August 20, 2026 / 11:15 PM EDT
/ CBS/AP
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Heavy rain and winds pounded the Northeast U.S. on Thursday as storms tore through a beach on Long Island, flooded a major New York freeway and knocked out power in parts of Delaware's capital city.Photos and video shared on social media show debris thrown in the air and pummeling rain as a possible tornado touched down at Atlantic Beach on Long Island's outer barrier. It tore apart a major beach club, leaving broken beach chairs and wood beams littered across the shoreline.The Inwood Fire Department said dozens of cabanas were damaged or destroyed at the Sun and Surf Beach Club in Atlantic Beach. Inwood Fire Chief Josiyah Green said no one was trapped in any of the cabanas or had to be rescued at the club."Best I can call it is luck," Green said. "Just by the grace of luck that a lot of people weren't hurt here because this beach club is a very popular place during the summer."Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman declared a state of emergency."There are reports of people trapped in their vehicles due to flooding in the south shore, and first responders are assisting in their rescue," Blakeman said in a statement. The National Weather Service had warned of waterspouts, tornado-like hazards that happen over water, in the area but wasn't able to immediately confirm a tornado on the beach.
