Oswego County is under a state of emergency as most of Central New York deals with the aftermath of significant rainfall. But the impact is not nearly as severe when compared to communities in the Hudson River Valley, where they’re assessing the damage from deadly flash flooding. Governor Kathy Hochul visited Orange County Monday, about 70 miles north of New York City.
“A young woman, 35 years old, who came out seeing that her house was taking on too much water," Hochul said. "She was with her dog and her fiancé literally saw her swept away - terror, devastation right here.”
Hochul also stopped in Canandaigua in Ontario County, which is also under a state of emergency. The state DOT tweeted a photo of a car floating near a flooded road. The governor warned motorists to steer clear.
“When you see the water on a street, don't assume you can drive through it. That is the number one reason people die during a storm is because they drown in their vehicles, two feet of water. Two feet of water, which doesn't seem like that much is enough to sweep a car away.”
Actually, DOT officials say a few inches is all it takes to float a vehicle off the road. The National Weather Service has even coined the phrase "Turn around, don't drown."
Hochul says the ravages of climate change are undeniable.
“This is the new normal. And we in government working with our partners on the ground, have to work with our communities to build up resiliency, to be prepared for the worst because the worst continues to happen.”
Hochul urges those enduring heavy rainfall to be aware of fast-changing conditions. She has declared a state of emergency for additional counties downstate and also near Lake Champlain.
