One of Long Island’s busiest malls was evacuated on Feb. 11 because of major roof leaks following a rainstorm and nearly 3 feet of snow, according to a Feb. 12 Associated Press report.
The Smith Haven mall in Suffolk county was evacuated and cleared by 4.p.m. Monday after leaks were detected in over a dozen stores following heavy rains and snow, police said. Police advised that they were worried the leakage would cause the roof to collapse.
Building Department Director John Bongino said that in one of the stores it looked “almost as if there was an open ceiling and it was raining.” With more than 140 stores in the Smith Haven mall, it took almost an hour to evacuate the entire mall, said Paul Llobell, deputy fire coordinator for Suffolk County.
Fifteen fire and police departments from around the country responded to the scene and the evacuation went smoothly with no reported injuries. The next step would be determining the structural safety of the building. Bongino said mall management will have to call in a structural engineer to determine the mall's structural safety and when it can be reopened.
Storm Nemo took its toll on parts of Long Island, with heavy rains and a snowstorm that buried part of the island.
For inquiries, please contact boutique-mix@hotmail.com.
Comments