If you thought the rivers and streams got high earlier this week, you haven't seen anything yet.
The National Weather Service has issued flood watches for all five Catskills counties -- Delaware, Greene, Schoharie, Sullivan, and Ulster -- from tomorrow morning to Friday evening, and the outlook is troubling, especially for the Esopus Creek, Schoharie Creek, the Wallkill River, the Delaware River, and the Ashokan and Rondout reservoirs. From the Binghamton NWS office:
2 To 3 Inches Of Rain Coupled With Snowmelt Could Lead To Significant Flood Problems In The Watch Area. * The Potential Exists For Significant Flooding On The Upper Delaware River And Its Tributaries. The Potential Exists For Major Flash Flooding On Smaller Streams And Creeks...Poor Drainage And Low- Lying Areas ... Those Living...Working Or Driving In Areas Prone To Flooding Should Be Prepared To Take Action Should Flooding Develop.
A just-published article by Adam Bosch in the Times Herald-Record reports that the New York City Department of Environmental Protection has re-started its controversial practice of releasing water into the Esopus Creek in order to drain the already-brimming reservoirs before the rains begin:
The city’s Department of Environmental Protection started releasing the maximum amount of water - roughly 1,555 million gallons a day - from its three Delaware reservoirs on Tuesday to make room for the additional water ... DEC Assistant Commissioner Jim Tierney said the releases that started Wednesday morning were necessary. He warned that several inches of rain, combined with the 17 billion gallons of water left in the snow pack, could spell danger for communities around the Ashokan and Esopus. “You could get an enormous amount of water rolling down that valley,” Tierney said. “The reservoir will likely fill to the top and spill. It could be very bad tonight.”
On his blog, Bosch explained that even Ulster County executive Mike Hein, who has been fiercely critical of the DEP's water releases into the Esopus, agreed that today's releases were necessary:
Even Hein, who’s become a steady critic of the DEP, agreed. “This limited release represents a responsible operation of the waste channel as a powerful tool to provide floot mitigation,” he said.
The New York State Office of Emergency Management issued a press release this afternoon warning that flooding in many areas is almost inevitable tomorrow:
With flood watches being posted for most of the state by National Weather Service, the New York State Office of Emergency Management (OEM) today advised New Yorkers to review their individual emergency plans to be prepared for the possibility of flooding.
“The storm system that is moving into the state tonight is carrying a lot of moisture and will possibly produce several inches of rain over the next few days,” said Andrew X. Feeney, Director of State OEM. “This rain, coupled with the forecasted warmer temperatures and melting snow, will raise the levels of already swollen rivers and tributaries in many areas of the state and probably will result in flooding.”
Ulster County Emergency Communications Director Arthur R. Snyder sent out an email this afternoon which was reposted in the Facebook group "Upstaters." (Upstaters is a closed group, joinable by request.) Snyder wrote that in a 2pm NWS conference call, Phoenicia was ominously mentioned by name:
Some winter precipitation will occur throughout the County beginning after midnight. Valley areas could see 1-2 inches of snow, mountainous areas 4-5". The storm should transition to a rain event by mid morning tomorrow in lower elevations, later in the higher terrain. Rainfall totals: a widespread 2-4" of rain is expected; up to 5" in SE facing upslope areas. Phoenicia was specifically mentioned in this call - in and of itself mentioning this location in a regional call is unusual.
Snyder then gave a grim warning:
Flooding is a certainty. The degree of flooding is the only question. Please make certain that everyone in flood prone areas (and those in areas that might not normally flood) are on heightened awareness. Everyone needs to keep a close eye on not only stream levels, but also the rate of rise (which will be much quicker than earlier in the week).
We will be updating constantly as the water rises. Help us out: Email us photos or information about road closures and flooding and post your info in the comments section below and on our Facebook page.
