Flood water race through Valley, Esperance

8/31/2011

By the T-J News Staff

overnor Andrew Cuomo toured the Hurricane Irene-ravaged Schoharie Valley for the second time in two days Monday to see for himself the rain-swollen Schoharie Creek, flooded farmland, and mud-layered streets.
He was joined by Schoharie County Sheriff Tony Desmond, Board of Supervisors Chairman Harold Vroman, and Assemblyman Pete Lopez, flown in by a National Guard helicopter from command central at the Department of Transportation headquarters in Cobleskill.
"Unbelievable," said Assemblyman Lopez, a Schoharie resident, as he boarded the helicopter.
"It's going to be a long, long haul."
Using his cell phone to record images of the disaster, Governor Cuomo said he's grateful no lives were lost here.
"I want FEMA to see this," Governor Cuomo said, noting a tree limb caught in a power line high above the Partridge Nest bridge, which was destroyed by the flood.
"We'll get through it yet, Anything you need, let me know."
Governor Cuomo told Middleburgh Supervisor Dennis Richards, who with Cobleskill Supervisor Tom Murray, met him in Middleburgh, that through FEMA, aid will be fast-tracked.
Mr. Richards told the Governor that volunteers are already at work in the Valley.
"When you have people stepping up like we've had, you're blessed, Our community is blessed," he said.
"Our volunteers, our rescue squads, were greatly appreciated and did a great job stepping up."

In a press release issued after the visit, Governor Cuomo said New York State has President Obama's ear.
"President Obama called this afternoon. He had been briefed on our situation and expressed his desire to immediately be helpful in our recovery efforts," he said.
"We discussed the ways the federal government could help coordinate efforts between New York State, FEMA, and other agencies."
As of Tuesday, some 7,000 local residents remained without power, which could take days more to restore.
The state of emergency was extended until 6pm Tuesday and all county offices remained closed.
Even as local roads reopened one-by-one, residents were urged to remain off roads until they have been declared safe.
Emergency shelters remain open (see related story).
Anyone with an emergency should call 911.
Non-emergency help is available at 234-3411.
Monday's efforts focused on "search and rescue," said Karen Miller, public information officer for the county, with about 50 people evacuated.
No deaths or injuries were reported, she said.
All told, more than two dozen roads and bridges were closed by the flood waters; traffic in the eastbound lane of I-88 was backed up for several miles as travelers waited for bridges to be reopened.
At the height of the storm, flooding from smaller streams made many roads throughout the county impassable, even far away from the Schoharie Creek.
Conditions at the Gilboa Dam have been downgraded to "normal," according to the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, Ms. Miller said; water, however, continues to flow over the dam at record levels.
The Blenheim-Gilboa Dam was still a concern Tuesday, however, according to the National Weather Service.
A "Type B" designation, indicating the potential for dam failure, was expected to be lifted by the end of the day.
Though the damage was most visible in Middleburgh and Schoharie, the flood waters gathered strength as they swept into Central Bridge and Esperance, smashing foundations and washing two homes into the road, and carrying away crops and livestock.