WGXC-90.7 FM

After the Flood: WGXC Coverage of One-Year Anniversary of Storms Surrounding Hurricane Irene

Aug 28, 2012 - Sep 13, 2012

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Frank Hagan's home on the Batavia Kill on Route 23 in Cozy Hollow in Prattsville now has chains holding it down.. Photo by Jess Puglisi. (Aug 25, 2012)

House on Main St. (Route 23) in Prattsville.. Photo by Jess Puglisi. (Aug 25, 2012)

Prattsville prepares for Mudfest, one year after the flood.. Photo by Jess Puglisi. (Aug 25, 2012)

Prattsville, one year after the flooding from Hurricane Irene.. Photo by Jess Puglisi. (Aug 25, 2012)

After the Flood coverage logo.. Designed by Alan Coon (Aug 10, 2012)

Interior of Pratt Museum in Prattsville, NY. Photo by Jess Puglisi (Jul 07, 2012)

Photo of outside of Zadock Pratt Museum after the storm.. Photo by Larry Gambon. (Sep 07, 2011)

Photo of Prattsville storm damage.. Photo by Larry Gambon. (Sep 07, 2011)

Photo of Zadock Pratt Museum after the storm.. Photo by Larry Gambon. (Sep 07, 2011)

Schoharie flood damage following Tropical Storm Irene. Photo courtesy Governor's Office. (Aug 29, 2011)

Athens Waterfront Park Overwhelmed by Hurricane Irene and the Hudson River.. Photo by Sam Sebren. (Aug 28, 2011)

Catskill Flooding.. Photo by Ann Forbes Cooper. (Aug 28, 2011)

Story's Nursery in Freehold during the storms associated with Hurricane Irene.. Photo by Alan Pavese. (Aug 28, 2011)

Hurricane Irene barreled down on the Catskills Aug. 27, 2011 only as a Tropical Storm, but still packed a wallop, With ground saturated from weeks of rain, as much as 20" of rain fell overnight and into Sunday, Aug. 28, and a flood nearly wiped the town of Prattsville off the map. Other floods came through Hunter, Windham, and other areas in Greene, Schoharie, Delaware, Ulster, and other counties in central New York. Only a few people died, but many faced death, and more faced enormous losses. A few days later, Tropical Storm Lee inflicted more damage.

WGXC will cover the anniversary of the floods in a series of special reports, interviews, features, live events, and other programming. Tune in to WGXC for a recounting of what happened and what will happen next time. We will detail how the community recovered, and worked together in new ways. There will be half-hour and hour-long specials on different subjects, and short reports and interviews each day on the "WGXC Morning Show" and "WGXC Afternoon Show."

Tue., Aug. 28
3-3:30 p.m.: "The Storm Breaks"
WGXC recounts its pre-storm interview with Greene County Emergency Services director John Farrell, and replay station recordings as the first rain fell Sat., Aug. 27, 2011, until WGXC lost power early Sun., Aug. 28, 2011.

Wed., Aug. 29
2-3:30 p.m.: "The Water Recedes"
Paul Smart drives around the area immediately after the storm, and one year later, with a report on the differences. WGXC will also replay other reports in the first days after the storm, including rumors that the Gilboa Dam was going to open, fake charity scams, and an quick network of individuals and groups banding together to help their neighbors. Dharma Dailey talks to the folks behind "Neighbors Helping Neighbors" that formed out of the storm's aftermath. We will interview many other local residents one year later.

Thu., Aug. 30
3-3:30 p.m.: "The Watershed Post"
Dharma Dailey interviews the folks behind the most important source of news during the storm's immediate aftermath, the blod "The Watershed Post." WGXC will also replay parts of their live radio show after the storm with Gov. Andrew Cuomo jumping in during the show.

Fri., Aug. 31
3-3:30 p.m.: "Between the Lines"
Ann Forbes Cooper talks with Professor Robert Titus, known as the "Catskill Geologist," and Carolyn Bennett, historian of the Zadock Pratt Museum in Prattsville and Larry Gambon, a photographer who shot extensive footage of the damage done by the Hurricane Irene, about Prattsville one year on.

Sun., Sept. 2
7-8 a.m.:
9-10 a.m.:

Mon. Sep. 3
2-3:00 p.m., "Prattsville Remembers Irene" Jess Puglisi and Lynn Sloneker talk with residents of Prattsville and Lexington about their experience during the flooding that resulted from Hurricane Irene that obliterated much of their town, along with observations about the first year of recovery. Prattsville, a town of seven-hundred situated at the junction of the Batavia Kill and the Schoharie Creek, was left in ruins after both bodies of water flooded with unanticipated speed and force. Residents interviewed include Beth and Donald Ballard, Michelle Petricini, Frank Hagan, David Murphy, Ronald Jones, Kaitlynn Cross, Melinda Sokoll, and Lynn Byrne.

Wed., Sept. 5
12-2 p.m.: Forum on Flood Coverage
WGXC's Dharma Dailey talks to reporters, citizen journalists, bloggers, Tweeters and Facebook updaters about how they covered the storm. In the hope we can face the next emergency a bit better prepared, we will share our findings in the Forum on Flood Coverage at Scribner Hollow Lodge in Hunter, on Sept. 5. The Forum will be recorded for broadcast on WGXC 90.7-FM 2 p.m., Sept. 13.