HANCOCK, N.Y. (WSKG) — Things appear to be calming down at a small reservoir in the Town of Hancock after a State of Emergency was declared on Monday.
Hancock is in Delaware County. The Delaware River marks its border with Pennsylvania.
Gabe Altieri/WSKG
Gabe Altieri/WSKG
Thanks to heavy rain over the last few days, the water level in the reservoir rose and started to erode some of the surrounding area. Media reports originally said there was a breach in a dam. That’s not true.
It’s a private reservoir, not a dam. It used to provide water for Hancock.
“I think people thought it might be the Cannonsville Reservoir or something like that,” said Jerry Vernold, Hancock Town Supervisor. The Cannonsville Reservoir is about ten miles north of Hancock.
“Misinformation,” he added.
Right now, things are relatively fine. It’s still a couple feet from overflowing. “But the problem is if we get a lot of rain, what’s it going to do at that spot that’s breached? Is it going to start eroding more?” said Vernold. “We’re just keeping an eye on that. No rain is a good thing right now.”
Vernold said there would be some concern for the surrounding area if the reservoir is breached more. That concern has gone down over the last day.
The road leading up to reservoir is closed to non-authorized personnel.