The Susquehanna River at Conklin and Kirkwood rose suddenly between noon and 3:00 P.M. causing officials to begin evacuating several neighborhoods both towns. The National Weather Service later revised its forcasted river crest to 16.1 to 16.5 feet, after previously forecasting 18.5 feet. The river is expected to crest in Conklin at 8:00 P.M.

 

According to the National Weather Service, minor to moderate flooding is also predicted downstream. In the City of Binghamton, the river is expected to reach 14.7 and flood stage is 14.0 feet. In the Town of Vestal and Town of Union it is expected to reach 20.9 feet after midnight, and flood stage is 18.0 feet. When river levels reach between 20 and 21 feet, flooding occurs in cellars on Argonne Drive in Endwell, according to NWS.

 

County Executive Brennan, who has been in the Emergency Operations Center all day said, “During the period of time when the higher river level was predicted, we took a number of steps to assist in the evacuation of possibly one to two thousand people and provide shelter. For example, we activated Health Department staff, the Community Emergency Response Team, and the Animal Response Team; preparations were underway to open the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena for sheltering; and B.C. Transit busses were sent to Conklin to transport residents to the Arena. And water rescue teams were staging in several locations. The staff here at the EOC did a great job. And the County employees and volunteers that were called in to assist assembled an impressive force of human talent including the Highway Division and many local fire departments. The Red Cross also did a great job. Everyone deserves thanks and congratulations for what turned out to be an exceptionally well carried out drill.

 

“When the forecast was revised to less than 17 feet, an most of those preparations were scaled back or discontinued,” Brennan said.

 

Broome County’s Emergency Operations Center will become de-activated at approximately 6:00 P.M., and any temporary phone numbers you may have been given between Friday 8/26 and today will no longer be effective. “Today was a great exercise in “unified command” and everything was very well executed,” Brennan said.