Flood in New York, July 14, 1996

The remnants of Hurricane Bertha tracked from the Mid-Atlantic region northeast to Quebec, Canada between Saturday morning July 13 to Sunday morning July 14. Three to five inches of rain was common across eastern New York with amounts around 7 inches over the Catskills and mid Hudson Valley. Flash flooding occurred during the early part of the event in Dutchess and Columbia Counties. In Dutchess County flash flooding occurred in Rhinebeck and the Town of Wappinger was declared a state of emergency due to flooding. Many small streams flooded across the county and flooding was also reported in Beacon. In Columbia County, flash flooding occurred in the Town of Claverack, when Claverack Creek spilled over its banks. Cranse and Jansen Kill Creeks also flooded and numerous roads were closed throughout the county including state route 22. In Ulster County widespread flooding occurred in New Paltz and Kingston. At New Paltz seven families were evacuated from the Southside Apartments. In Kingston substantial flooding along the waterfront was the result of high flows from the Wallkill Creek, Rondout Creek and high tides in the Hudson River. Many roads were closed throughout the county including state routes 32, 32A and 213 and county routes 6 and 30. In the Town of Rochester, a women was injured when raging waters swept her downsteam. She sustained head injuries and hypothermia. In Albany County several roads and small streams were flooded. The Normans Kill Creek spilled over its banks. Flooding was most widespread in the Towns of Bethlehem, New Scotland and Rensselaerville. Road flooding also occurred in Schenectady County and the Schoharie Creek rose 1.5 feet over flood stage. In Greene County widespread flooding occured in Windham and New Baltimore. Numerous roads were closed throughout the county including state route 296, 32A and county route 61 and 6. Several small bridges were washed out especially in Round Top and minor flooding occurred along the Schoharie Creek. In Schoharie County roads were flooded and a bridge was washed out in the Town of Middleburg. Numerous town roads were washed out in the Town of Blenheim including route 30. Flooding also occurred along the Schoharie Creek. In Rensselaer County several roads were flooded including Clove Road in the Town of Schodack. In Montgomery County flooding was confined to the Schoharie Creek. In Lost Valley along the Schoharie Creek evacuations were necessary as the creek went approximately 2 feet over flood stage. Scattered power outages also occurred across eastern New York, when strong winds downed water-laden tree branches onto wires.