We’ve been Irened. (4pm Sunday update)
I’m writing from my old farmhouse in Westport, New York, where the dining room ceiling is now in chunks on the floor and a modestly-sized waterfall is flowing into buckets.
Compared with the really scary damage out there — Essex, parts of Saratoga and Warren counties are all under states of emergency — this is small potatoes. But I expect we’ll be up all night hauling water.
Meanwhile, the Burlington Free Press is reporting that a 21-year-old woman was swept away and is presumed dead in the Deerfield River in Vermont.
Tens of thousands of people across northern New York and Vermont are without power, many roads are closed, with downed trees. And the wind continues to howl.
The Press-Republican is reporting near flood conditions on the Ausable River. Major thoroughfares, including stretches of 73, 9 and 9N have been closed.
A flash flood warning is now in effect for almost the entire NCPR listening area, with high wind warnings also in effect in much of the region.
The serious weather is expected to taper off after midnight tonight, according to the National Weather Service. But in the meantime, several more inches of rain are possible. From the view out my window, it’s more likely than possible.
Stay indoors if you can…unless, as in our case, the outdoors is forcing its way inside.
Tags: irene
Thanks for the report, Brian. Keene Valley is currently in an emergency situation with several households being evacuated by boat. Please keep us on the NPR radar.
I’ve been following Irene in the Adirondacks with interest. I remember as a kid hearing about how the Adirondacks were closed to hiking in the early 1950’s because of hurricane-caused blowdowns. And, I had hiked Giant before it’s slides showed up, due to tremendous rain in the early 1960’s. Going over Chapel Pond Pass right afterward was quite the adventure. May everyone be safe; and climb to safety if a flash flood threatens. You can’t out-drive it.
Forty-sixer # 150, Boulder, CO.
Sorry to hear of your damage Brian. Over here in the NW corner of the region we had a serious rain storm but little damage. I drove to Malone this afternoon and saw no signs of serious damage though it was rather windy and raining steadily.
Things were very rough here in Keene/Keene Valley today. I was too busy tending to my own home to see for myself, but I heard about extensive flooding, some evacuations, and reports of serious damage. Plan on checking it out at first light for myself. Hoping for the best.
Indian Lake escaped with just 3″ of rain and one main power outage from about 7:30 pm to about 3 am this morning.
I took some photos of the damage to Keene, you can see them here: http://www.townsandtrails.com/irene-update-damage-to-keene-photos/
Saw Brian there. The good news is that it sounds like he drove through other parts of Essex County and Keene was the worst of it. Hoping this means the rest of the Adirondacks were spared