Damage less severe than 2023 storm, but rescues and torn roads add to trouble in towns
Chloe Bennett and James M. Odato
Updated July 12, 11:30 a.m.:
Crews were on the verge of fully or partially reopening storm-damaged local roads in Essex County towns on Friday, giving them time to begin discussing nearly two days of nonstop work to evacuate campers, shovel dirt, clear culverts and truck Carry away the debris.
“We're in a much better place than we were 24 hours ago,” said Moriah Supervisor Matt Brassard, who dealt with the first major storm disaster since taking office in January.
About 15 people had to be rescued by town trucks from Champ RV Campground in Port Henry late at night after more than a dozen local roads were damaged, mainly as water overflowed from Millbrook. Eight of them took shelter overnight at the Moriah Fire Station.
Brassard said he and his eight-person crew worked 32 hours straight, going home at 4 a.m. and returning at 6 a.m. to work on the wreckage. The cost of repairs will be huge.
“I would say our losses were well over a million (dollars),” Brassard said. “I wouldn't be surprised if we qualify for FEMA and more than that. It could be three to four million if they want to build back better.
He said his staff were assisted by Minerva director Stephen McNally, who called at 5 a.m. to ask what was needed. He sent four Minerva workers and tandem trucks to bolster Moria's cleanup efforts.
“I’m a Republican, he’s a Democrat. At the county and local level, I don’t care what little letters are next to your name; I don’t care what little letters are next to your name. There’s no time. With the resources that town government has, There’s no time for bickering,” Brassard said.
“This is my first disaster,” he said, adding that the storm caused more damage than any disaster he's seen since serving on the Village Council in 2010. 3 inches of rain fell in 45 minutes. He said RV campers were rescued by trucks, some in nearly four feet of water.
“We were lucky it wasn't a Friday or a Saturday when there were probably hundreds of people,” he said of the popular campground along Lake Champlain.
Similar cleanup scenes unfolded in Lewes, Westport and Elizabethtown, especially New Russia, which also flooded Wednesday night.
Lewes Supervisor James Monty said most of the roads that were closed over the past few days will reopen today. He said the seams at the beaver pond were breached during a storm in December 2023, and those secondary roads would likely have been clogged more severely if not for culvert clearing in recent years. Before the latest storm, he sent crews out to re-inspect the culverts.
“It could be worse,” he said. “We are prepared for the December storm. We have people out to make sure the culverts are not blocked.
The storm marked the second heavy July rainstorm in the Adirondacks. But the 2023 storm caused the state to declare a state of disaster and caused significant damage to major roads, particularly the 28th North Road in the Newcomb area.
“Things are getting better,” said Westport Supervisor Ike Tyler, who estimated losses at about $4 million Wednesday after a series of storms hit. He said seven inches of rain was recorded at wastewater treatment plants along Lake Champlain. He said the plant exceeded its permit to discharge into the lake but still discharged treated waste.
The town lost about 15 local roads as pavements were torn up or flooded. The number of impassable roads was down to a few on Friday morning. Ledge Hill Road and Mountain Spring Road will be closed for several months, he said.
The flow of water in Hossington Creek was too strong, causing large amounts of dirt and road deterioration.
Taylor said the towns hope to receive federal assistance to reimburse repair and cleaning costs.
“We've been in a lot of bad situations, and they're getting worse,” Taylor said. The 65-year-old veteran, who grew up in Westport and has worked on the town council and authorities for 30 years, said he had never seen water in the basement before, but this time it happened. He had never seen water on the bridge over the creek until this week.
Updated at 9:15 a.m. July 11: An Essex County Emergency Services advisory reminds motorists that the following roads are closed due to flooding:
Westport: State Highway 22 (closed between Lake Shore Road and Sisco Street), Ledge Hill Road, Taylor Road.
Moriah: Bigelow Road.
Essex: Spear Road.
Elizabethtown: Roaring Brook Lane, Scriver Lane, Simonds Hill Road, County Road 8 (closed from US Route 9 to Brainards Forge Road), Lincoln Pond Road (closed from 9N to Fleury Road), State Route 22 (closed at County Home Road ).
Updated at 4:30 pm on July 10: A tornado was confirmed in Lewis County, Watertown 7 News reported. High winds reportedly caused flying debris in the area between Osceola and Montague. A tornado warning for the area has now expired. At 1:13 p.m., the National Weather Service warned of winds reaching 60 mph in Potsdam, Canton and Norwood. Wind warnings with gusts up to 50 mph are in effect for Lake Placid, Newcomb and Tahaeus until 4 p.m.
Updated at 12:40 noon on July 10: The Adirondack Park and all surrounding counties are under a National Weather Service tornado watch. The alert is in effect until 9pm tonight. Unlike a tornado warning, a current advisory means a tornado is possible but has not yet formed. Surveillance areas are typically large and can cover the entire state, according to Cornell Cooperative Extension.
A year after torrential rains flooded parts of the Adirondacks, the region is expected to experience another torrential downpour.
Hurricane Beryl, which hit Caribbean islands, Mexico and Texas, was downgraded to a tropical depression late Monday night. The storm is expected to roll into upstate New York starting Wednesday.
Up to 4 inches of rain could fall in parts of the Adirondacks. According to NASA, wind speeds during the tropical depression are expected to reach 39 miles per hour.
The National Weather Service showed Tuesday night that the Adirondack Park region, including Newcomb, Long Lake and Old Forge, could see the heaviest rainfall on Wednesday. Water levels could reach up to 3 inches in the Saranac Lake, Tupper Lake, Ticonderoga, Essex and Lake George areas.
Experts recommend having extra supplies on hand and making plans for power, water and power outages during severe weather conditions. It is also recommended to avoid driving except during evacuations and to seek higher ground in the event of severe flooding.
Scientists say the storm could be the first of a highly active hurricane season. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts 17 to 25 named storms this year, including hurricanes and tropical storms. Rapid warming in the Atlantic Ocean and naturally occurring La Niña conditions contribute to this forecast.
NASA reports that rising temperatures caused by fossil fuel production lead to warmer oceans, triggering extreme weather and hurricanes. The government said the storm could produce more intense and sustained rainfall.
A year ago, severe storms knocked out power in the park and damaged roads, especially in the western Adirondacks. Rainfall data from the State University of New York's College of Environmental Science and Forestry show that its Newcomb campus has received a record 13.7 inches of rainfall through July 2023, beating the previous record of about 9 inches from 2021.
The flooding disrupted ecological projects at the 15,000-acre Huntington Wildlife Forest, but also increased weather monitoring data.
On Tuesday, LJ Mills, the ranger at the forest's long-term monitoring site, said he would not prepare for flooding under the plans but would keep an eye out for damage.
Biogeochemical research support experts say soil in forests is relatively dry, but rapid rainfall can cause flooding and erosion.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
Top photo: Stormwater runoff Department of Public Works Superintendent Keven Severence investigates the July 10, 2024, storm that destroyed Taylor Road in Westport.
