News stories tagged with "flooding"

(01/27/12) An Adirondack community welcomes the return of its library this weekend, after months of repair work. The doors of the Wells Memorial Library in Upper Jay will reopen on Saturday as part of a day-long celebration. Five months ago, heavy flooding damaged the library after Hurricane Irene.

The library's board president, Marie-Anne Azar Ward, says flood waters ruined a majority of the library's books, and nearly all the children's collection was destroyed.

Azar Ward says the community rolled-up its collective sleeves and went to work repairing the 106-year old building. The re-opening celebration, with music and food, starts at 1 o'clock Saturday afternoon.

(10/17/11) Close to 100 people braved the rain late last week to plant trees in communities along the AuSable River devastated by Tropical Storm Irene.

The Lake Champlain Basin "Trees for Tributaries" program, organized by the state Department of Environmental Conservation and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service, aims to restore and protect stream corridors connected to Lake Champlain following historic flooding Aug. 28. Chris Morris reports. more

(08/31/11) President Obama issued a disaster declaration that frees federal aid for people in areas affected by Irene's flooding, as well as municipalities in Albany, Delaware, Essex, Greene, Schenectady. and Ulster counties. FEMA says assessments are continuing in other areas, and more counties could be added.

Rep. Bill Owens of Plattsburgh is among New York congressman who are preparing a letter asking the president to expand the declaration to more of New York, including Clinton, Warren and Washington counties. Owens and Rep. Chris Gibson were with Gov. Andrew Cuomo Tuesday to get a firsthand look at the devastation Irene brought to the eastern slope of the Adirondacks.

With his daughter Mariah in tow, Cuomo toured the tiny high peaks community of Keene, where flash flooding of the Ausable River wiped out bridges, roads, and buildings. Cuomo also announced he was suspending state Adirondack Park Agency and Department of Environmental Conservation permit requirement to expedite clean-up and rebuilding. Chris Morris was there and has this report. more

(08/29/11) Heavy wind and rain can take a huge toll on the garden. Martha Foley talks with Cooperative Extension horticulturist Amy Ivy about how to deal with the Hurricane Irene aftermath in the garden. And she says to keep an eye out for signs of late blight, continuing to damage produce in the region.

(06/16/11) Just last week, the Federal Government declared 21 New York Counties federal disaster areas, after this spring's flooding. But St. Lawrence county was NOT one of those counties.

Turns out St. Lawrence County wasn't passed over--it hasn't yet applied for aid. County officials aren't confident there's been $336,000 in public infrastructure damage--that's the amount required to qualify for the aid.

Colton has been the most heavily affected community in the county, but most of that damage--about $800,000 in all--was to private homes. Nora Flaherty spoke with Colton Town Supervisor Lawrence Patzwald about where things stand now: more

(06/13/11) On Friday, President Barack Obama declared much of the North Country a federal disaster area following spring floods that continue to plague much of the region. The declaration will mean federal money to help local communities faced with rebuilding infrastructure and paying emergency workers for overtime. Some private homeowners may also qualify for special loans and other financial assistance.

In all, twenty-one New York counties were included on the list, including Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Herkimer, Lewis, and Warren counties. But New York Senator Chuck Schumer says he'll continue to push for Federal emergency aid for St. Lawrence, Washington and Saratoga Counties, which were excluded.

In an interview with the Adirondack Daily Enterprise, Franklin County Emergency Services Director Ricky Provost called the declaration "good and welcome news." In Franklin County alone, the price tag for repairing public infrastructure is expected to top $11 million, at a time when local communities are already cash-strapped.

A flood warning remains in effect for the Lake Champlain shoreline, which is still nearly a foot above flood stage.

(06/08/11) People are still waiting to hear about federal aid for repairing and rebuilding in the areas damaged by the flooding that started in April.

Governor Cuomo asked President Obama on May 25th to declare a major federal disaster in New York. That request was a step in the process of receiving aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

At the time it seemed like a foregone conclusion -- but nothing's happened yet and FEMA aid now seems less certain. more

(06/06/11) It's a challenging year, no doubt about it, for gardeners and commercial growers -- and the plants they're tending. There may be too much water in some places, but not enough in others, after a series of dry, sunny and windy days, and a couple of nights in the 30s. Cornell Cooperative extension horticulturist Amy Ivy has some reminders about garden TLC in her weekly chat with Martha Foley.
And they preview workshops on using local food, homegrown or not, starting next week in Sacket's Harbor, Canton and Plattsburgh.

(06/02/11) Scientists say the record-breaking landslide on Little Porter Mountain in Keene Valley is still on the move, driven by last weekend's heavy rains.

The disaster hasn't caused any injuries, but a half-dozen homes are threatened.

Martha Foley has an update. more

(06/01/11) The economic effects of the flooding that began in late April are still being felt by many in the north country--the rains have left homes and communities heavily damaged; tourism dollars have been lost.

And after more than a month of exceptionally wet weather, area farmers are saying they may not be able to catch up with the planting they need to do for the fall harvest. Fields have been too wet in many cases to plant corn, or to harvest grass for hay--and it's getting down to the wire. more