Above: Video of flooding throughout Phoenicia and Shandaken, by YouTube user marcstedman, who traveled for two days to get out of the region after the flooding.
It's day four of Hurricane Irene aftermath in Shandaken, and I just had what is becoming my nightly chat with Shandaken Town Supervisor Rob Stanley. Here's the latest from Shandaken.
- All residents of Oliverea Road have been reached and accounted for, although many are still without power.
- Volunteers are needed at Mama's Boy Market on Friday at noon for a Civil Emergency Response Team (CERT).
- Twenty-four structures in Shandaken have been condemned after building inspections today.
- The levy on Winnisook Lake is holding, but was damaged by the storm. An inspection report will be available tomorrow.
- Sanitary supplies including towels and personal care products are being distributed at each fire house: Phoenicia, Big Indian/Oliverea, an Shandaken/Allaben.
- The firehouses also can point you to commercial dumpsters for household trash.
- The Allaben firehouse now has dry ice and water available.
- Dry ice did arrive at the Allaben fire station on Tuesday, but two-and-a-half hours late.
- State government has been slow to delivery promised supplies, according to Stanley.
Here is a transcription of my conversation with Stanley tonight:
We have checked 100% of the residents door-to-door. Everyone's fine--no fatalities. Medical supplies have been distributed, and will continue to distribute as needed. We will continue to do that until power is restored.
Structural assessments of flood ravaged areas are complete, thanks to the state fire inspector and our building inspector, Richard Stokes. He was newly -appointed during the emergency as needed. He had shown an interest, as well as two others in the town, and we put an APB out for all of them when the storm hit. Stokes just happened to come by the command center - he was bringing dry ice to his neighbors and getting supplies, and he happened by the fire department. We had an emergency town meeting on Wednesday morning to appoint him.
Damage across Shandaken has been assessed. The inspectors did 261 total inspections, and 24 structures were deemed unsafe. They inspected everybody where flooding occurred -- Mount Tremper, Phoenicia, Chichester, Woodland Valley, Fox Hollow, Shandaken, Oliverea, and Big Indian.
We had official and engineers from DEC go to inspect the levy holding Winnisook Lake. We're still waiting to hear from them. We sent them in to double-check it. The levy didn't break, and is holding so far. But there is damage. Basically, the water in the lake rose up, overflowed over the dike, and started to wash away the back end. It could have been comprised if rain had persisted for a few more hours.
We have received sanitary supplies thorough the Office of Emergency Management. They are self-contained bags with towels and cleaning products. emergency management. They are being distributed at each fire house: Phoenicia, Big Indian/Oliverea, an Shandaken/Allaben.
The dry ice did show up at 10:30pm on Tuesday night. It took a lot of phone calls and a bunch of yelling. Believe me, I was pissed. And the following day, NYSEG started to delivering dry ice randomly, and we started distributing it to the firehouses. Now we're able to get it.
We have power restored from Pine Hill along Rte. 28 to the intersection of Route 42 in Shandaken. Oliverea Road is still without power were, and predictions for restoration on that road are upwards of three weeks.
W\e have an issue with sanitation, and people have been frustrated about it. They've been throwing their trash into their front yards, and it's just piling up. The firehouses have instructions for how to find commercial dumpsters in each district.
Tomorrow at noon, in conjunction with the Phoenicia rotary, we are creating a Civil Emergency Response Team (CERT) team. We're looking for any able-boded man or women to volunteer. We're meeting Friday at noon at Mama's Boy on Main Street Phoenicia. Bring a shovel, gloves, a broom, and dust mask if you have them. If not, we are trying our best to get those supplies through the governor's office.
It's been a big push with state and federal government. We are two days without those promises being kept. we're waiting for equipment and material for highway restorations, as well as material for CERT team for cleanup. Every day, there's a report: "it's on its way; it will be here at noon." Today is the third day that it hasn't arrived.
Stanley posted a full update on the Shandaken website today:
Town News & Updates EMERGENCY RESPONSE
3:00pm – Thurs., Sept. 1 – The Town of SHandaken continues to be under a State of Emergency! Town, County and State officials are working diligently to restore power and services to the entire Town. NYSEG crews have restored power from Pine Hill to the Hamlet of Shandaken on Rte. 42 & 28. They are working to swing lines over the washout near the “portal” (Schoharie Tunnel). We are cautious of power restoration as lines are energized and power may be ON in several houses that have suffered damage and we have to beware of possible structural fires developing in these homes.
Highway crews are coordinating efforts in the Oliverea Valley where several bridges are out and we are still only able to access some homes on foot. Fire and Police patrols have done door to door checks. No fatalities reported. Medical, Food and water supplies are being provided through local Fire Departments. Dry Ice is also available at the Phoenicia, Shandaken-Allaben and Big Indian/Oliverea Fire Houses. Clothing and dry goods are available through the United Methodist Church on Church St., Phoenicia. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 9am-2pm. Clothing donations are being accepted there as well at those times.
Belleayre is still available as emergency shelter and free shuttle bus has been arranged running a continuous loop from the Phoenicia Senior Center, Main St.-Phoenicia to Belleayre on a “flag down” service along Rt. 28 from 9am to 6pm daily until power is restored throughout the Town.
State inspectors are doing a physical door to door assessment of homes throughout the town. They hope to be complete by this evening. If you have suffered damage or if your home has been deemed “Unsafe” or “Restricted Access” please call your insurance company and notify them of your situation. They will have to assess damage and respond in order for FEMA officials to assist you! FEMA is in Town and has set up a disaster response center at Belleayre’s Discovery Lodge (Lower). We are trying to coordinate informational meetings at each of the Fire Houses.
If you know of a neighbor that may not have access to this information as they are without power, cable or internet, please send word to them. The Town, with coordination of the Phoenicia Rotary, is establishing a Civilian Emergency Response Team (CERT). W e are looking for able bodied people to assist others in our community to salvage what they can. If you have them, bring Shovels, Work Gloves, brooms, dust masks and other general cleaning items. We will do our best to provide some of these materials. CERT meeting will take place at 12 noon on Friday, Sept. 2 in front of Mama’s Boy Cafe on Main St., Phoenicia.
Stream Restoration and Highway Restoration will continue until the Town feels we have addressed these satisfactorily. These include previously identified threat areas that proved to be troublesome during this event.
State Officails have stated that the Forest Preserve and Campgrounds in Shandaken will remain closed until infrastructure can be restored. BE SAFE!
A press release from Stanley was also sent out earlier today:
Shandaken Town Supervisor Robert A. Stanley reports that operations will continue checking residences throughout Shandaken. With the assistance of State and County officials, 30 percent of all structures which were damaged have been inspected. Most of the homes which were cut off have been checked for residents. At this point, everyone has been found to be in good condition with some reporting only minor complaints, and those in need of medication are having it delivered. Those persons who have lost power are reminded that the contents of your refrigerator and freezer may not be edible and can cause serious illness. If you have any questions about food safety, please contact the Cornell Cooperative Extension at (845) 340-3990. Power is slowly being restored, and no ETA has been provided for completion.
Belleayre Ski Center remains open and has served hundred of meals. The number to call at Belleayre is 254-5600 x 1348. Dry ice and water are still available at the Shandaken-Allaben Firehouse on Rte. 28. Due to continuing road restoration, Supervisor Stanley still discourages all unnecessary travel to this area.
