3:30am Wednesday, 8/31/11:
Above: The Associated Press's report on Margaretville. Margaretville firefighters rescued 42 people from floodwaters this week, and caught the attention of the national media. Heartbreaking interview with "exhausted hero" Allan Gavette, Assistant Fire Chief.
Margaretville Central School
From Anthony R. Albanese, the superintendent of Margaretville Central School, sent out 8pm on Tuesday, 8/30/11:
Good Evening: Unfortunately, I am certain not all will receive this information so please feel free to pass it along to our colleagues. First and foremost, I hope you and your family endured the tragic events of Irene. As you are aware, Fleischmanns, Middletown, Margaretville and our surrounding communities were hit quite hard. Many of our families are either without a home or awaiting to have assistance cleaning up from the remnants of the flood. All of our community supervisors, businesses, support agencies and FEMA are to be praised for their collaboration and sharing of information during this difficult time.
We are continuing to assess our school building needs and safe travel on our local roads. At this time, I can pass along the following information:
1. Thankfully, water was contained to the basement. With the assistance of our wonderful staff and many local and distant volunteer firefighters that water was removed from our basement today. There remains a good amount to clean up in the meantime.
2. The first and second floor of the building were not damaged other than some saturated ceiling tiles. All classrooms are intact as is the cafeteria, gym, auditorium, library, etc.
3. Due to heroic efforts from several of our staff, parents and friends our buses were moved to higher ground. We did lose some of our trucks and sustained water damage to one bus and the vans.
4. Our playing fields and playground are either underwater or debris filled. Our building and grounds staff have already begun to clean up some of the mess. We have been in contact with the Delaware County Emergency Operations Center for assistance.
5. Our local roads are being repaired although it will take some time to complete everything. I am checking into the safe passage by busses and cars on our roads and I will know more tomorrow. This information will allow me to decide when school will open.
Here is some important for you to know:
1. The faculty/staff day schedule for Thursday September 1 is postponed and is re-scheduled for Tuesday September 6th. We will use the same schedule as was mailed to you last week. This will allow us and our helpers a few more days to review information to be on the safe side. A specific start date for students to begin school will be provided by this Friday if not sooner.
2. Kindergarten orientation has been postponed to a date to be determined.
3. The MCS Emergency Team will meet on Wednesday at 1 pm to review information and prepare for the opening of school. I am certain we will be looking for faculty/staff volunteers to help with opening day and projects during the course of this school year.
Here is how you can help:
1. Begin to assemble clothing items to donate as many in the community will need this support.
2. If you wish to enter school to set-up your room, please call ahead to the Main or District Office first. We will be better able to let you know if it is a good time to do so. If you do come to school, please park in the back parking lot so the front of the building can be used by our vendors.
3. If you are communicating with students please ask if they are at the same address or have moved or moved in with another family. Pass this information on to Stacey so we can update our information. This will help with our bus runs.
4. Keep all of our students, parents and families in your thoughts are they deal with this horrific challenge.
5. Keep yourself and your family well---we need all of us to band together to have a great school year. We can do this!
Once the MCS Emergency Team meets on Wednesday I will send you an update. Please feel free to email me any questions, thoughts or ideas that you may have. Feel free to post this on a social media page if you believe our parents or students may find it helpful. Thanks as always-
Tony Anthony R. Albanese Superintendent Margaretville Central School District 845-5862647 x 11 845-586-2949 (Fax) talbanese@margaretvillecs.org
Cleanup begins at the Freshtown and former CVS. Photo by Brian Mulder via Facebook:
Delaware County Press Conference in Margaretville
At Tuesday's press conference, County officials met Tuesday afternoon on flood damaged Bridge Street in Margaretville, near Freshtown. The speakers were Rich Bell, Director of Delaware County Emergency Services, Delaware County’s Solid Waste Coordinator Susan McIntyre, Jim Eisel, the Chairman of the Delaware County Board of Supervisors, and DVM Commissioner Barbara Fiala, who was there to represent Governor Andrew Cuomo.
Rich Bell, Director of Delaware County Emergency Services announced that a curfew has been implemented in Middletown. It would be from dawn to dusk. “It will be enforced by law enforcement officers and military police,” said Bell. The purpose is to reduce unwanted traffic in the region that has been slowing down clean up work. With the enforcement of the curfew, we can begin getting roads open for emergency access,”said Bell.
Susan McIntyre, Delaware County’s Solid Waste Coordinator, announced that the county has set up two staging areas for Middletown residents to dump their flood debris. They are: in Fleischmanns, at the intersection of State Highway 28 and Main Street and in Arkville, on County Route 28. The Arkville location is the larger of the two. The sites will open tomorrow. The hours of operation for both facilities are 7am-5pm. (They didn’t say what days. No one asked and they left before I could follow-up, so I think it’s daily. They also didn’t say how long the program will last.) For people who use garage pick-up services, the county will waive tipping fees for flood debris for the next two weeks.
The things that can be tossed are: C & D (construction debris), scrap metal, tires, TV sets, monitors, flooring, furniture,freon containing appliances including refrigerators, freezers, and air conditioners, hazardous materials such as paints and pesticides.
Bell said there are now feeding stations at the fire halls in Margaretville and Fleischmanns for flood victims that can feed up to 1,000 people. The county wants to set up a service center to provide flood victims with information on how to get the hep they need.
