Schenectady Stockade - 500-year flood
Posted by AlligatorPointer on 8/28/2011, 11:40 pm
Schenectady expects flooding to cover Stockade
'We've been told to consider this a 500-year flood'
By CATHY WOODRUFF Staff writer
Updated 09:36 p.m., Sunday, August 28, 2011

Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Schenectady-expects-flooding-to-cover-Stockade-2145214.php#ixzz1WNyKHeVJ

SCHENECTADY - The swelling Mohawk River spilled into Schenectady's historic Stockade section late Sunday, leading city officials to warn residents to leave ahead of rising water expected to overrun the entire neighborhood.

Floodwaters were rising by the minute and were expected to reach Erie Boulevard or Broadway on Monday, meaning homes in lower lying sections of the Stockade near the river could be submerged under several feet of water.

"We've been told to consider this a 500-year flood," Fire Chief Michael Della Rocco said.

Schenectady was one of many upstate municipalities that faced dangerous levels of flooding in the wake of Tropical Storm Irene.

Acting Mayor Gary McCarthy said the river was expected to begin flooding Sunday evening and would continue to rise, reaching a crest of 235 feet - 12 feet over flood stage - at 2:30 p.m. Monday.

The flood was expected to reach far deeper into the city and into the village of Scotia than in floods of recent decades, swelling to Erie Boulevard and, perhaps, Broadway in downtown Schenectady, he said.

The city set up an emergency shelter at the new Bureau of Services garage on Foster Avenue.

"This is not a routine Stockade flooding event. This is an extraordinary event," Della Rocco said.

"Because of that, we are looking at hours of flooding, just to get to the crest. This is a long term event."

The city was nearing flood stage early Sunday evening and was expected to hit the previous record level of 229 feet, set in 1914, sometime overnight, said Della Rocco.

"This is not a typical water event in the Stockade," McCarthy said. "It is a major event that is going to have a significant impact on the city."

City emergency workers were going door-to-door in the Stockade neighborhood advising people to evacuate and distributing informational leaflets, McCarthy said.

Della Rocco said residents should take their pets with them, gather up medications and try to turn of power to their homes before leaving.

McCarthy said residents should prepare for an extended period of high water.

Residents who need help getting out of their homes were advised to call the Fire Department at 374-7744.

Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Schenectady-expects-flooding-to-cover-Stockade-2145214.php#ixzz1WNyCJyVS
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Media ignoring devastating flooding in upstate NY . . . - Gianmarc, 8/28/2011, 7:52 pm
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