Albany, NY, Jan 04, 2013 — New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo says he intends to include recommendations from a disaster preparedness commission in his State of the State address next week.

Cuomo says he has both short-term and long-term preparedness in mind.  Go to full article

Bolton, NY, Oct 31, 2012 — Emergency declarations have been canceled across the North Country now that Hurricane Sandy (now Post-Tropical Cyclone Sandy) tracked away from our region. What might have been a head-on disaster turned into a minor storm for most of the North Country.

In Lake George, Sandy's winds stirred up some dramatic vistas, but did no damage and caused no injuries.  Go to full article

Oct 26, 2012 — Sunday 3rdd Update: AUDIO FROM GOVERNOR'S SUNDAY ADDRESS ON LONG ISLAND.

Governor Andrew Cuomo today will visit the town of Jay fire hall in Ausable Forks as he reviews hurricane preparedness across New York state.

Earlier in the day, Cuomo mobilized more than a thousand National Guard soldiers to help prepare for the landfall of Hurricane Sandy.

"They will provide vital assistance to various regions of the State, and it is essential that they are positioned to be ready to serve wherever they are called," Cuomo said.

"These troops, along with critical equipment, vehicles and aircraft, are ready to answer at a moment's notice."

The National Weather Service is now predicting that high winds and heavy rains will hit the region beginning on Monday, with the blast expected to continue into Tuesday.

The advisory includes warnings for people in northern New York, Vermont, and particularly homeowners "with marine interests along Lake Champlain."

The current forecast suggests that foul weather will arrive Monday afternoon and will intensify through the night, tapering off late Tuesday morning.

A flood watch for that period is in effect. Winds are expected to peak between 5 pm and 3 am with gusts anticipated between 50 and 80 miles per hour.

Powerful winds are also expected in the St. Lawrence Valley.

Previously: Governor Andrew Cuomo on Friday declared a state of emergency in New York ahead of the landfall of Hurricane Sandy.

That means more resources available to local governments, and a suspension of many regulations "that would impede rapid response."

"As we prepare for the possibility of Hurricane Sandy hitting New York State, I am activating all levels of state government to prepare for any potential impacts," Governor Cuomo said, in a statement.

State officials have been coordinating with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Also, state Conservation officials issued an advisory late Friday urging all backcountry travelers in the Adirondack-North Country to be out of the woods by sundown on Sunday.

They also canceled reservations at the Fish Creek Campground near Saranac Lake next week.

The path of the storm remains unclear but local governments and state officials are taking pains to prep the North Country for a possible blast of foul weather.

With memories fresh from big storms and flood events last year, village officials in Saranac Lake say they're drawing down the level of Lake Flower.

"[T]he village began gradually lowering the level of Lake Flower two days ago and will do so more aggressively over the weekend," said village manager John Sweeney in a statement.

Local crews are also working to clear storm drains to prevent street flooding.  Go to full article

Potsdam, NY, Jul 19, 2012 — Towering black clouds gave a dramatic warning of the storm sweeping toward Potsdam mid-afternoon Tuesday. Most alarming was a funnel-shaped cloud reported by eyewitnesses, and captured in photographs. Say "funnel" and lots of us think: "tornado."

But not all funnel clouds are tornadoes, even when they're apparently dropping down from a big, black cloud.

Martha Foley got an alternative explanation and another name, derecho, from Aileen O'Donogue, who teaches climatology as well as astronomy at St. Lawrence University. Aileen was on the ground watching as the storm came toward Potsdam. (Note: we'd love a high resolution picture of Tuesday's funnel-shaped cloud. E-mail images to: radio@ncpr.org)  Go to full article

Nov 25, 2011 — North Country Congressman Bill Owens says he's amazed at the resiliency of flood victims who say their property devastated by Tropical Storm Irene. The Democrat from New York's 23rd Congressional District stopped in the Town of Jay this week to hear from local officials about ongoing infrastructure issues and view firsthand some of the problems the community still faces.  Go to full article

Sep 06, 2011 — A benefit spaghetti dinner and dance at the Whallonsburg Grange on Saturday night (5:30) will donate all the proceeds to area families in need of help after Irene. The event is dubbed, "Good Night, Irene." Todd Moe talks with Whallonsburg Grange Hall Program Director Mary-Nell Bockman about some of the cleanup efforts in the Champlain Valley and neighbors who lost their homes in the storm's aftermath.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Sep 02, 2011 — The State Superintendent of Insurance is warning that insurance companies are telling some flood victims that damage from Hurricane Irene is not covered. As Karen DeWitt reports, he says that's just not correct.  Go to full article

Rutland, VT, Sep 01, 2011 — Aid reached one of the last isolated towns in Vermont yesterday morning.
A Vermont National Guard vehicle with water was the first in to the village of Wardsboro.
The small town in the southern Green Mountains had been isolated since flooding struck on Sunday.

The Guard has been using trucks and choppers where necessary to get supplies to stranded residents. Aid reached 13 other towns Tuesday night.

A convoy of about 30 trucks finally made it through to Killington Mt. yesterday morning.

Rob Mitchell, state editor for the Rutland Herald, says the supply effort really ramped up yesterday, just as isolated towns were beginning to run out of essential supplies and medicines.
He spoke with Nora Flaherty on All Before 5 yesterday:  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

Jun 12, 2008 — Several thousand utility customers in the North Country are still dark this morning, mostly in Franklin, Lewis, St. Lawrence and Oswego counties Martha Foley has more.  Go to full article