by press time.