Governor Hochul Announces Reopening of Hudson Valley Roads Following Historic Flooding and Advises New Yorkers of Additional Rainfall Impacts This Week

Sep 09, 2023

Portions of U.S. Route 9W, U.S. Route 6, and State Route 32 Expected to Re-Open Today Following Around-the-Clock Work from State DOT Crews, Contractors

Clean-Up and Recovery Continues Throughout the State, As Responding Agencies Keep Close Eye on Weather Forecast for Thursday Through Monday

Potential for Additional 2-3 Inches of Rainfall Thursday into Friday Could Impact Areas Currently Recovering from Recent Flooding

Flood Watch in Effect Through Thursday for Parts of Clinton, Essex, Lewis, Cayuga, Oswego, Ontario, Wayne, Hamilton, Herkimer, Saratoga, Warren, and Washington Counties

Traducción al español

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the reopening of key Hudson Valley roads that had been completely or partially closed following the historic rainfall and devastating flooding that impacted New York State on Sunday and Monday. Thanks to around-the-clock work by State Department of Transportation crews and contractors, portions of U.S. Route 9W, U.S. Route 6, and State Route 32 are expected to re-open for vehicular travel today. Repair work included tree and debris removal, roadway paving milling and paving where needed, and drainage repairs. Additional roads are expected to re-open in the coming days as clean-up and repair efforts continue.

Additionally, Governor Hochul urged New Yorkers to prepare for the possibility of additional severe thunderstorms and heavy rainfall this week, particularly on Thursday and Friday. While expected rainfall totals will not reach the amounts New Yorkers experienced earlier this week, an additional two to three inches of rain expected could cause additional flash flooding in certain areas with saturated grounds and higher water levels. Governor Hochul directed State Agencies involved in this week’s storm response to stay alert and prepare for additional impacts.

“Nobody weathers a storm like New Yorkers, and the quick recovery from this week’s historic flooding makes that increasingly clear,” Governor Hochul said. “While there is still a long way to go, getting these Hudson Valley roads back up and running is a huge step that was made possible by the tireless efforts of our highway crews and contractors working around the clock. I want to send my sincere thanks to everyone who has pitched in to help their fellow New Yorkers get through this historic storm.”

Roadways expected to reopen today include:

The following roadways have reopened:

The State Department of Transportation has more than 3,480 supervisors and operators available statewide, including more than 540 in the Hudson Valley region. Staff are actively assessing damage and working to get state roads back open as quickly as possible. The State Route 9W bridge over the Popolopen Creek in the Town Highlands, Orange County, is currently closed while state engineers continue to assess the damage and develop a strategy to reopen the bridge as quickly as possible.

New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, “I am extremely proud and endlessly grateful to the dedicated women and men of the New York State Department of Transportation who are working tirelessly to get our state’s transportation infrastructure back open. And while there is still a significant amount of work ahead, I have no doubt that they are up to the challenge and will continue to put in the effort until the job is complete.”

New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray said, “While this next system is not expected to be as intense as what we saw earlier this week, flash flooding continues to pose a real threat to New Yorkers given how saturated the ground remains. As our team continues to work hand in glove with our local partners on recovery operations, it’s critical New Yorkers in the eastern portion of the state do not let their guard down in the coming days and take the steps necessary to keep themselves and their households safe.”

Between Sunday and Monday, more than eight inches of rain was reported in parts of the Mid-Hudson Region (Orange County) and more than five inches of rain in the Finger Lakes Region (Ontario County). Between Monday and Tuesday, parts of the North Country (Hamilton County) saw several inches of rain in a short period of time. This rainfall caused devastating flooding that closed roadways and damaged infrastructure across impacted regions.

The State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) has Office of Emergency Management, Office of Fire Prevention and Control, and Disaster Recovery field teams conducting damage assessments and safety inspections in impacted communities. Governor Hochul and DHSES have been in contact with federal officials about the need for a Major Disaster Declaration to provide federal reimbursement to local governments.

A Flood Watch is currently in effect through Thursday for all or parts of Clinton, Essex, Lewis, Cayuga, Oswego, Ontario, Wayne, Hamilton, Herkimer, Saratoga, Warren, and Washington Counties. For a complete listing of weather alerts and forecasts, visit the National Weather Service website at alerts.weather.gov.

New Yorkers are encouraged to sign up for the State’s emergency alert system by subscribing to NY Alert at alert.ny.gov, a free service providing critical emergency information to your cell phone or computer.

Current Road Closures

Hudson Valley:

The Adirondacks

Central New York

Severe Weather Safety Tips

Disaster Supplies

Flash Flooding

Lightning

For more information on personal preparedness and how to stay safe during severe weather, visit: dhses.ny.gov/safety-and-prevention.