Heavy storms cause chaos on the roads in upstate New York

At least one New Yorker was killed Sunday night when tidal-wave-like floodwaters swept her away in a devastating rainstorm that pummeled parts of the Hudson Valley and wreaked havoc on roads and homes across the region.

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At least one New Yorker was killed Sunday night when “tidal-wave”-like floodwaters swept her away in a devastating rainstorm that pummeled parts of the Hudson Valley and wreaked havoc on roads and homes across the region.

Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency for Orange and Ontario counties Sunday night, stating that the counties “experienced life-threatening flooding over the past few hours” — totaling about eight inches of rain by 10 p.m. 

A woman in her 30s drowned as she tried to flee her Highland Falls home in Orange County with her dog, County Executive Steve Neuhaus said Sunday night. 

“Her house was completely surrounded by water. The family tried to escape,” he said. “She was trying to get through [the floodwaters] with her dog and she was overwhelmed by tidal-wave-type waves.”

The flash flooding dislodged boulders and smashed them into her house, damaging part of its wall, he said.

Emergency personnel maneuver a boat that was used to rescue residents of flooded homes following flash flooding from torrential rain throughout the Lower Hudson Valley, in Stony Point, New York. via REUTERS
Emergency personnel tend to a rescued resident following flash flooding from torrential rain throughout the Lower Hudson Valley. via REUTERS

Two other family members and the dog survived the harrowing ordeal, officials said, according to PIX 11. 

Rescue teams were trying to retrieve the woman’s body from the waters Sunday night. 

Several New Yorkers remained unaccounted for late into the night during the unrelenting storm.

Flooding on the Palisades Interstate Parkway in Rockland County, New York, on July 9. New York State Police
Flooding in the town of Highlands. Facebook/King Ty i

Hochul said on WCBS 880 there were more “missing individuals” in Orange County, without specifying a number.

“The amount of water is extraordinary and it’s still a very dangerous situation,” she said, noting one house was swept away.

She warned that “it’s going to be a rough night.”

New York State Police and other first responders brought multiple stranded motorists to safety Sunday night, a spokesperson said.

Five swift-water rescue teams and a high-axle vehicle were deployed by the state to aid in rescues in high floodwaters. 

Authorities continued to do sweeps of the affected areas late into the night to make sure other drivers weren’t stuck in cars, police said.

“We’re looking for people who may still be out there,” Trooper Steven Nevel told The Post Sunday night.

A route is damaged after heavy rainfall in Cornwall in Hudson, New York. AFP via Getty Images

It’s unknown how many people have been rescued so far.

State police urged drivers to avoid parts of the Palisades Interstate Parkway in Orange and Rockland counties because of the heavy flooding.

The parkway was shuttered from Exit 14 to the Long Mountain traffic circle, along with many other major roads. 

According to the New York State Police, “numerous” drivers were left stranded by flooding in Rockland County. New York State Police
Storms damage a home, create debris hazards and cause heavy flooding in Stony Point. ZUMAPRESS.com
A damaged car lays on a collapsed roadway along Route 32 in the Hudson Valley near Cornwall, N.Y. AP

“You couldn’t even get in there if you tried to,” Nevel said. “But even if you did, it wouldn’t be beneficial to you.”

Some drivers were forced to sleep in their cars Sunday night or stay in hotels that might not have power, Neuhaus told PIX 11.

Rockland County Executive Ed Day told the news station six hikers and dozens of drivers needed to be rescued from the storm’s wrath.

The New York State Park Police Western District Swiftwater Team responded to flooding in the city of Canandaigua. New York State Park Police
Five swift-water rescue teams and a high-axle vehicle were deployed by the state to aid in rescues. New York State Park Police

The storm has particularly devastated the area around Highland Falls and West Point, where the United States Military Academy is located. 

Officials are worried that some historic buildings there might have been damaged in the storm. 

Videos posted on social media showed brown floodwaters with cars engulfed in West Point. 

Route 218 from Cornwall to West Point completely collapsed. Twitter/@NsfwWx

Neuhaus, the Orange County executive, told the Times-Union that the area around Highland Falls closest to the Hudson River was “an absolute war zone.”

He called the damage “massive” and said repair work could take months, with many flooded homes in Highland Falls likely to be condemned.

Officials said the storm had already caused tens of millions of dollars in damage. 

A car is stuck in the floodwaters in Rockland County. New York State Police
Drivers struggling to make it past debris during the storm in upstate New York. New York State Police
Authorities have warned drivers to stay clear of the Palisades Interstate Parkway on Sunday evening. New York State Police

The storm shut off power for thousands of New Yorkers across the region.

As of Sunday evening, there were more than 12,000 power outages in Orange, Putnam, Dutchess, Albany and Ulster counties. 

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The Metro-North Railroad announced late Sunday that the Hudson Line was suspended north of Croton-Harmon due to the battering storm.

Service was expected to be unavailable through the day on Monday. 

“Due to the impact of severe storms in Northern Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties, leaving behind high water, trees, boulders and other debris, sections of Metro-North’s Hudson Line tracks north of Croton-Harmon have become impassable,” the transit agency said in a news release.

Crews were working throughout the night to check out the damage and clear tracks of debris, mud and water.

Putnam County Executive Kevin Byrne told The Post Sunday evening the walloping rain caused a sinkhole to open under the foundation of a Carmel house, which forced the residents to evacuate.   

A retaining wall in the homeowner’s basement collapsed, according to county officials.

First responders found a large hole had opened on the side of the house and front lawn when they reached the shocking scene.

Drivers battling strong floodwaters during the storm. New York State Police

Flash flood warnings were issued for much of the Hudson Valley, as well as parts of the Big Apple Sunday night, the National Weather Service said.

“Over an inch of rain has fallen in parts of the Bronx and Manhattan in the last hour, with another 1 to 2 inches expected,” the National Weather Service tweeted around 9:30 p.m. “Flash flooding is expected to begin shortly, if not already occurring.”

The city’s emergency notification system warned residents Sunday they “should prepare now to move to higher ground if needed” due to potential “life-threatening flooding to basements.”

Almost 53 million people along the Eastern Seaboard were at risk of flooding through Monday morning, according to Fox Weather. 

Millions of people from Washington, DC, through Philadelphia and New York and up to Vermont faced the most serious risk, Fox Weather said. 

With Post wires

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