Flood Recovery Underway In Finger Lakes, Southern Tier; More Rain Expected

VESTAL, NY (WSKG) – Residents in Lodi are recovering after flooding damaged parts of the town this week.

Lodi is in Seneca County and is part of the State of Emergency declared by the governor. The Sheriff’s Department has done more than 60 rescues of people trapped in their homes. And the county’s been under a curfew for the past two nights.

Stacy Mulford is one of the many people affected by the flooding. 

Mulford grabbed two bins of supplies from the Lodi Town Fire Department. She said she wasn’t at her home when the flooding got bad Tuesday morning, but her daughter was — until people came by and told her to leave. 

“[At] six o’clock in the morning,” she said, “they started banging ‘Get out, get out! Get out, now!’”

Mulford said her basement sits on a creek bed that flooded into her back yard. She never lost power, but did lose a utility trailer and nearly a lawnmower. Her daughter’s SUV was also damaged.

“They have a Jeep Liberty and it was in the car.” She said, “The water was going into the car. The car sits up high. It was scary.”

Seneca County and other parts of the state remain under a state of emergency through next Tuesday. Thursday was sunny and humid, but there’s chance for more rain later this week.

More Rain Coming

The National Weather Service says the region should expect more rain through Saturday morning.

Dave Morford, Senior Meteorologist with the Service in Binghamton, said that even though little rain is expected, conditions are right for some areas to continue flooding.

“Areas that are prone to flooding should definitely keep an eye out as these storms go through,” said Morford. “It does not look like a serious, widespread event like we had before, but, given the conditions, everything’s gonna have to be watched carefully.”

Rivers are not a problem, Morford said, but creeks and other low areas are where there might be more flooding.

Areas of New York and Pennsylvania are still under a State of Emergency.

Back in Lodi, Stacy Mulford said she’ll prepare as best as she can for what happens, but Mother Nature is unpredictable.

“Do the best you can and keep everybody safe,” she said. “Everything in the house is replaceable. My kids and my granddaughter got out safe and sound. That’s all I could ask for.”