Aldi employees applying ice melt to the sidewalk outside the entrance, which became a sheet of ice after a broken pipe sent water flowing out the front door. Photo: Peter Blasl
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The extreme cold has taken a toll on some water pipes around town today.

Burst pipes in three large retail stores caused flooding this morning. Two burst pipes caused water to flow inside both Staples and Home Goods today at about 11 a.m. Both stores were evacuated.

While Riverhead firefighters were still at that Route 58 location, a second call came in for a water flow alarm at Aldi, further west on Route 58. There, water flowed out the front door and immediately turned the sidewalk outside the entrance into a sheet of ice.

Staples copy center manager Madison Messina said she was not sure if any of the copy center equipment was damaged. Employees were able to relocate much of it quickly, she said. The store will be closed the rest of today and probably tomorrow as well, Messina said.

The Riverhead fire marshal’s office is investigating both incidents.

The parking lot outside Aldi after a pipe broke from cold weather.
The parking lot outside Aldi after a pipe broke from cold weather.
Ceiling at Home goods this morning after water from a a broken pipe caused ceiling tiles to come down.
Ceiling at Home goods this morning after water from a a broken pipe caused ceiling tiles to come down.
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Standing water inside the Staples copy center.

 

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