Damage to Homeland Security Chairman's District 'Absolutely Devastating'

Long Island Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) told CNN this morning that the island took an “absolutely devastating” hit last night from Hurricane Sandy.

“Long Beach has lost all its sewage, all its water supplies, and it’s basically very difficult to get to. Hospitals have been shut down. People stayed behind, and a number of firemen were stranded trying to get them out,” he said.

“In places like Massapequa, there are a number of fires. At one time 12 firemen stranded, had to send military vehicles down. Pretty much like Wyndhamhurst are under water, Babylon is really hit very, very hard. On Long Island more than 80 percent of the customers are without power, of 1.1 million customers, over 900,000 have lost their power.”

The House Homeland Security Committee chairman called it “probably devastating a hit as Long Island has ever taken.”

“It was really very harrowing. … It was just exceed the worst expectations for Long Island.”

King said that Suffolk County, which is partly in his 3rd congressional district, bore the brunt of the damage.

He estimated 7 to 10 days before power is restored.

“It’s only going to be this morning they can start with restoring of the power. It’s going to be a long process,” he said. “They are in place to do whatever they can as quickly as possible, but it’s important for people to realize that this is going to be a long, hard process.”

King added that “all those people who refused to evacuate, not only did they put themselves at risk they put many, many first responders at risk, areas where firemen almost lost their lives.”