WGXC-90.7 FM

Latest storm recovery information

Aug 31, 2011 1:44 am
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="2304" caption="Catskill, Sunday, Aug. 28. Photo in by Ann Forbes Cooper."][/caption]

Hurricane headlines


Wednesday morning, Aug. 31, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Congressmen Chris Gibson Greene County Legislature Chairman Wayne Speenburgh, Greene County Administrator Shaun Groden, and other local officials and first responders for a briefing on the flood damage and current conditions in the Catskills at 7:45 a.m. at the Town Highway Facility, 240 W. Main St., in Catskill. WGXC will try to phone in as much of the press conference as possible, and may get a short interview with Rep. Gibson or other officials. The officials are trying to secure federal aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

WGXC audio


New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Rep. Chris Gibson hold a press conference about the storm and federal help in Catskill.
Recorded by Tom Roe near corner of W. Main St. and Bridge St. in Catskill. PLAY CLIP
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Rep. Chris Gibson speak to Catskill Village President Vince Seeeley.

Recorded at the corner of Bridge St. And W. Main St., Catskill. PLAY CLIP


Public events


• Informational Meeting: The Village of Catskill holds an informational meeting about the storm and flooding in Catskill Fri., Sept. 2 at 6:30 p.m. at Catskill High School.



Greene County road closures


• Route 23A from CR 18 to Route 32A Town of Hunter, bridge damage
• Rte 23 at Hickory Hill Rd, Town of Windham, due to flooding
• Route 23 at Hickory Hill Rd in Town of Windham, closed due to flooding
• Route 42 in Village of Spruceton, Town of Lexington, bridge washout
• Rte 296 in Town of Hensonville and between Co Rte 23C and Fort Hill Rd
• Rte 145 is closed from Rte 81 to Broome County. The Route 145/Route 81 intersection in Preston Hollow is closed, as the bridge is out.
• Rte 214 is closed from Hunter to Phoenecia
• Route 81 between Maple Ave and School House Rd, Town of Durham, closed due to trees/wires down
• Route 32 at Route 23A, Catskill, bridge washout
• RTE 23 Closed from Country Rd 4 to RTE 23A in the Town of Prattsville due to Flooding

Media sources


Watershed Post
• WRIP 97.9-FM
The Daily Mail

Town updates


Prattsville is completely closed down, and early reports are of massive devastation, with most of the buildings destroyed.
• Ashland is still accessible mainly to locals.
Windham is now accessible, as State Route 23 is open until you get there. Electricity and cell phone service reportedly returned late Tue., Aug. 30.
Lexington is very isolated as SR 42 is closed with several bridges out.
• Haines Falls is now more difficult to reach, as State Route 23A is closed.

Boil water advisories


• All county residents on public water systems are encouraged to boil their water before use as a precaution.
• Boil Water Orders are in effect for Windham, Hensonville, Tannersville and Hunter, the Village of Arkville, Coxsackie, and the Village of Catskill.

Fundraisers/donations


Big Top Tent Rentals in Cairo is accepting donations destined for needy folks in Prattsville. They are accepting any common sense items that folks displaced by the storm might need: non-perishable food items, water, batteries, hand sanitizer, baby diapers, wipes, etc. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., at 88 Grove St., Cairo.
Nickel Social Friday, Sept. 2, to benefit families on the mountaintop, including those in Windham, Hensonville, and Maplecrest. Money will be given to area fire companies, who'll in turn give out supplies to needy families. Nickel Social from 6-9 p.m. at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Cairo. For more information or to volunteer, contact Erica DeLong at 845-542-6101.
* Bela Fleck and the Flecktones Irene Benefit Concert sponsored by the Belleayre Convservatory performing to aid flood victims of the Central Catskills. The concert is 8 p.m. Sat. Sept. 3 at Belleayre Ski Center, upper lodge. Tax deductible donations can be made out to:
The Belleayre Conservatory, PO Box 198, Highmount, NY 12441

Facebook resources


Hurricane Storys group - Photos and news.
Delaware and surrounding Counties Flooding - Hurricane Irene, August 2011 -- Photos and news.
Catskill Flood disaster group -- for locating people.
Irene in the Catskills relief coordination group.
Shandaken-Irene Facebook page.
Windham-Irene Facebook page.