A historic storm hit the Northeast last month, causing catastrophic damages to areas on Long Island, New York, and Connecticut. The Smithtown Building of Smithtown Library was severely damaged, with video footage showing water gushing into the building, destroying walls and windows, and inundating the lower level. Thousands of books and computers were destroyed, along with the Richard H. Handley Collection of Long Island Americana, which housed priceless historical documents. Efforts are underway to restore the artifacts.
The flooding cost approximately $10 million in damages, with the library closed for assessment and rebuilding. Harbor Road in Stony Brook also collapsed, creating a sinkhole, and the Mill Pond at Avalon washed out. Suffolk County executive Ed Romaine declared a state of emergency and signed a disaster declaration, estimating over $50 million in damage costs for the entire county. New York Governor Kathy Hochul also declared a Disaster Emergency for Suffolk County.
Efforts are underway to assess the damages and begin rebuilding, with specialists from Detroit working on preserving the damaged artifacts. The state and federal governments have been called on to assist with rehabilitation efforts. The storm caused widespread destruction and officials are working to restore the affected areas and provide assistance to those impacted.
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