After weekend damage, Sylvan Beach concerned about new flooding threats

SYLVAN BEACH, N.Y. — Many residents of Sylvan Beach were back home Monday evening after being forced out due to severe flooding and freezing over the weekend.

Now the cleanup has began, as the threat of another warm up lingers.

Ice caused miles-long ice jams on Fish Creek, which sits on the east side of Oneida Lake.

With the help of around a dozen fire departments, Sylvan Beach firefighters rescued around 100 people and pets by 2 a.m. Saturday from flooding and ice.

Sylvan Beach Fire Chief Rick Johnson said the time of night made it difficult for rescues.

Now, a major concern is if another thaw happens and where all that water will go.

"The only thing that we can really do is get people out before it happens," Johnson said. "There’s no way to stop this. It’s Mother Nature and her worst so all we can do is get people educated. A majority of people are used to this. This happens every couple years, not at this magnitude, so they know what to look for and and not to look for."

Johnson and Oneida County Emergency Management officials are working together to brainstorm more ways to prepare for flooding. There's a possibility that temperatures could rise over the weekend and cause more damage.