CHENANGO COUNTY – Prolonged rainfall throughout the day and evening on Thursday contributed to some minor flooding and what could have been a major disaster in parts of Chenango County, according to City of Norwich Emergency Management Officer A. Wesley Jones.

Serious problems developed at several sites along the Canasawacta Creek between the city and the Town of Pharsalia, and shortly after 11 p.m. residents on the west side of the city were issued a reverse 911 Alert due to the rising waters.

Jones reported that the Canasawacta, in just three-and-a-half hours, rose an astonishing 12.78 feet. In addition, the creek rose from 1.2 feet Thursday morning to 18.52 feet, less than a foot-and-a-half below the flood stage.

“I’ve never seen it do anything like that before,” said Jones. “We were trying to see if some type of dam broke, and we checked some suspect areas and didn’t find anything.”

Jones, along with Chief of Police Joe Angelino, Fire Chief Tracy Chawgo and Mayor Maiurano, activated the Emergency Operation Center as soon as the creek reached 18 feet, the “action stage,” he added.

In coordination with the county, a general warning was issued to households along the creek between Norwich and Pharsalia and one residence was evacuated when the foundation became compromised by floodwaters.