State of Emergency remains

Town of Arcadia and Village of Newark officials declared a state of emergency yesterday afternoon, following a deluge of rains Wednesday night and early yesterday morning. Local schools will remain closed today.

Arcadia Highway Superintendent David Harder has opened all town roads, but motorists are advised that they travel at their own risk. New York State Route 31 had to be closed to traffic Wednesday, with shoppers at Wal-Mart and the Arcadia Shopping Center stranded. Shoppers were rescued, and traffic was diverted around 31 to Arcadia's Blue Cut Road and the Old Lyons Rd.

But the rains soon took their toll on Blue Cut, with wash outs and deep holes. Harder's crew worked until 10 p.m. that evening, repairing several holes in the southeast quandrant of the town, but more rain undid the repairs and the highway crews were back out at 2 a.m. yesterday, closing Blue Cut and barricading a mudslide at the end of Sleight Road, which dumps onto Old Lyons Rd.

Although other local news media reported that Hartnagle Rd. was closed, Harder said that Hartnagle was actually closed because the crew had begun construction on the road. According to Harder, besides Blue Cut, the hardest hit roads were Miller and Silver Hill.

Although the town highway crew is usually off on Friday, the men will be out again this morning. Harder said that he is keeping track of the hours, equipment and materials for repairs - mostly to washed away road shoulders and to ditches which will need clearing of silt and debris.

Also today, Arcadia Supervisor Joe DeSanto expects that the town and village may be visited by NYS Senator Mike Nozzolio and officials from the State Emergency Management Office. Town Assessor Larry Quinn, Town Code Enforcement Officer Chuck Verkey and Village Code Officer Mark Peake will tour the area to assess property damages, but with more rain expected today and through the weekend, it may be premature to try to evaluate the extent of loss.

Farmers are a different matter - some have lost entire acres of seeds and topsoil. Some may have to claim crop failure for the season and apply for federal and/or state assistance.

Route 31 was open to traffic last night, and retailers along that stretch of Newark/Arcadia are busy drying stores and clearing ruined merchandise. Meanwhile, volunteer firemen continue to pump out flooded dwellings, basements and commercial properties.

Scattered showers and thunderstorms are predicted through today and for tomorrow evening.