Flash Floods Tear Through New York’s Hudson Valley

New York City’s ABC affiliate reports:

Rain continues to batter an already severely damaged Hudson Valley on Monday morning. Hours of heavy rain produced life-threatening flash flooding across the region on Sunday sparking flash flood warnings and a rare flood emergency.

A woman in her 30’s was killed in rushing floodwaters in Orange County. She was trying to escape her flooding house with her dog, but she drowned.

“I had to help ambulances get in here, a number of them had to be turned away because of a number of cars that were abandoned or were stuck so unless you are a first responder, don’t come here,” said Steven Neuhaus, Orange County Executive.

The New York Times reports:

The Hudson Valley was the most affected by the storm system on Sunday, with sections of the area getting between five and eight inches of rain, the National Weather Service said. The epicenter of the storm struck West Point, the U.S. Military Academy in Orange County, which had about eight inches of rain as of Sunday night.

Trooper Steven V. Nevel of the New York State Police described the search-and-rescue efforts on Sunday night as an “all hands on deck” endeavor, saying that several bridges had collapsed and many roads were impassable.

Trooper Nevel added that parts of the Palisades Interstate Parkway, which is typically heavily traveled, were flooded and completely washed out.