House Damaged by Sandy Collapses During Rebuild With 6 People Inside

What to Know

  • A Long Island house damaged in the Sandy storms was being lowered onto new foundations Friday when it collapsed
  • There were six workers in the house at the time, and one had his leg pinned in the collapse
  • The owners of the house had been living elsewhere since the storm in 2012

A Long Island house damaged in Sandy six years ago collapsed Friday morning while six people were inside. 

The house at Coppertree Lane in Babylon was in the process of being elevated and placed onto new concrete foundations Friday about 10 a.m. when it collapsed, Suffolk Police said.

Because of the damage from the collapse, it will need to be demolished.

Neighbor J.C. Beirle said he heard something outside, and looked out his window to see the house torn open on its side.

"I thought, this can't be the house across the street ... I looked out my window and it was completely out there, there were workers running around, it was crazy. I heard one guy moaning, it was scary stuff."

Six workers were inside the building at the time, officials said. One was pinned but he was able to get himself out before rescue units arrived. The worker suffered a fractured leg.

The Babylon Village building inspector said the house appears to have collapsed when a jack gave way in the back of the home. 

He said its owners had lived there during Sandy, but the home had been being elevated for the last eight to nine months. The damage meant that the home would now need to be torn down.

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