Emergencies declared in HV because of floods; 1 dead

“This was a frightening, life-threatening experience,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said July10 about what first responders experienced while performing rescues when severe flooding hit in the Hudson Valley late on July 9. She called the event an “incredible shock to this region.”

Both Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul declared states of emergency for Orange County due to flooding caused by the torrential rains. A woman died when she left her home in the town of Highlands as floodwaters were rising. She was swept into a ravine.

In Rockland, County Executive Ed Day reported that about 40 people were rescued from cars trapped in floodwaters.

The CSX railroad freight line was flooded in about 10 locations and was out of service. Amtrak service between New York City and Albany was suspended as a result of the flooding. A local sewage treatment plant in the Highlands area was compromised.

“I saw active duty army soldiers up to their bellies (in flood water),” Neuhaus said. “Easily, tens of millions of dollars in damage here.”

Neuhaus praised good Samaritans who stopped to help people trapped in their cars.

Metro-North service still was suspended Monday morning between Croton-Harmon and Poughkeepsie. Hochul said that about 800 people were stranded on trains Sunday night.

Hochul, Neuhaus and local officials from Highland Falls toured the local area this morning and met with residents who were affected by the floods. Hochul said that the federal government’s FEMA has pledged to provide all assistance necessary. She also said that she spoke with the White House and U.S. Sens. Schumer and Gillibrand. She said the senators pledged to help bring federal aid to the area. Hochul said that officials from West Point offered to provide whatever assistance they could.

Hochul said that Schumer pledged that federal infrastructure dollars would be made available for repairs to roadways, bridges and local facilities.

The New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services’ Office of Emergency Management activated the State Emergency Operations Center in order to receive local requests for assistance. Neuhaus said it was impossible to come up with a count of the number of incidents that took, place because so many were “spur of the moment.” Four state Swift Water Rescue teams were deployed to assist with local flood rescue efforts. State personnel were sent to the Orange County Emergency Operations Center to facilitate local requests for assistance.

There were more than 12,000 power outages reported in Putnam, Dutchess, Albany, Ulster and Orange counties.

Hochul said that because of advance warnings about the heavy rains moving in there were approximately 9,000 first responders and workers ready to jump into action when the floods hit. She said that there could be additional flooding today in parts of New York state although the heaviest rain was moving into parts of New England.