Press Release

Release: Weather Causes Minor Flooding, Has County Officials Monitoring Creek Levels

FONDA - The Montgomery County Emergency Management Office went into action on Wednesday evening to deal with flooding and other weather related issues. Throughout the early evening hours on Wednesday, areas in the county started experiencing minor flooding issues due to severe rain that impacted the region.

State Highway Route 5 was closed between Fonda and Palatine Bridge due to two flooding issues, but has currently reopened to traffic.

Flooding was also experienced in Randall and Canajoharie, but water in those areas has since receded. A house in Canajoharie at 3 Rock Street suffered roof damage from the heavy rains and subsequently National Grid turned off power to that apartment building, which housed more than one family. A Red Cross shelter has been set up at Canajoharie High School and remains open. The Canajoharie Fire Department responded to the incident in the village and assisted the victims at their fire station until the shelter was opened.

The county's Emergency Management Office is monitoring a few different areas, including the Canajoharie and Otsquago creeks. The Otsquago Creek rose significantly on Wednesday evening, causing a Hyper-reach or Reverse 9-1-1 call to be placed to all residents on Abbott Street and Reid Street in the village of Fort Plain and to those along State Highway Route 80 to the county line. The Fort Plain Fire Department went door to door on Abbott Street to make sure residents were safe and aware of the rising water levels.

The county's Emergency Management Office is continuing to monitor water levels throughout the county. The National Weather Service has indicated that the last of the severe rain that came through the area on Wednesday evening has passed. As always, residents should take caution from any areas of standing water and should contact emergency officials immediately if they experience any issues from flooding or related to the severe weather.