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Storm resources from WRIP, Watershed Post

Aug 30, 2011 2:37 pm
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="The bridge in Haines Falls was destroyed in the storm. Photo by Dharma Dailey at 2 p.m. Sun., Aug. 28."][/caption]Please tune in to WRIP (97.9-FM) in Windham to hear the most direct vital information about the flooding on the mountaintop from the Hurricane Irene-related storms. Please check the Watershed Post blog for the best information about road closures, shelters, places to make donations, and other vital information. WRIP is taking calls at 734-4747. Here are a number of resources, mostly from those sources, for anyone in need of help in the wake of Hurricane Irene:


Dry ice distribution


Central Hudson will distribute dry ice at the following locations today, Tue., Aug. 30.
• Cairo (Greene County) - Angelo Canna Park, Mountain Ave., Cairo (adjacent to Greene County Office of Emergency Preparedness) .
• Ellenville (Ulster County) - Ellenville Village Hall, 81 North Main St., Ellenville.
• Lake Katrine (Ulster County) - Grace Community Evangelical Church, 160 Seremma Ct, Lake Katrine.
Central Hudson reports that 9,800 folks in Greene County lack power still, with no prediction on when that might change. In Columbia County, 300 lack power, which is expected to return by Wed. Aug. 31.

General bulletins


• A state of emergency has been declared in Greene County due to flooding.
• A boil water order is in effect for Tannersville, Hunter, and the Village of Arkville.
• Dial 211 for local recovery assistance information.
• Access to Village of Margaretville restricted to residents and emergency personnel only.

From Dharma Dailey:
"Word from T-Ville Firehouse this AM: All the bridges out of the Town of Hunter have some damage. Telling people to stay put. Power and net just back." From Monday, Aug. 29.

Catskill shelters


• First Baptist Church on West Main Street
• Second Baptist Church on Main Street
• Firehouse on Central Ave.

Columbia County shelters


• Stuyvesant Fire House on Route 26A
• New Lebanon Fire House on Route 20
• Churchtown Firehouse

Greene County road closures


Greene County
• 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
• 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

Albany County road closures


COEYMANS, per WRIP: NY 32 closed north of the Alcove, Town of Coeymans, Albany Co.

Greene County power outages


Central Hudson Electric & Gas: 19416 customers offline (69 percent) as of 10 p.m. Mon. Aug. 29.
New York State Electric & Gas: 2689 customers offline (59 percent) as of 10 p.m. Mon. Aug. 29.

Damage reports and FEMA


Email reports to Liz Higgins at the Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Program. More info here.

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.

Web resources


Flooding Recovery info from Cornell Cooperative Extension.
• From NYS Archives - There are several resources in New York to assist your organization recover from Hurricane Irene. The State Office of Emergency Management provides assistance, including access to products and recovery services. Go to: http://www.dhses.ny.gov/.
• The State Library and State Archives have resources to assist you. Contacts, services, and resources are listed below by your organization type. The State Library and State Archives are also responsible for gathering information about the extent of damage to your building and/or collections as well as recovery costs. Contact Barbara Lilley (blilley@mail.nysed,gov) or Maria Holden (mholden@mail.nysed.gov) to report the impact of the storm on your organization.>

Libraries


• State Library staff are available to provide advice on recovering collections. Contact the State Library at (518) 486-4864. For additional resources, go to http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/cp/index.html.

State agencies


• Archives staff are available to provide advice on recovering damaged records. When agency records are believed to constitute a hazard to human safety or health or to property, the agency records management officer may request authorization from the State Archives to destroy or dispose of such records immediately. Contact the Archives at (518) 474-6926 or (518) 473-4254. For a complete listing of State Archives disaster services and resources, go to: http://www.archives.nysed.gov/a/records/mr_disaster.shtml.

Local governments


• The State Archives Regional Advisory Officers are available by phone/email to provide advice on recovering archives and records and to assist you in applying for a recovery grant. Local governments may be eligible for up to $20,000 in disaster recovery funding for damaged records. Contact your Regional Advisory Officer http://www.archives.nysed.gov/a/directories/dir_staff.shtml#Advisory or call the Archives at (518) 474-6926 or (518) 473-4254. For a complete listing of State Archives disaster services and resources, go to: http://www.archives.nysed.gov/a/records/mr_disaster.shtml



[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="700" caption="The Hudson River spilled over into the Athens Waterfront Park. Photo by Sam Sebren."][/caption]

Red Cross Needs Immediate Volunteers for Storm Relief

Three opportunities for the four-hour fast-track disaster relief training sessions offered by the American Red Cross of Northeastern New York for those who wish to assist with the current disaster relief efforts throughout Northeastern NY, stretching from Poughkeepsie to Plattsburgh. Any person interested in responding to disasters caused by Hurricane Irene who: Is 18 years of age or over; Is able to lift at least 35 pounds; Has a valid driver's license and can travel throughout Eastern New York; Will consent to a background check (free of charge); Is available for several days over the next two to four weeks. Of particular interest are volunteers who may work for the State of New York and are therefore eligible to invoke NY State's Disaster Leave Law, which may allow them to be released from work for up to three weeks without penalty. Three opportunities for fast-tracked disaster training will be offered by Red Cross staff and volunteers on Wednesday, August 31, 2011 from 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm in Albany, on Thursday, September 1, 2011 from 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm in Poughkeepsie, and again on Tuesday, September 6, 2011 from 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm in Poughkeepsie. (Please note: only one training session is required). Following the training, new volunteers will be deployed regionally to the areas in need from Poughkeepsie to Plattsburgh.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011 - 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm
United Way of the Greater Capital Region
1 United Way, Albany, NY

Thursday, September 1, 2011 - 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Nubian Directions Building
248 Main Street Poughkeepsie NY

Tuesday, September 6, 2011 - 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Nubian Directions Building
248 Main Street, Poughkeepsie, NY

The American Red Cross needs many additional volunteers to assist in the response to unprecedented flooding, evacuations and power outages following Hurricane Irene. With more than 35 shelters currently open, and the potential for additional shelters in the coming days, volunteers are needed in shelter operations, feeding, bulk distribution of supplies (comfort kits and cleanup kits, etc.), recovery information distribution, disaster assessment, counseling and emotional support, disaster public affairs, disaster nursing, and many other support areas.
Please call the American Red Cross of Northeastern NY at (518) 458-8111 to register.