Some Upper East Side store owners say construction on the Second Avenue subway leaves them exposed to Sandy's elements.

One business owner says the temporary structures set up by the MTA have shallow ditches.

He says whenever there's a big storm the ditches overflow and flood their stores.

He and other store owners say they want the MTA to put sandbags out to divert the water into the sewers.

"Just mainly worried about the flooding because when there's flooding, you know, there's going to be like rat or mouse problems coming in, in and out," said Michael Cheng, the owner of Beijing Wok. "There's going to be, the food, soda, beverages, they might spoil and stuff."

In a statement, an MTA spokesperson said that contractors at the Second Avenue Subway construction site have taken all necessary measures to secure all materials and equipment, including cranes, to prepare for high winds and flooding.

The statement added that business owners are responsible for sandbagging their own businesses.