Floods cripple Newark and Arcadia

Route 31 remains closed this morning, following area floods from yesterday's rains. Newark Schools were are also closed, due to transportation problems. And more rain is predicted for today and tomorrow.

Rains storms yesterday afternoon and evening sent torrents of rain into area cellars, with creeks and watersheds overflowing. Floods sent motorists scurrying, as Newark found itself literally cut off on the eastern and southern ends of the village.

Rush-hour traffic was unable to use either Route 31 East, or Blue Cut Road, as both arteries were inundated with flooding, washouts, and downed power lines.

Route 88 South between Newark and Phelps was closed due to flooding just beyond the Ontario County line. Topsoil from freshly plowed fields washed onto the highway.

Between 2.5 and 4 inches of rain fell in little more than 40 minutes, with storm sewers unable to handle the tremendous load. Basements throughout Newark and Arcadia flooded, with one of the worst cases being a home at 809 East Ave, where water filled the entire basement of a home owned by Kay Golding. In addition, Newark's sanitary sewer system was overtaxed and failed in many areas. Also closed were Vienna, Hartnagle, and Blue Cut Roads.

People with cameras and camcorders flocked this morning to Perkins Park, turned into a virtual lake by the flood.

The major story of the evening unfolded at Newark's Wal-Mart and Arcadia Shopping Center, where watersheds quickly filled, and volumes of water covered parking lots and Route 31, stranding motorists.

Some motorists who tried to drive away were soon found - their vehicles stalled, and some with water up to the windows and dashboards.

Several hundred shoppers were stranded in the stores, which had to close due to loss of power.

Later, a plan was devised by Thelma Wideman, Wayne County Emergency Management officer, to transport shoppers by New York State trucks to DOT headquarters on Route 31, where WATS buses took people home, leaving their autos behind. The disabled and those with children were transported first.

Newark, Marbletown, and Fairville firefighters and ambulance crews spent many hours into the night pumping cellars, sandbagging homes, and doing traffic detail. They were assisted by fellow fire volunteers from Palmyra, East Palmyra, Macedon Center, Marion and Walworth, traveling from one pumping detail to another.

At 10:45 p.m. firefighters received a report of smoke in a garage at 107 Maple Court, at a residence owned by Thomas Hornsby. While firefighters battled the garage blaze, a resident of the apartment house suffered an apparent heart attack and was transported to the Newark Hospital, as more rain fell.

 Red Cross Volunteers set up reception centers at Newark and Lyons Fire Departments and the Newark First Baptist Church to help stranded victims.

Volunteer firemen, under the direction of Chief Michael Velte continued to worked through the day to help area residents and Rt. 31 remained closed indefinitely.

Story and photos by John Zornow

See tomorrow's print edition of the Courier-Gazette for more photos.

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