NORWICH – In a troubling sign of what may be to come as the weather improves, emergency officials from the Chenango County Sheriff's Office and City of Norwich confirmed the discovery of a large homeless encampment near Norwich this week.

Norwich Police said dozens of people may have been at the site at one time.

The camp is currently abandoned and flooded due to recent bad weather. Large piles of trash, discarded tents, drug paraphernalia, propane tanks, clothing, carts and other items are concentrated in places but scattered across a handful of acres. Remnants of primitive structures made of logs, tarps and rocks are also present. The area smelled like sewage.

The camp is located just outside city limits in the Town of Norwich, behind the buildings in Norwich South Plaza, where the bowling alley once was.

Norwich Deputy Chief of Police Scott Burlison said police were only recently made aware of this specific situation. He and Norwich Sgt. Detective Matt Roberts visited the site. They said they located dozens of hypodermic needles.

Roberts said police were aware of the location being used previously by homeless trespassers, but never to this extent.