Update: Babylon Town in Full Storm Cleanup Mode

Babylon Town public works employees are 24 hours into hurricane cleanup efforts and are striving to have all roadways cleared of fallen trees and debris as soon as possible.

About 60 Department of Public Works employees have been on the job since 10:30 a.m. Sunday, according to a town spokesperson, and working with LIPA on situations involving downed electric lines amidst downed trees.

“Our top priority is make sure that all roads are passable and in working order for both residents and emergency response needs,” said Babylon Town Director of Communications Tim Ruggeri in an interview with Patch Monday morning. In situations where lines are wrapped or engulfed in limbs and trees the town must wait for LIPA to issue an official ‘de-energized” order to ensure safe removal, he explained.

Initially town workers had a list of 100 trees to be cut and cleared. But by early Monday afternoon that number had grown to 275. As of 3 p.m. Monday workers had handled 105 of those and 50 were on the list waiting for LIPA to de-energize.

"We have all our crews out there clearing the roads," said Ruggeri.

In addition the town is also busy helping residents with intense flooding scenarios throughout the town, mostly in low-lying areas south of Montauk Highway.

“We had a worse case scenario [yesterday] with high tide hitting just as the hurricane did but it could have been a lot worse,” said Ruggeri. “We dodged a bullet overall,” he added.

Residents can call 311 or 957-7474 to report a down tree.

Town Supervisor Steve Bellone spent Saturday attending public safety and emergency response briefings, according Ruggeri. From early Sunday morning on Bellone was on the road assessing hurricane damage, as well as taking to the airwaves on local radio programs and national news stations, including Fox News, to give residents updated information during and after the storm.

“The top priority [for Bellone] was making sure the town was prepared and that residents were well informed,” said Ruggeri.