Area Businesses Bank on Irene Clean-up

While some businesses on the North Fork are feeling the economic crunch of being forced to close during the few precious days left of the summer season, others are benefitting from cleanup after , which is taking place across the area.

Evidence of Irene's stay is widespread. Thousands of area residents and businesses are still without electricity, and while overall property damage was minimal, yard damage was extensive.

For many waterfront residents, the worst damage came in the form of a salty film that covered windows after Irene whipped up wind, rain and salt water for nearly 24 hours. As a result, Crystal Clear Window Cleaning, which services all of Long Island, has been busier than ever.

“Normally this is one of the slower weeks of the year for us,” said owner Lisa Cifarelli. “The storm has given a big boost to our schedule and business.” This week last year, Crystal Clear Window Cleaning had 39 appointments scheduled for the week before Labor Day. This year, as a result of Irene, they’ve had 223. “Most of it is people doing the exterior of the windows to remove salt and tree debris,” Cifarelli explained.

Also benefiting from the storm is area landscapers who have been working nonstop to clear tree debris from residents’ yards, pools and roads. While in Mattituck is not taking on any new clients, it has been very busy serving existing ones in the days after the storm.

President of Reflecting Nature Rich Petrowski believes that while the increase in business is helpful, it will be short-lived. “I think it’ll be about a week and a half before we’re back to our normal business schedule,” he said.

Most of the work his crews are doing involves fallen tree removal and clean-up of debris from the trees during the storm. “They claimed it was going to be a lot worse than it was so we lucked out in comparison to what it could’ve been,” Petrowksi said of the storm.

on Shelter Island has also had a busy week, as residents have needed additional service appointments to remove tree debris from their pools. “We haven’t had any new customers from the storm, but our existing customers are needing more work done on the service end,” said Construction Manager Ken Lewis.