Flooding in New York, January 19 to 21, 1996

An intense area of low pressure which was located over the Mid-Atlantic region on Friday morning January 19th produced unseasonably warm temperatures, high dewpoints and strong winds. This resulted in rapid melting of one to three feet of snow. In addition to the rapid snowmelt one to three inches of rain fell as the system moved northeast along the coast. This resulted in widespread flooding across Albany County including the flooding of the Mohawk and Hudson Rivers. Federal Disaster Assistance was made available by presidential declaration. Small streams flooded across the entire county which resulted in many roads being washed out. Most road washouts occurred in the rural areas including the Towns of Rensselaerville, Westerlo and Coeymans. In the Town of Rensselaerville over seventy miles of roads were closed or had limited passage. In the Town of New Scotland, Normans Kill Bridge on Krumkill Road was washed out. Along the Hudson River, Coeymans Landing and Marina in Coeymans incurred one million dollars worth of damage due to twenty docks being swept away and fifty boats flooded. Also along the Hudson River, Village One Apartments in Menands was flooded resulting in the evacuation of 300 residents by firetruck and rowboat. Floodwaters also surrounded Interstate 787, flooding parts of downtown Albany including the entrance to Corning Preserve. Severe flooding also occurred along Vly Creek in Voorheesville.