This weekend’s massive rainstorm left Staten Island reeling, with flooded streets, submerged basements and some homes even threatened with collapse. NY1's Roger Clark filed the following story from Midland Beach.

A boat would have been more appropriate Monday on Quincy Avenue in Midland Beach after the street was transformed into a river by the raging rains.

Paul Rokoszak didn't want to chance taking his car for a swim.

"I'm just afraid if I'm going to start to back out into the street I'm going to stall the car and then I'm going to be in a really big mess,” said Rokoszak.

The word “mess” described many streets in midland beach, a neighborhood plagued with flooding for years because of its proximity to the water and wetlands. But even long-time residents say this is the worst it’s ever been.

"Nothing like this, nothing like this at all. This is the worst I've ever seen it, and hopefully it will start going down soon,” said Midland Beach resident Michael Lesizza.

George Figueroa spent the night salvaging items from his basement, ravaged by what he says was about five feet of water.

"I'm waiting for someone to bring me a pump to get at least some of the water out so I can get the hot water and the heater running, and pray. That's about all,” said Figueroa.

The nor’easter didn't just bring flooding problems for residents of Staten Island, but it also caused the evacuation of dozens of residents from some townhouses, after a retaining wall collapsed.

Nine homes on a ridge on Waterview Court were affected. The FDNY and building inspectors were examining the structural integrity of the buildings.

"There was a large retaining wall. The retaining wall collapsed into the harbor and, basically the dirt that being held back by the retaining wall has now washed into the harbor and our concern is that the foundations appear to be undermined,” said Assistant FDNY Chief Thomas Haring.

The chief said it appears the accumulation of water behind the retaining wall was a contributing factor. Residents were not sure when they would be allowed back into their homes. Residents were of course frustrated by the situation.

”The concern that I had was the patio — there’s a concrete slab that we have our patio — I was concerned that that was going to go, because all of the dirt, everything that was under the concrete is now gone, so I was concerned that was going to fall, too,” said Waterview Court resident Reinaldo Torres.

Four families were relocated by the Red Cross. Others said they would stay with friends or relatives on a day when everyone on this island had had their fill of water.

— Roger Clark