NORWICH – Heavy rain fall caused flash flooding Thursday throughout Chenango County and the surrounding areas. Approximately three and a half inches of rain fell, with the heaviest rain fall occurring between 5 and 7 p.m.
“We got a lot of rain in a short period of time,” said City of Norwich Emergency Management Officer A. Jones. Jones estimated that over four inches of rain fell in a matter of hours last night. “Flash flooding is very scary and unpredictable,” Jones said. “At one point virtually every city street was inundated, curb to curb, with water.” The situation was exacerbated by rush hour traffic. Everyone coming home from work had to maneuver through the heavy water.
“At this point, no injuries or deaths have been reported,” Jones said, pointing out that the potential threat to life and limb was there. Throughout the county, several people had to be rescued from their vehicles. There were reports of a number of individuals who became trapped in their cars amid the running water.
“To some degree, we dodged the bullet,” Jones said. The water in Canasawacta Creek came within one foot of flooding over the banks. According to Jones, city officials were on the brink of going door to door to evacuate people in the area. “We had the shelter ready to go,” Jones said.
Jones explained that flash flooding can affect areas that have never been affected before, while leaving problem areas virtually untouched. “With flash flooding you have a little lead time, but you never know how bad it’s going to be, and where it will hit,” Jones said. “We’ve never had a problem like this before.”
We may see a little more rain before this is over. Jones explained that the rivers may reach flood levels, and there could be flooding in low lying areas, but, he said, “the worst is over.”
CHENANGO COUNTY ROAD CLOSURES
The Sheriffs Department has announced the following roads will remain closed today as a result of yesterday’s heavy rain fall.
County Route 32 from Dan Main to County Road 32 B in the Town of Norwich.
County Route 32 at 32 C.
