Sandy’s costs to Riverhead Town similar to Irene’s

PAUL SQUIRE PHOTO | A gazebo in downtown Riverhead lies knocked over by Sandys storm surge on Oct. 29

Riverhead Town will have to pay about $1.2 million in overtime, repairs and reconstruction costs in the wake of superstorm Sandy, Supervisor Sean Walter said Monday.

That figure is more than double the towns initial estimate of $500,000, he said. T

he town is hoping to be reimbursed for damages from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), but even if it does get FEMA aid, the town will still have to pay 25 percent of those costs, Mr. Walter said.

Sandy brought destruction to homes along the Peconic Bay, flooded downtown Riverhead and knocked out power for thousands of residents across town.

The damage was mostly concentrated in bulkheads around town, docks, boat ramps and bluffs around town, he said.

Despite flooding that caused the Peconic River to rise nearly nine feet and flood the parking lot along the river front, Mr. Walter said there was minor damage to town property including the towns gazebos which were tossed by the storm surge.

Downtown business owners reported flooding issues caused by Sandy, and at least one business Pieceful Quilting was forced to relocate because of flooding damage.

Widespread power outages which do not fall under the towns jurisdiction were the worst problem, Mr. Walter said.

This was a LIPA storm, he said. [It was] the power problem more than anything else.

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Sandy’s costs to Riverhead Town similar to Irene’s