Ithaca and Dryden schools are closed today, and Cornell is currently closed. Ithaca College delayed opening until noon.
Update: Closure order ends at 9:00am -
Sheriff Lifts Road Closure Order Effective 9:00 a.m.
Tompkins County Sheriff Ken Lansing has lifted the road closure order in Tompkins County effective at 9:00 a.m. The closure will be replaced by a Travel Advisory, with drivers urged to exercise extreme caution on all roads. Certain roads will remain impassable.
Tompkins County and the City of Ithaca government offices are scheduled to reopen at 11:00 a.m.
All other prior advisories and notices remain in effect.
Tompkins County offices have delayed opening until 11 a.m. this morning. Employees are advised to check with local news sources or the County's web page for any changes to this plan.
Officials continue to urge citizens to stay away from flood water and to keep themselves safe.
Earlier: Sheriff Ken Lansing has directed emergency traffic only to deal with the rain, and county and city offices are delaying opening until 11am. Caroline has also declared an emergency. Here are details:
Severe Weather Update: September 8 - 5:00 a.m.
Sheriff Lansing Directs Emergency Traffic Only
State of Emergency Declared in Town of CarolineBecause of ongoing heavy rain and flooding conditions impeding travel throughout Tompkins County and affecting public safety, Tompkins County Sheriff Ken Lansing has issued a directive of Emergency Traffic Only, with no unnecessary travel in Tompkins County until further notice.
Caroline Town Supervisor Don Barber has declared a State of Emergency in the Town of Caroline, as of 3:30 a.m. this date because of ongoing weather conditions that have created significant flooding and threaten public safety--specifically, "hazardous conditions caused by creek and stream flooding" throughout the Town.
The State of Emergency will be in effect for five days, through September 13, 2011. It will then be reevaluated to determine if the Emergency Order should be lifted or extended, based on the weather conditions at that time.
The National Weather Service has just issued a Flash Flood Warning for Tompkins County through 10:45 a.m.
Heavy rain has created numerous traffic hazards and road closures throughout the County, including many in the Town of Caroline. Among the many road closures and hazards, Route 79 east of Slaterville is closed. There are numerous problems throughout the county caused by the high water, and high water is also obstructing Route 13/South Meadow Street in the City of Ithaca.
The National Weather Service reports rain has caused significant flooding throughout the region, and a strong band of rain continues to head north from Southern Pennsylvania toward the Tompkins County area, and is expected to continue to produce more heavy rain beyond what has already fallen.
The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Warning for Fall Creek, from late tonight to late Thursday night or until the warning is cancelled. Moderate flooding is forecast.
Town and County highway departments are out working throughout the County. Other trouble spots include Route 13 (South Meadow Street) in the City of Ithaca, Route 79 and Boiceville Road in the Town of Caroline, and numerous secondary roads throughout the county.
Officials continue to urge motorists to take precautions to keep themselves safe:
If barricades are up, Don't move them - Go around.
Do not drive through flood water--Turn around; don't drown!
Stay off the roads except for emergency travel!
Remember to call 911 only if you have an emergency. Reports of flooding or other concerns can be communicated to the Department of Emergency Response office at 607-257-3888 or 607-342-4568.
Contact: Director of Emergency Response Lee Shurtleff, 607-257-3888 or Assistant Director Beth Harrington, 607-257-3888 or 607-342-4568.
I got up to a total of 3.67" of rain here, though I saw that Binghamton Airport got 6." Update: Nope - per @NewsChannel9: '7.49" in Binghamton Wed. Record for any date. Already broke record for wettest YEAR on Sept 7th!'
Posted by simon at September 8, 2011 7:46 AM in roads, traffic, and transit , weather