Orient Sees Minor Flooding, Tree Damage, Power Outages

Residents close to the water in Orient found the water knocking on their doors and lawns after the tides from Hurricane Irene came ashore on Sunday.

Though the, the waters subsided and allowed crews to come in and assess damage.

Andy Ruroede spent the pre-dawn hours of Sunday morning at the fire department ready to assist any resident who needed assistance. As the storm progressed, reports came in about downed trees and minor flooding. Ruroede said the fire department's phone line remained down as of this morning.

Linda and Ron Apostle owners of Oysterponds Farm spent a lot of time removing the coverings over their berries in preparation of high winds. Mrs. Apostle said if they left up the coverings they could have been shredded by the high winds.

Without the coverings, the raspberries and blackberries sustained damage.

"Even though the berries are damaged, we do see new growth on them," she said.

For the next couple of days, Apostle said they will keep the farm closed as damage is repaired. She anticipates re-opening in a couple of days. 

Aside from , Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell said Orient sustained similar damage as the rest of the town. According to Russell, the public infrastructure fared well but private properties took the brunt of the damage.

"Our priority is to get the roads cleared and the power up," he said.

He said cell phone reception is poor throughout the town and the town's cable tends to be "less reliable" during storms. 

The biggest concern residents have right now, he said, is regaining power. He said he talked to LIPA earlier in the day and he was reminded there have only been a few daylight hours since the storm ended.

"We've been waiting and waiting and they have no answers for us," he said.

LIPA estimated power will be restored to Orient and Southold by 4 p.m. on Monday.