Expecting as much as 6 inches of rain in places and possible coastal erosion, Suffolk County opened its emergency command center at 5 a.m. yesterday as a summer storm rolled across Long Island.

Officials from 42 municipalities and agencies such as the state Department of Transportation and the Long Island Power Authority monitored weather reports while preparing to battle the elements.But despite more than an inch of rain, and a smattering of road closures and power outages, the storm proved to be relatively mild, and officials breathed a sigh of relief.

"It looks like we dodged a bullet," said Suffolk fire and rescue commissioner Joseph Williams.Forecasters earlier in the week predicted rainfall at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour and issued a flash flood watch for southeast New York, including Long Island. But meteorological Armageddon never occurred, though the National Weather Service said 1.77 inches of rain fell in Brentwood, and Bethpage received 1.87 inches. The flash flood watch was canceled at 12:31 p.m. yesterday.

The storm knocked out power to 3,610 customers across the Island by 8 a.m. yesterday, LIPA said. All but 264 customers, 222 of them in North Hempstead, had power restored by 8:30 p.m.Flooded roads were reported in Lake Grove, Deer Park and Patchogue, officials said.

Nassau County closed 22 beaches yesterday, said health department spokeswoman Cynthia Brown. Rain runoff can carry pollutants into bathing areas, raising bacterial levels above state standards.Suffolk closed beaches in Bayport, Strongs Neck and Copiague after samples showed elevated bacteria levels, county officials said. Advisories were issued for 63 other beaches.Staff writer John Valenti contributed to this story.