Governor issues state of emergency after Schuyler flooding

SCHUYLER COUNTY-Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Tuesday, declared a State of Emergency for Broome, Chemung, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Monroe, Onondaga, Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Tioga, Wayne, Yates, and contiguous counties through Aug. 21. The Governor made the announcement after surveying flooded areas and damaged property. Storms may cause additional flash flooding and New Yorkers are urged to prepare for potential extreme and unpredictable weather.
The State Emergency Operations Center has been elevated to a Level 3 and additional agencies have been deployed to assist with logistics, transportation and technical rescue, and to coordinate any response efforts in impacted counties. Regional emergency response teams are activated and are in close contact with community leaders and emergency responders.
"I want to make this point as serious as a heart attack: floods are nothing to play with," Cuomo said. "As flash flooding continues to threaten communities across the state, I have declared a State of Emergency for counties in Central New York, the Finger Lakes and the Southern Tier. I commend all of our brave first responders who are assisting communities impacted by this extreme weather. It's times like these, when things are at their worst, that New Yorkers are at their best."
Showers and thunderstorms with locally heavy rain continued during the afternoon across parts of the Finger Lakes, central New York and the Southern Tier. Rainfall in excess of 1 inch per hour caused hazardous driving conditions from ponding on roadways. Flash flood watches and warnings have been issued for many areas of the state.
Cuomo has directed the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services' Office of Emergency Management and Office of Fire Prevention and Control, the Department of Environmental Conservation, New York State Police, New York State Parks, and other state agencies to prepare staff, assets and stockpiles to support response efforts that may arise during the current flood watches and warnings across the state.
DHSES Commissioner Parrino has been deployed to Seneca County to provide support to local officials and to coordinate response efforts. Office of Emergency Management has been in constant communication with county emergency management officials and has conducted conference calls with the National Weather Service, state agency partners and counties that could be impacted by the severe weather.
The New York National Guard is deploying 50 service members and 10 vehicles to support local authorities in flood response efforts. Of the 50 service members, 25 soldiers from the 204th Engineer Battalion with five vehicles will stage at their armory in Binghamton and will stand by for further requests for support. In addition, 25 Airmen from the 174th Attack Wing in Syracuse will deploy forward to Ovid, Seneca County with five vehicles to support local response efforts there. The New York National Guard will provide an additional 150 personnel and 30 vehicles on Wednesday morning including:
The New York State Department of Transportation has 3,519 operators and supervisors statewide and is ready to respond with 1,530 large dump trucks, 329 loaders, 85 excavators, 20 graders, 15 bucket trucks, 19 vacuum trucks with sewer jets, 6 trailer mounted sewer jets, 14 water tankers, 11 water pumps, and 4 bulldozers.
State police have deployed 30 troopers, including divers, to the command post in Seneca County, as well as three boats, two four-wheel drive Utility Task Vehicles, and an incident command vehicle. All equipment in other affected regions is staged and ready for deployment, including boats and 4x4 vehicles, and troopers remain on high alert.
The Department of Environmental Conservation is deploying its staged flood control assets to impacted communities. Currently, 11 Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs), two boats, two ATVs, and one UTV have been deployed in the Southern Tier Region. In Schuyler County, DEC is closely monitoring flooding of the Montour Falls Water Resources Recovery Facility and ATVs/UTV are conducting searches of evacuated towns and villages. In Chenango County, DEC Spill Responders are responding to a reported spill in the town of Greene after a car was washed into an aqueduct.
In addition, DEC Forest Ranger hoist operators, swift water rescue teams, and two air boats have been deployed to Southern Tier counties to assist with ongoing rescue operations. In Seneca County, DEC Division of Law Enforcement boats are patrolling Seneca Lake near the village of Lodi. DEC is also dispatching two drone operators to the Southern Tier to assist with recovery efforts.
Volunteers from the American Red Cross are operating several shelters for residents affected by ongoing flooding impacting several communities throughout the region. Residents are welcome to either stay at the shelters or stop by the facilities, as volunteers are providing food and water, comfort and support.
Finger Lakes:
Schuyler County:
Watkins Glen Central High School
301 12th St.
Southern Tier:
Seneca County:
Ovid Federated Church
7137 Main St.