Town officials survey Great Gun Beach after Hurricane Erin’s pounding surf

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Great Gun Marina and Beach in East Moriches took a huge hit this week as Hurricane Erin churned offshore, unleashing towering surf and flooding across Long Island’s ocean beaches.

The Town of Brookhaven–operated facility, located just east of Smith Point County Park, saw its bayside marina swallowed by floodwaters, with water spilling into picnicking and docking areas.

On the oceanside, large stretches of beach were eroded, leaving dunes noticeably thinned.

“Great Gun saw some erosion from the storm, but has also been impacted throughout the year since winter,” Brookhaven Supervisor Dan Panico told Greater Long Island post-publication. “I spoke with the County Executive and our Parks Commissioner about it. We will work to determine when there is another dredging project in the vicinity to try and coordinate some permitting and an infill of sand if possible.”

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From Wednesday through Friday, Erin’s outer bands lashed the coast with 12- to 16-foot waves, dangerous rip currents and surging tides. The Category 2 hurricane, with winds up to 110 mph, stayed hundreds of miles offshore but still chewed away at beaches and flooded roads.

Brookhaven officials are now assessing the damage at Great Gun. On Friday, Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico authorized a drone survey by the town’s environmental department.

“A decision on remedying beach erosion will be made next week,” a town spokesperson told Greater Long Island.

In nearby Mastic and Shirley, floodwaters swamped neighborhood roads. Inspectors are making rounds in the hamlets to assist with cleanup over the next few days, according to the town.

Other beaches hit hard

The damage wasn’t limited to Brookhaven. Other South Shore beaches also took a beating as Erin passed.

At Jones Beach, the parking lot at the administrative building was completely underwater, along with playgrounds, tennis courts, barbecue areas and the eastern baseball field. Visitors described large pools of standing water and sand swept across paved areas.