By Hadassa Kalatizadeh

Flash flooding in New York’s Hudson Valley area is causing more damage than expected.

As reported by the NY Times, Sunday’s torrential rainfall in Orange County has claimed the life of a 35-year-old woman who was swept away by the flood. Roads and residential areas were hit with as much as eight inches of water in some areas within a 24-hour time span. Early estimates indicated that tens of millions of dollars in damage was done to transportation infrastructure, homes and vehicles, as per Steven M. Neuhaus, executive of Orange County. On Sunday night, Neuhaus described the “massive” damage in his county, liking it to “an absolute war zone”. The widespread flooding has led to a declared state of emergency for Hudson Valley, the state’s Finger Lakes region, and Orange County. “It’s a tough situation — lots of people are trying to fight their way in to help us,” added Neuhaus. Orange, Rockland and Putnam counties were especially affected. Meteorologist Ben Noll reported that the weather radar showed that an estimated 10 inches of rain fell at West Point on Sunday—which is roughly the amount of rain typically received over an entire summer.

Gov. Kathy Hochul said that this type of dangerous weather has become increasingly common in the state. “We are in the midst of an extraordinary, extraordinary weather event that has just devastated communities throughout the Hudson Valley,” said Ms. Hochul, speaking Monday at a news conference in Highland Falls. “These are unprecedented weather events that keep hitting us over and over and over again,” she added. Mrs. Hochul said that she has spoken with the White House and federal emergency officials who had offered “all the help necessary” to rebuild from the damage. “The first step is assessment, assess the damage, assess the monetary value of the damage so we can put in our request for FEMA assistance to help the communities have the resources they need to rebuild.”

On Monday morning, parts of the Taconic State Parkway and the Palisades Parkway were closed off, leading to bumper to bumper traffic. Dozens of water rescue missions were undertaken, with the final announcement that all missing persons were accounted for. Local officials said that the historic Popolopen Bridge was damaged and may be closed for “some time.” A wastewater plant had also been “compromised,” Mr. Neuhaus said. Later on Monday afternoon, Ms. Hochul said the “bull’s-eye” of the storm has passed on to the northeast, though rain continues to fall in some northern parts of NYS. Community residents remained shaken. “Boulders were flying off the side of the mountain, cars were being swept across the street,” Peter Deverin, a 20-year-old R.O.T.C. cadet, told the NY Times. He and his friend were volunteering, helping clean up Main Street, when they were caught in the storm and considered themselves lucky to be alive. “It looked like something out of a horror movie”, Deverin added.

“We must change our behavior as a planet, as a country, as a state, and in our own homes, and we’re going to continue that conversation in earnest because we have to know that we have to do everything in our power to protect our citizens,” said Gov. Hochul, a Democrat.