Life is slowly returning to normalcy for residents and business owners in the flood-ravaged Delaware County town of Middletown. As of 7pm last night, according to Middletown public information officer Diane Galusha, the curfew for the villages of Margaretville and Fleischmanns was lifted, and most roads are once again open for normal traffic.
A press release sent out by the town on the evening of Monday, September 12:
The States of Emergency for the Town of Middletown and the Villages of Margaretville and Fleischmanns will continue through Sept. 17, however, the curfew will be lifted and roads will be open to traffic (unless barricaded or marked as closed).
Retaining the State of Emergency provides some litigation protection for the municipalities in light of the fact that clean up and demolition operations continue. However, businesses are open, public gatherings may be held, school buses may legally travel and volunteers may continue to help in the affected areas, according to Town Supervisor Leonard Utter.
Flooding which took place in the region August 28 left dozens of buildings damaged in Margaretville, Arkville, Fleischmanns and other areas of the town, and forced many businesses to close. But more than two weeks after the flood, stores are reopening, displaced homeowners and tenants have found new homes and apartments, and the school year has begun at Margaretville Central School.
Still, cleanup continues, and officials note that the temporary debris collection site on County Road 38 (Arkville Cut-Off) will close at the end of the day Sunday, Sept. 18. After that, debris will have to be taken to the Delaware County Landfill in Walton. If the material is shown to be flood-related, the tipping fees may be waived.
