Dutchess County Storm Update
Thursday, Sept. 2 – 11 a.m.
Travel restrictions lifted; potential for further creek flooding remains; County continues to assess storm damage
Poughkeepsie, NY … Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro hosted a conference call with local municipal leaders this morning to assess the current state of damage resulting from the remnants of Hurricane Ida, which led to 4 to 6 inches of rain throughout Dutchess County.
Earlier this morning, the County Executive declared a state of emergency, limiting non-essential travel in 16 local municipalities; those travel restrictions expired at 9 a.m. There are no countywide travel restrictions, and Dutchess County Public Transit continues to run its normal service.
County Executive Molinaro said, “Various Dutchess County Government departments have been working tirelessly throughout the course of this storm to keep resident as safe as possible. While the storm has passed our community, the work of assessing its damage and repairing from its impact remains vital. We thank all of those who are working on these efforts, and thank residents for their patience and cooperation during this fluid situation.”
The County departments of Public Works and Emergency Response report the majority of significant storm damage occurred principally in the southern part of Dutchess County, where upwards of 6 inches of rain accumulated; public works departments from the County and local municipalities continue to assess roadways and bridges for potential damage.
The County’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC), which was activated and staffed at 11 p.m. Wednesday, will remain active throughout the day today to continue to monitor conditions. Between 5 p.m. Wednesday and 5 a.m. Thursday, the County 911 Center received approximately 800 calls, roughly twice the normal call volume. As of 5 a.m. today, more than 30 roads throughout Dutchess County were impacted or closed due to flooding; while some of the impacted roads have since reopened, the County has received reports of other roads being subsequently closed due to storm damage. The potential for delayed flooding remains along the Fall Kill and Wappinger creeks, as well as the Hudson River.
County Executive Molinaro remains in contact with Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office to access the availability of State assets that can be deployed for local municipalities.
Since the storm began, deputies from the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) checked on predesignated areas throughout the County, which have been prone to storm damage in the past; the DCSO also deployed its swift-water response team, which responded to calls in the Town of LaGrange and the Village of Wappingers Falls.
Central Hudson this morning reported approximately 1,700 customers in Dutchess County were without electricity, with power expected to be restored by the end of the day. New York State Electric and Gas (NYSEG) reported nearly 300 local customers without power, which was estimated to be restored by 2 p.m.
The County Executive will provide residents and the media with an update on the storm, as well as COVID-19, today at 2 p.m. during a Facebook Live event on the Dutchess County Government Facebook page. For the latest updates, please continue to follow Dutchess County Government on Facebook or Twitter.
