On Sunday, July 9th, Governor Kathy Hohcul declared a state of emergency with flash flooding and excessive rain for New York’s Orange County.
Before heading into the weekend, Governor Hochul released a public safety notice warning New Yorkers about potential statewide rain and flooding forecasted for the weekend. “I urge all New Yorkers to monitor their local forecasts, pay attention to alerts and plan accordingly,” shared Governor Hochul. And though many state agencies had made preparations for the storm, it still left devastating impacts across the state.
From Sunday to Monday, Orange County had already experienced more than eight inches of rain due to widespread flooding.
“While much of the storm has passed through New York, it’s critical to remain vigilant,” Governor Hochul said in a press release. “I’m so grateful to every first responder, state worker and local leader who has stepped up to care for their neighbors in the wake of unprecedented flooding. Moving forward, I’m committed to helping these communities recover and rebuild.”
In response of Sunday’s storm, five water rescue teams were deployed, along with a high-axle vehicle to aid with flood rescue efforts. Many roadways faced closures as heavy flooding and washouts threatened public safety. There were more than 12,000 power outages reported across Putnam, Dutchess, Albany, Ulster and Orange counties by Sunday evening.
As of today, Orange, Ontario, Rockland, Clinton, Essex & Oswego counties are still under states of emergency.
The extreme weather from the weekend would normally constitute as abnormal, however the Weather Prediction Center shared that multiple areas in central and northern New England have experienced anywhere from 200-300% of their usual rainfall in the past two weeks, reports The New York Times.
Many transportation service changes and cancellations have been made over the past few days. Yesterday, the Metro-North Railroad experienced multiple service suspensions, while flight delays and cancellations occurred on Sunday. According to the Wall Street Journal, more than 40% of flights set to depart out of LaGuardia Airport were cancelled on Sunday. You can find current road closures in the Hudson Valley listed here.
The New York State Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Services urges New Yorkers to keep an eye on weather forecasts, as multiple counties are still under states of emergency.
To offer assistance in relief efforts, you can find disaster and flood recovery resources here.