Jim Eisel, the Chairman of the Delaware County Board of Supervisors introduced the speakers and said “The water level in the streams was 54 inches higher than in ’96.”
Delaware County Relief Resources
The Human Needs Committee of Delaware County sent out this press release of resources today:
Hurricane Irene is over. How can you help Delaware County recover? Donate goods, cash and/or your time.
The following items are needed:
Cleaning products, baby supplies such as formula/diapers, wipes, and only new car seats, sanitary products, soap, toothpaste, toilet paper, toothbrushes, razors, shampoo, deodorant, contact lens eye solution, bandaids, Q tips, body lotion, hand sanitizer. All items can be dropped off at Delaware Opportunities, State Highway 10, Hamden, NY, Oneonta Ford Inc. St Hwy 23 Oneonta, NY or Catholic Charities, 15 S. Main Street, Oneonta, NY.
Canned goods and non perishable foods including soup, stew, pasta meals, peanut butter, jelly, crackers, boxed milk, and 100% juice – take such items to Delaware Opportunities or Oneonta Ford Inc. St Hwy 23 Oneonta, NY. Items will then be distributed food directly to flood victims or to local County Food Banks..
School supplies needed: backpacks, pencils, pens, composition note books, calculators, glue sticks, blunt scissors, crayons and markers can be dropped off at Oneonta Ford, State Highway 23, Oneonta, NY or Delaware County Department of Social Services, 99 Main Street, Delhi, NY and Delaware Opportunities.
Furniture – call Delaware County Office for the Aging, (607) 746-6333 to leave contact information and what you have to donate. This is necessary due to limited storage space for such items. By leaving your number further arrangements will be made to match your donation with someone in need.
Clothing drop off sites: Delaware Opportunities, State Highway 10, Hamden, NY, the Open Door, State Highway 28, Delhi, NY, Catholic Charities, 15 S. Main Street, Oneonta, NY
Cash donations may be made to the United Way of Delaware and Otsego Co. Disaster Fund. Call (607) 432-8006 to make such donation, or mail your check donation to United Way of Delaware and Otsego County, 31 Maple Street, Oneonta, NY 13820.
If you would like to volunteer with the clean up activities, contact the Office for the Aging, (607) 746-6333.
Written by Human Services Committee Contact Person- Susan Aikens Del Co DSS work number 832-5300
You can also list relief resources and peruse the list on our Relief Resource page on the Watershed Post.
Latest news, photos, and video
Tons of photos and info on the Facebook Group Hurricane Storys. Too much to post here.
Earlier Margaretville coverage
11:20am Monday, 8/30/11: Incredible photos of Margaretville devastation by David Rainbird via Facebook:
Inside Margaretville's CVS
Coldwell Banker office on Main Street
The Freshtown
Also, brave video coverage of the flooding by Amy Metnick from around 4pm in Margaretville yesterday. And another scary video by YouTube user NYryry.
10:45am Monday 8/29/11: There is a boil water order on in Margaretville:
Boil Water Alert – Margaretville
A boil water alert is in effect for Margaretville. Contaminated water can contain microorganisms that cause diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal cramps and headaches. Make F you disinfect sure IRST FLOOR all water before drinking it or using it to prepare food by:
1. Bringing water to a rolling boil for two minutes Early Intervention
♦ 2. Then let the water cool before drinking C.S.H.C.N.
♦ (Boiled water will taste better if you put oxygen back into it by pouring it back and forth between P.H.C.P.
♦ two containers.
♦ Preschool Program
♦ Family Health Note: *It is safe to shower/shave with unboiled water as long as the water is not swallowed*
♦ Disease Control
According to Delaware County Emergency Services, their biggest priority currently is getting assistance to people in Margaretville, Arkville and Fleischmanns today. Margaretville and Arkville still have no municipal water -- that includes the hospital and nursing home. "We've got a lot of water on hand right now and are working to deliver it to them," a Delaware County emergency responder told us this morning.
Here's a link to a new video of Margaretville flooding.
6pm: Added another Margaretville video: footage of a water rescue at the Cheese Barrel, taken by YouTube user byDavidFrance. You can see more of his videos here.
Photo of an inundated Freshtown by James Baker via Facebook:
2pm: Videographer Fred Margulies just sent us this video of flooding in Margaretville.
1pm: Photos of Fleischmanns flooding -- scroll down.
12:15am: Photos and video of Margaretville flooding are emerging on Facebook, which means that some M-Ville residents still have power and internet. Here's a link to a video of Cheese Barrel and Bridge Street by Christian Scott. Here are photos by Megan Elizabeth VanKeuren below of the Freshtown/CVS parking lot:
11:20am: Margaretville's flooding is exceeding the levels set during the record-breaking 1996 flood, according to a hydrograph of current flooding levels. See the hydrograph below:
11:15am: Main Street Margaretville is covered with several feet of water. Margaretville Central School and the Margaretville Telephone Company are reportedly flooded. Governor Andrew Cuomo, who was on his way to New York City this morning after inspecting the Gilboa dam for earthquake damage, stopped in Margaretville to inspect flood damage. His team released the above photos on his Twitter account, which you can see here. Below, Cuomo in Margaretville:
Below, Fred Margulies' video of the day after in Margaretville.
