Members of Stony Brook community come together for After the Flood service

Through prayer and reflection, music and tears, community members in Stony Brook uplifted one another Saturday in the wake of a devastating flood several days earlier.

On a steep, grassy hill in front of All Souls Episcopal Church along the hamlet’s Main Street, about 70 people gathered for a service called “After the Flood.” Just down the street, onlookers gazed out at Mill Pond, where a dam burst early Monday morning, unleashing a wave of destruction.

The service highlighted a community’s resilience as local officials vowed to rebuild and support those affected by the powerful storm that dumped  between 6 and 10 inches of rain. The storm left at least 1,400 homes damaged or affected in some way, according to Suffolk County officials. On Friday, Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a disaster emergency for Suffolk, allowing impacted homeowners to apply for grants of up to $50,000.

Rob Taylor, whose his home across the street from the church abuts the creek near where the dam burst, said the service was intended to bring the community together as they pick up the pieces of a “terrible scar,” much like after a tragic fatality.

“The idea of it was to get together, thanksgiving and healing, and just join together,” said Taylor, whose basement flooded.

Dan Kerr, community outreach chairman at All Souls Church, recalled how Taylor came into the church earlier in the week and described what had happened. When Kerr asked what the church could do to help, Taylor suggested organizing a community service.

Taylor and neighbor Ron Borgese, who narrowly escaped his home with minutes to spare along with his wife, Hui Yan, and dog, Snowy, recounted their harrowing morning and expressed thanks for the support they have received and hope for the future.

A portion of Borgese and Yan's house, including the master bedroom, an office and a bathroom, were torn away by the floodwaters.

“We’re all very lucky to be a part of this community,” Borgese said while describing how their “little slice of heaven” is now gone.

Fighting through tears, Yan thanked the church, neighbors and family.

“We will work hard, we will be stronger,” she said.

Brookhaven Town Councilman Jonathan Kornreich and Supervisor Dan Panico presented the couple with a gift wrapped in brown paper. It revealed a framed photo of the couple from their July 21 wedding.

Kornreich said a large poster of the couple was found amid the debris. The Setauket company Finishing Touch Photo created a smaller print that was framed and presented to them.

“All is not lost,” Borgese said.

Gloria Rocchio, president of the Ward Melville Heritage Organization, recalled a recent conversation with a woman seated on a bench at the nearby shopping center. The woman asked her what would happen to the now-empty pond.

“She said, ‘You know it’s the heart and soul of Stony Brook,’ ” Rocchio recalled. “And I said to myself, she’s right.”

As the service ended, many in the crowd headed across the street to Taylor’s backyard where a juvenile night heron was released. The bird, named Brookie, was found barely alive Thursday amid debris in Taylor’s yard.

“He was saturated and cold,” said Veronica Sayers, program coordinator of Sweetbriar Nature Center in Smithtown.

Sayers brought the bird to their Smithtown facility for rehabilitation. Brookie quickly recovered once it warmed up, she said.

On Saturday, Sayers opened the cage in the back of the yard and gently nudged the bird out. It flew low along the ground and quickly disappeared out of view as the crowd applauded.

By Joe Werkmeister

joe.werkmeister@newsday.com

Joe Werkmeister covers the towns of Southampton, East Hampton and Shelter Island. He is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University and previously worked as the editor of two North Fork community newspapers.

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