Sullivan County, NY – URGENT UPDATE: Upstate Summer Residents Urged to Remain Indoors

Sullivan County, NY – While the rains from today’s hurricane continue to subside in upstate New York, law enforcement in the area is quick to remind the public that dangers posed by Hurricane Irene are still very real.

“Stay off the roads and stay inside,” said Art Snyder, Ulster County Director of Emergency Management in an exclusive interview with VIN News. “If you are outside, don’t drive through flooded roadways and watch out for downed power lines.”

Winds are expected to grow stronger as nightfall approaches to the Ulster County Sheriff’s office.

Several evacuations have been reported in Sullivan County, primarily in lower lying areas that tend to be flood prone, according to the Sullivan County 911 Center, including sections of Woodbourne, Fallsburg and Loch Sheldrake.

Fallsburg Chief of Police Steven Williams asked VIN News to issue a special warning to the public:

“Please stay indoors. Many roads are flooded and we are still expecting the Neversink River to rise another three or four feet. Everyone thinks that since the rains have stopped they are free to go outside and party but nothing could be farther from the truth.”

Chief Williams reports that in numerous instances people have removed barricades and police tape on certain roads and then find themselves trapped in floodwaters.

“There is a reason why we closed down those roads. You can’t drive through all that water. Please stay home. The wind is still blowing, tree limbs are still falling and there are still power lines that are down. Stay home so that we can get the roads clear and safe.”