Amanda Purcell is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media states of emergency were declared in three Columbia County towns Nov. 16, after a landslide into the Claverack Creek in Greenport occurred. Emergency declarations were issued for Stockport, Greenport and Stottville and will remain in effect indefinitely. Bridge Street in Greenport was closed and roadblocks were set up from Union Turnpike, Route 66, to 85 Industrial Tract in Greenport, as of the early evening. At a press conference on Nov. 16, Columbia County Sheriff David Bartlett said a portion of Claverack Creek is blocked, but he emphasized there was no danger to those living downstream. County and state crews, working with the state Department of Environmental Conservation, are expected to begin rerouting water from the creek to take pressure off the waterway on Nov. 17. However, the additional rain forecast for the weekend has officials concerned. “There is a great possibility more land will give way,” said William Black, Columbia County emergency management director said. “...If someone goes out and stands on it [the bank] could give way. ... We need the public to stay away.” The landslide was most likely caused by the continued wet weather, Black said, adding that this event was identical to a collapse that occurred behind the Sons and Daughters of Italy Lodge on Bridge Street in 2006. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.