CHENANGO COUNTY – Due to melting snow and rain showers over the last 24 hours, the National Weather Service in Binghamton has issued flood warnings for rivers in Sherburne, Greene and Bainbridge until about 5:30 p.m. today.
“We did not get the rain we were anticipating. We have some basements filling with water, but for the most part county and state roads are open. There are a couple of isolated wet spots causing issues, but no major concerns so far,” reported Chenango County Emergency Management Director Matthew Beckwith this morning.
City of Norwich Emergency Management Director A. Wesley Jones said most of the threatened areas were in low-lying locations that are typically susceptible to spring flooding.
Jones said the area had rain showers overnight with the northern part of the county receiving the most – at around two inches of precipitation – and the southern part of the county receiving a little less than an inch of rain.
Jones said emergency crews had responded to some isolated incidents, such as flooded basements, in the Towns of Pharsalia, Plymouth, Norwich and Smyrna since yesterday evening.
Conveying information from the National Weather Service, Jones reported the Chenango River in Sherburne was running higher than usual even before the rain began. He said the river was currently above flood stage at a 9.35 feet and was projected to crest a 10.4 feet this afternoon.
“It would take 11 feet before it starts flooding streets in the village,” said Jones. “People in low-lying areas who typically have spring flooding may have issues.”
The Chenango River in Greene was at 11 feet by press time this morning and had not yet crossed into flood stage, though officials predict it will later this afternoon.
Jones said the weather service projects the river will rise to 16.5 feet. He said uninhabited low-lying areas known locally as the Greene ball flats would begin flooding at 13 feet, but residential areas should see a minimal impact.
The Susquehanna River in Bainbridge is in flood stage at 15 feet and is expected to rise to around 20 feet later today, said Jones.
He said the river would have to rise to about 22 feet to reach the village’s streets. Though the village might not suffer flooding later today, Jones pointed out that flooding along the Susquehanna in Bainbridge would could cause issues in the Sidney area.
Specific parts of the Sidney were already under a current state of emergency after officials raised concerns over a dam located along Wheatley Hill Road, reported Delaware County Emergency Management Director Richard Bell.
Bell said the emergency was issued as a “just in case” and that local residences had not yet experienced flooding. He said local and state engineers were at the site and reviewing possible structural issues. “We have nothing of significant impact at this point,” said Bell.
With the assistance of Norwich City Police, Jones said officials were monitoring the flood potential of the Canasawacta Creek last night. The river had been approaching the “action stage,” where local officials would began alerting nearby residents of a danger. Jones said the creek reached the 18-feet mark for action, but appeared to be receding. “We’re watching it closely and we may notify residents still, but it seems to be slowing and going back down,” he said. “There’s a lot of things to keep an eye out for today, but we should make it through OK for the most part.”