Aug 31, 2011 — President Obama issued a disaster declaration that frees federal aid for people in areas affected by Irene's flooding, as well as municipalities in Albany, Delaware, Essex, Greene, Schenectady. and Ulster counties. FEMA says assessments are continuing in other areas, and more counties could be added.

Rep. Bill Owens of Plattsburgh is among New York congressman who are preparing a letter asking the president to expand the declaration to more of New York, including Clinton, Warren and Washington counties. Owens and Rep. Chris Gibson were with Gov. Andrew Cuomo Tuesday to get a firsthand look at the devastation Irene brought to the eastern slope of the Adirondacks.

With his daughter Mariah in tow, Cuomo toured the tiny high peaks community of Keene, where flash flooding of the Ausable River wiped out bridges, roads, and buildings. Cuomo also announced he was suspending state Adirondack Park Agency and Department of Environmental Conservation permit requirement to expedite clean-up and rebuilding. Chris Morris was there and has this report.  Go to full article

Aug 31, 2011 — The clean-up effort is still in its early stages, with many homes in the North Country still without water or electricity. But now that Federal aid is on the way, local leaders, business owners and residents also face some tough, long-term questions.

How to pay for the recovery is one daunting challenge, but painful decisions also have to be made about how and where to rebuild. Brian Mann has this story from the town of Jay, NY.  Go to full article

Aug 30, 2011 — The adding-up of the damage from Irene continues, and many areas are still experiencing emergency situations. In New York state, there are at least 6 confirmed deaths; damage to homes and businesses; more than half a million still without power; and flooding that's threatening to cause more damage.

For the first time today, our Adirondack bureau chief Brian Mann was able to hit some of the hardest hit areas around Ausable Forks, Jay and Upper Jay. He spoke with Nora Flaherty.  Go to full article

Aug 30, 2011 — Governor Cuomo was in the Adirondacks today, and he made a few announcements about post-Irene recovery.

First, Cuomo established the Upstate Storm and Flooding Recovery Task Force, to coordinate disaster response and recovery efforts for the North Country, Catskills, Upper Hudson Valley, and Mohawk Valley.

In a press release, Cuomo's office said the task force would "ensure seamless communication between agencies" to coordinate infrastructure rebuilding, economic development, agricultural renewal, power restoration, and assistance with private insurance.  Go to full article

Lake Placid, NY, Aug 30, 2011 — Clean-up efforts area already underway in parts of the North Country slammed by tropical storm Irene. Congressman Bill Owens will be to looking at damage in the town of Jay this morning along with town supervisor Randy Douglas

But in many areas, wreckage and debris are strewn through whole communities.

In the Washington County village of Greenwich, meanwhile, neighborhoods have been evacuated because cracks were found yesterday in a dam on the Batten Kill River.

Village Mayor David Doonan told the Glens Falls Post Star that it isn't clear whether the cracks were present before the storm. An inspection of the dam by state officials is planned for today.

As Brian Mann reports, communities across the North Country are still taking stock, trying to sort out just how far-reaching the damage from Irene will be.  Go to full article

Upper Jay, NY, Aug 30, 2011 — Rep. Bill Owens is expected in Upper Jay and Ausable Forks this morning to survey the impact of flash flooding with Town Supervisor Randy Douglas.

The two communities are on the banks of the East Branch of the Ausable are used to spring flooding and high waters in heavy rains. But Brian Mann describes a scene in Upper Jay that shocked even old-timers. He spoke with Martha Foley this morning.  Go to full article

Schoharie, NY, Aug 30, 2011 — Governor Cuomo took a helicopter tour with a top FEMA official to view the damage caused by flooding in the Mohawk River and Schoharie Valley. Karen DeWitt, who went along on the trip, reports that the governor says it's going to get worse before it gets better.  Go to full article

Saranac Lake, NY, Aug 29, 2011 — After an aerial tour of upstate New York today, Governor Cuomo is saying the damage caused by Tropical storm Irene is "devastating".

At an afternoon press conference, the governor and Director of State Operations Howard Glaser spelled out the response so far but warned there is much more work to be done.

Statewide, Glaser says more than 808,000 people remain without power, down from about 945,000 earlier today. And it could be days before power is restored--especially for people in rural areas.

There have been 191 rescues.

Cuomo said the damage has been tremendous but ``will get worse
before it gets better.''

Much of that damage is here in the North Country, where many communities are still dealing with emergency situations. In the Adirondacks, a massive dump of rain caused streams and rivers to roar through mountain communities.

Our Adirondack bureau chief Brian Mann, was on the road all day, traveling from Moriah and Port Henry up through Lake Placid and Saranac Lake. He spoke with Nora Flaherty.  Go to full article

Rutland, VT, Aug 29, 2011 — In Vermont, Irene has left at least two people dead; hundreds of roads closed; and thousands of homes and businesses damaged; and power out in many communities.

The president early this morning declared a federal emergency in the state--which means Vermont will be able to receive federal aid now.

Rob Mitchell is the statewide editor for the Rutland Herald. I spoke with him earlier today, and asked him to tell me about how Irene had moved through the state Sunday:  Go to full article

Saranac Lake, NY, Aug 29, 2011 — New Yorkers are watching rising creeks and rivers this morning. The Associated Press reports more than 900,000 homes were without power, more National Guard soldiers were deployed to clean-ups, and major highways and roads remained closed.

At least three deaths were blamed on the tropical storm. One thousand National Guard troops deployed over the weekend are to be augmented Monday with more engineers to help clear streets and debris and restore power.

Irene was no longer a hurricane by the time it hit the North Country counties, but it still packed a powerful punch. As of 10:30 last night, dozens of roads in Essex County were closed, the county's emergency radio system was off the air, many people remained stranded by high water and the county was in a state of emergency.

More than 100 roads in the county are closed because of flooding, washouts and high water threatening bridges. While the damage was widespread, County Emergency Services Director Don Jaquish said Keene and Keene Valley were hit the hardest. The Keene fire station was swept away by the floodwaters. "It's been washed away," Jacquish said last night.

People in Keene and Keene Valley had evacuated and Jacquish's crews were preparing evacuations in Upper Jay. He anticipated severe flooding in the hamlet of AuSable Forks, calling the crest of the East branch of the Ausable "unprecedented."

Brian Mann was in Keene early this morning. Talking with Martha Foley, he described a community devastated by the flash flooding.  Go to full article